Best 16x25x4 Furnace Filter

Filtrete MERV 11 (MPR 1000) is $21.25 a filter in a 4-pack, $5.27 more than our pick, about $21 to $43 a year. Filterbuy MERV 11 is $20.49 a filter in a 6-pack, about $20 to $41 a year.^[3]

Filtrete, Filterbuy and our pick for 16x25x4: pack, price per filter and cost a year

Filter	Pack	Per filter	A year	Buy
Our pick: AirPurete 16x25x4, MERV 11	6	$15.98	$16 to $32	Check price
Filterbuy 16x25x4, MERV 11	6	$20.49	$20 to $41	Check price
Filtrete 16x25x4 MPR 1000, MERV 11	4	$21.25	$21 to $43	Check price
Our pick: AIRx 16x25x4, MERV 13	6	$18.88	$19 to $38	Check price
Filterbuy 16x25x4, MERV 13	12	$20.41	$20 to $41	See AIRx Filters on Amazon
Filtrete 16x25x4 MPR 1900, MERV 13	2	$36.03	$36 to $72	See AIRx Filters on Amazon

A year of 16x25x4 is 1 to 2 filters (a change every 6 to 12 months). Each row is the lowest 16x25x4 price per filter we read for that brand and MERV on November 11, 2026.

MERV 13 costs $5.60 more per filter than MERV 8 and $2.90 more than MERV 11. The picks above run $13.28 for MERV 8, $15.98 for MERV 11 and $18.88 for MERV 13.^[3]

MERV is a lab score (ASHRAE 52.2), and each 16x25x4 filter below carries one of these three numbers; this EPA table gives the least a filter must trap to earn it.^[2]

The EPA sets one minimum for each MERV number, whatever the brand, and a 16x25x4 filter of about 15.5 x 24.5 inches is held to the same one. Paying more for the same MERV buys a brand name, not a different minimum. MERV is printed by each maker. Filtrete uses its own MPR scale; to convert, see What MERV rating do I need?

Each 16x25x4 filter's size, MERV and pack count come from its listing title. 16x25x4 prices read November 11, 2026; they change, so the button shows today's.

What MERV should I buy for a 16x25x4 furnace?

MERV 13 if your cabinet allows it: $18.88 a filter here, $2.90 more a filter than MERV 11. The EPA says to choose at least MERV 13 or as high as your system will accommodate, and Aerostar's spec sheet puts the same MERV 13 filter at 0.22 inches of water resistance in 4-inch against 0.45 in 1-inch. ^[1][6]

Will MERV 13 work in my furnace?

The EPA says most furnaces take MERV 13 without problems when the filter is changed often. If your cabinet maker names a lower top MERV, buy MERV 11 and keep the $2.90 a filter. ^[1]

What is the real size of a 16x25x4 filter?

Real size is 15.5 x 24.5 inches and 3.63 to 3.75 deep. Filterbuy lists 15.5 x 24.5 x 3.63; the Aerostar and AirPurete listings print 15.5 x 24.5 x 3.75. Measure your cabinet, or look for 16x25x4 on your old filter. ^[5][3]

Can I use a 16x25x1 filter in a 16x25x4 cabinet?

No. A 1-inch filter leaves a wide gap in a cabinet built for 4 inches, and air goes around it. Match all three numbers on the edge of your old filter.

How often should I change a 16x25x4 filter?

Filterbuy says its 4-inch filters are built to last 6 to 12 months, so plan on one or two a year. At $18.88 a filter for the MERV 13 pick, that is $19 to $38 a year. Pets, smoke and a lot of dust push you toward the earlier end. ^[4]

How many 16x25x4 filters should I buy?

The AIRx MERV 13 6-pack is $18.88 a filter and covers 3 to 6 years. Most homes use one or two a year, so buy the full pack only if you will store the rest. ^[3]

1. 1

   U.S. EPA: Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home (furnace and HVAC filters)

   Read October 28, 2026. "Select a filter rated at least MERV 13 or as high as your system will accommodate"; "Most furnaces and HVAC systems can accommodate a MERV 13 filter without creating equipment problems, provided that the filter is replaced frequently"; the filter should fit snugly, with no bending or crushing.

2. 2

   U.S. EPA: What is a MERV rating?

   Read October 28, 2026. The capture table below is copied from the EPA table for MERV 8, 11 and 13.

3. 3

   Amazon.com product listings (size, MERV and pack from each listing title; price, seller and stock from the buy box)

   Buy boxes read November 11, 2026. Prices change; the button shows today's. Filtrete's MERV equivalents (MPR 1000 = MERV 11, MPR 1900 = MERV 13) are taken from each listing's title.

4. 4

   Filterbuy: 20x25x4 air filters (4-inch filter life)

   Read November 3, 2026. "Filterbuy 4-inch filters are built to last 6 to 12 months"; "Pets, allergies, wildfire smoke, and heavy HVAC use all push you toward the earlier end."

5. 5

   Filterbuy: 16x25x4 air filters

   Read November 3, 2026. "Actual Size: 15.5x24.5x3.63"; sold in MERV 8, 11 and 13.

6. 6

   Filtration Group: Aerostar Green Pleat MERV 13 specification sheet (1, 2 and 4 inch)

   Read October 22, 2026. Starting resistance at 375 feet per minute: 1-inch 0.45 inches of water, 4-inch 0.22.

Related: furnace filters in every size · what MERV rating do I need? · is MERV 13 too restrictive? · 4-inch filters for Aprilaire, Honeywell and Lennox cabinets