What is the Standard Size of an Air Filter?

Learn about common-size air filters for air conditioning units, ovens, HVAC systems & Atomic Filters. Find out how to measure & install an air filter.

What is the Standard Size of an Air Filter?

The filters used in air conditioning units, ovens, HVAC systems, and Atomic Filters are labeled with three-part dimensions. The first number is its length, the second is its width, and the third is its depth or thickness. To the right of the filter, it also includes the actual filter size, which are the true measurements of the filter dimensions by length, width, and depth. These common-size air filters are the sizes that can normally be easily found in large stores such as Home Depot, Walmart, and Lowe's.

Airflow in the wrong direction of a filter can create increased resistance and cause strain on the system. This is the easiest and most obvious way to find the size of your AC filter, but not all filters have size measurements listed on them. The oven filter size chart below lists the standard size 1 inch, 2 inch, and 4 inch deep air conditioner filters for your air conditioner, oven, HVAC and Atomic Filters filters. The primary function of air filters is to protect your HVAC equipment from damage that can be caused by dust and dirt accumulating on the coils.

For example, a filter labeled 10 X 12 X 1 is 10 inches long, 12 inches wide, and one inch thick. The filter should be slightly smaller on each side of the filter housing slot, allowing you to slide the filter in and out with ease. If the filter is too small, it will loosen and some of the air (and dirt) will not pass through the air filter. First understand that air filters, oven filters, AC filters, and air conditioning filters are all the same filters.

Filters don't need to fit a “tight seal”, but you should be able to easily install and uninstall the filter effortlessly. So if you need to find household air filter sizes, HVAC filter sizes, oven filter sizes, or AC filter sizes or air conditioner filter sizes, you're looking for the same thing. With all the available air filter sizes, it can be overwhelming to find the right one for your air conditioning unit. Newer system air filters don't just focus on protecting equipment but also on improving the air quality in your home which is one of the top health issues listed by the EPA, CDC, and American Lung Association.

This rounded measurement is called the nominal size and is used to match the correct filter to the air cleaner slot of the accessory.

Amanda Boose
Amanda Boose

Freelance coffee advocate. Evil social media advocate. Hardcore internet trailblazer. Avid twitteraholic. Passionate tv aficionado.

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