What is MERV Rating?
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, and it’s used to determine how well an air filter can catch particles in the air.
The higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the air filter is at catching harmful pollutants in the air.
These pollutants can include everything from pollen and dust mites to bacteria and tobacco smoke.
Air particles are measured in microns (one-millionth of a meter). The smaller the particle size in microns, the bigger the MERV rating you’ll need to catch it.
According to ASHRAE tests, there are 4 general tiers or categories of MERV ratings:
- MERV 1–4 (decent): A filter in this MERV range is your typical disposable Fiberglass filter or Polyfiber filter . These filters can sift particles that are 10 microns or larger, which include pollen and regular standing dust.
- MERV 8 (GOOD): These filters are better at catching small particles (3–10 microns) like mold spores, hair spray, dust mites and animal dander.
- MERV 11 (BETTER): The best option for residential use. These air filters can remove pollutants as small as 1–3 microns, which includes particles like humidifier dust, auto emissions and legionella.
- MERV 13 (BEST): These filters are usually found in hospitals because they can capture particles as small as 1–0.03 microns in size. Particles this small include bacteria, tobacco smoke and even common contaminants in sneezes. MERV 13 filters, like our Airguard DP13 Green are excellent options if you are looking for exceptional indoor air quality
We offer 3 different ratings in our standard pleated filters
If you are looking for a solution with a higher MERV rating, please contact us so our staff can assist you.