The 411

Standard Furnace Filter Sizes

Reference guide for standard return vent filters. Remember: actual dimensions are always smaller than nominal size.

Nominal vs Actual Size

Nominal size is the rounded size used for ordering (e.g., 20x25x1). Actual size is the true measurement (e.g., 19.5 x 24.5 x 0.75). Always measure your current filter or filter slot to verify fit.

1-Inch Filters

Nominal SizeActual DimensionsCommon Uses
10x10x1 9.5 x 9.5 x 0.75 Small window AC units, Mini-split systems Buy
10x20x1 9.5 x 19.5 x 0.75 Smaller return vents, Wall-mounted returns Buy
10x24x1 9.5 x 23.5 x 0.75 Narrow return grilles, Specialty installations Buy
12x12x1 11.75 x 11.75 x 0.75 Small square return vents, Window AC units Buy
12x16x1 11.5 x 15.5 x 0.75 Small return grilles, Compact HVAC systems Buy
12x18x1 11.5 x 17.5 x 0.75 Small return vents, Compact residential systems Buy
12x20x1 11.5 x 19.5 x 0.75 Small return grilles, Older residential systems Buy
12x24x1 11.5 x 23.5 x 0.75 Standard return grilles, Residential furnaces Buy
12x30x1 11.5 x 29.5 x 0.75 Long narrow return vents, Specialty installations Buy
12x36x1 11.5 x 35.5 x 0.75 Extra-long return vents, Commercial-residential crossover Buy
14x14x1 13.5 x 13.5 x 0.75 Square return vents, Smaller residential systems Buy
14x18x1 13.5 x 17.5 x 0.75 Small residential returns, Compact HVAC systems Buy
14x20x1 13.5 x 19.5 x 0.75 Standard return vents, Residential furnaces Buy
14x24x1 13.375 x 23.375 x 0.75 Standard return grilles, Residential HVAC systems Buy
14x25x1 13.5 x 24.5 x 0.75 Standard return vents, Residential furnaces Buy
14x30x1 13.5 x 29.5 x 0.75 Long return grilles, Larger residential systems Buy
15x20x1 14.5 x 19.5 x 0.75 Standard return vents, Some older residential systems Buy
16x16x1 15.5 x 15.5 x 0.75 Square return vents, Smaller residential systems Buy
16x20x1 15.5 x 19.5 x 0.75 Standard return vents, Condos Buy
16x24x1 15.5 x 23.5 x 0.75 Standard return grilles, Residential furnaces Buy
16x25x1 15.5 x 24.5 x 0.75 Standard return vents, Most common residential furnaces Buy
16x30x1 15.5 x 29.5 x 0.75 Long return grilles, Larger residential systems Buy
18x18x1 17.5 x 17.5 x 0.75 Square return vents, Mid-size residential systems Buy
18x20x1 17.5 x 19.5 x 0.75 Standard return vents, Residential furnaces Buy
18x24x1 17.5 x 23.5 x 0.75 Standard return grilles, Residential HVAC systems Buy
18x25x1 17.5 x 24.5 x 0.75 Standard return vents, Residential furnaces Buy
18x30x1 17.5 x 29.5 x 0.75 Long return grilles, Larger residential systems Buy
20x20x1 19.5 x 19.5 x 0.75 Square return vents, Older homes Buy
20x24x1 19.5 x 23.5 x 0.75 Standard return vents, Residential furnaces Buy
20x25x1 19.5 x 24.5 x 0.75 Standard return vents, Larger residential furnaces Buy
20x30x1 19.5 x 29.5 x 0.75 Large return vents, Bigger residential systems Buy
24x24x1 23.5 x 23.5 x 0.75 Large square returns, Commercial-residential crossover Buy
24x30x1 23.5 x 29.5 x 0.75 Large return vents, Commercial-residential Buy
25x25x1 24.5 x 24.5 x 0.75 Large square returns, Commercial applications Buy
30x36x1 29.5 x 35.5 x 0.75 Large commercial returns, Industrial HVAC Buy

2-Inch Filters

Nominal SizeActual DimensionsCommon Uses
10x20x2 9.5 x 19.5 x 1.75 Compact systems with 2-inch slots, Higher capacity needs Buy
12x12x2 11.5 x 11.5 x 1.75 Small 2-inch slots, Compact systems Buy
12x20x2 11.5 x 19.5 x 1.75 2-inch filter racks, Compact residential systems Buy
12x24x2 11.375 x 23.375 x 1.75 Standard 2-inch filter racks, Residential furnaces with 2-inch slots Buy
14x20x2 13.375 x 19.375 x 1.75 2-inch filter racks, Residential systems Buy
14x25x2 13.375 x 24.375 x 1.75 2-inch filter racks, Residential furnaces Buy
16x20x2 15.5 x 19.5 x 1.75 Standard 2-inch filter racks, Residential furnaces Buy
16x25x2 15.5 x 24.5 x 1.75 Standard 2-inch filter racks, Residential furnaces Buy
18x25x2 17.5 x 24.5 x 1.75 2-inch filter racks, Residential systems Buy
20x20x2 19.5 x 19.5 x 1.75 Square 2-inch filter racks, Residential furnaces Buy
20x24x2 19.5 x 23.5 x 1.75 Standard 2-inch filter racks, Residential furnaces Buy
20x25x2 19.5 x 24.5 x 1.75 Standard 2-inch filter racks, Larger residential furnaces Buy
24x24x2 23.5 x 23.5 x 1.75 Large square 2-inch slots, Commercial-residential crossover Buy
25x25x2 24.5 x 24.5 x 1.75 Large square 2-inch slots, Commercial applications Buy
25x28x2 24.5 x 27.5 x 1.75 Specialty installations, Larger systems Buy
30x36x2 29.5 x 35.5 x 1.75 Commercial HVAC, Large residential systems Buy

4-Inch Filters

Nominal SizeActual DimensionsCommon Uses
12x24x4 11.375 x 23.375 x 3.625 Media filter cabinets, Whole-house filtration Buy
14x25x4 13.5 x 24.5 x 3.75 Media filter cabinets, Residential whole-house filtration Buy
16x20x4 15.5 x 19.5 x 3.75 Media filter cabinets, Honeywell F100 systems Buy
16x24x4 15.5 x 23.5 x 3.75 Media filter cabinets, Residential whole-house systems Buy
16x25x4 15.5 x 24.5 x 3.75 Media filter cabinets, Honeywell FC100A1029 Buy
17x22x4 16.5 x 21.5 x 3.75 Specialty media cabinets, Some Carrier/Bryant systems Buy
18x25x4 17.5 x 24.5 x 3.75 Media filter cabinets, Mid-size whole-house systems Buy
19x20x4 18.5 x 19.5 x 3.75 Specialty media cabinets, Specific manufacturer systems Buy
20x20x4 19.5 x 19.5 x 3.75 Media filter cabinets, Square format whole-house systems Buy
20x24x4 19.5 x 23.5 x 3.75 Media filter cabinets, Whole-house filtration Buy
20x25x4 19.5 x 24.5 x 3.75 Media filter cabinets, Honeywell FC100A1037 Buy
23.5x23.5x4 23.38 x 23.38 x 3.75 Large media cabinets, Commercial-residential crossover Buy
24x24x4 23.5 x 23.5 x 3.75 Large media cabinets, Light commercial Buy
25x25x4 24.5 x 24.5 x 3.75 Large media cabinets, Commercial HVAC Buy
30x30x4 29.5 x 29.5 x 3.75 Commercial HVAC systems, Industrial applications Buy

5-Inch Filters

Nominal SizeActual DimensionsCommon Uses
16x25x5 15.88 x 24.88 x 4.38 Lennox Healthy Climate cabinets, Honeywell F200E Buy
16x25x5 15.63 x 24.13 x 4.88 Honeywell media cabinets, FC100A systems Buy
16x25x5 15.38 x 25.5 x 5.25 Trion Air Bear Supreme, Some Lennox BMAC models Buy
20x20x5 19.75 x 19.75 x 4.38 Square media cabinets, Field Controls MAC Buy
20x25x5 19.88 x 24.88 x 4.38 Lennox Healthy Climate cabinets, Honeywell F200E Buy
20x25x5 19.75 x 24.75 x 4.88 Honeywell media cabinets, Trion Air Bear Buy
20x26x5 19.75 x 25.75 x 4.88 AprilAire 2400 media cabinets, Specialty whole-house systems Buy
24x24x5 23.75 x 23.75 x 4.38 Large square media cabinets, Commercial-residential crossover Buy