Four filters.Four families.Which is yours?
MERV is a rating for how fine a particle a filter catches: the higher the number, the smaller the particle. Meet the household each tier is made for, from our finest filter down to the simplest. When you are ready, the assessment picks the right one for your home.
Premium Shield
Three generations under one roof
Grandma is holding the newest arrival, Grandpa is beaming, and the kids are crowding in for a look. When one home holds everyone from a newborn to the grandparents, this family wants the finest filter a home system takes, one that catches the smallest particles drifting in from outside or rising from the kitchen.
What it captures
- Smoke, exhaust and ultra-fine particles
- Bacteria-size particles (≥50% at 0.3–1 µm)
- Virus-carrying particles (≥50% at 0.3–1 µm)
Captures at least 50% of airborne particles 0.3–1 micron (the size of many bacteria and virus-carrying droplets), at least 85% of particles 1–3 microns and at least 90% of particles 3–10 microns. How we rate capture
Right for
Homes near wildfire smoke or heavy traffic, or anyone who wants the finest filter a home system takes.
The air quality assessment asks about your home and picks the tier for you.
Allergy Defense
Air Quality You Can Trust.
Kids on the rug, a dog by the sofa
Two little ones building towers on the floor, a golden retriever who sheds all year, and windows open most of the day. This family’s air carries more of the fine stuff, from dander and pollen to fine dust, and that is exactly what MERV 11 is made to catch. It is our flagship for a reason.
What it captures
- Fine dust
- Pet dander
- Pollen and common allergens
- Mold spores
- PM2.5 and smog particles
Captures at least 20% of airborne particles 0.3–1 micron, at least 65% of particles 1–3 microns and at least 85% of particles 3–10 microns. How we rate capture
Right for
Homes with pets, allergies, or anyone who notices the seasons changing indoors.
The air quality assessment asks about your home and picks the tier for you.
Everyday Clean
A calm, bright home for two
Coffee by the open window, a good book on the sofa, and nobody in the house managing allergies. This couple wants a clean, comfortable home that stays that way without a second thought. MERV 8 is the everyday standard, and for most homes it is the right call.
What it captures
- Household dust
- Mold spores
- Pet dander at normal levels
- Dust-mite debris
Captures at least 20% of airborne particles 1–3 microns and at least 70% of particles 3–10 microns. How we rate capture
Right for
Most homes, most of the time. The everyday default.
The air quality assessment asks about your home and picks the tier for you.
Essential Protection
One person, one easygoing apartment
A small place by the beach, a laptop on the sofa, and no particular air concerns. Here the filter’s job is simple: keep lint and dust out of the heating and cooling system so it keeps running clean. MERV 5 does that job well.
What it captures
- Lint and carpet fibers
- Dust mites and pollen clumps
- Larger debris
Captures at least 20% of airborne particles 3–10 microns. How we rate capture
Right for
A home with no particular air concerns, where the main job is keeping dust out of your heating and cooling system.
The air quality assessment asks about your home and picks the tier for you.
Higher is not automatically better
A finer filter asks more of your heating and cooling system. The right tier is the one that matches what is actually in your air and what your home is built to move, which depends on your vents, your household and where you live. The assessment asks about all three, and Doctor Merv prescribes the tier for you.
Take the air quality assessment