How To Tell Which Way Your Ac Filters Go

Measure out to Notice Your Air Filter Size

With all the dissimilar air filter sizes available, it can exist daunting to find the right one for your AC unit. There are literally thousands of air filter sizes, and HVAC manufacturers are incentivized to make information technology as catchy every bit possible so that you are stuck paying for their overpriced replacements.

Don't worry, though - we've got yous covered. This guide will take you through the process of identifying your air conditioner filter size footstep-past-step, and so you can purchase a properly sized replacement air filter without any hesitation.

find custom filter sizes at Filterbuy

Check for Air Filter Dimensions on the Side of your Air Filter

Most filters come labelled with 2 size measurements that can be found along the filter's side. Often there is a 'nominal' size written in big print, equally well as an adjacent 'bodily' size written in smaller print. All of the filters listed on filterbuy.com are listed by nominal size unless specifically labeled otherwise.

Examples of common air filter sizes and dimensions, here showing standard 1

This is the easiest and almost obvious manner to discover your air-conditioning filter size, but not all filters have size measurements listed on them. In this example, finding the size of your filter will crave taking a few measurements by hand.

The Difference Between Nominal and Bodily Size in Air Filter Measurements

A lot of our customers can sometimes get confused past the difference betwixt nominal vs. actual sizes listed on replacement air filters.

Nominal Air Filter Size – the "nominal" size lists the general dimensions often rounding upwardly or down to the nearest whole or one-half number to make information technology easier to keep track of dimension sizes for ordering replacements. Information technology'southward a sort of shorthand that defines the size of vent the air filter itself will comfortably fit into.
Actual Air Filter Size – The actual size of an air filter is often .25" - .v" less and shows the air filters actual dimensional specs

The size listed in large print on the size of your filter is more often than not the 'nominal' filter size. We do our all-time to specify actual dimensions throughout our website and then that there is no confusion, all the same, filters within .25" or less of your existing filter are generally interchangeable.

How to Measure Your Air Filter Dimensions

If the size is not written on the side of your air filter, the next step is to take out your trusty tape measure.

Image of a tape measure used to measure air filters that do not have sizes listed or are not standard sized ac filters

You demand to measure the length, width, and depth.

For air filters, the length and width dimensions are interchangeable, though conventionally the larger of the measurements is the width and the shorter of the measurements is the length. The smallest of the dimensions will about always be the depth.

For example, if an air filter's dimensions are 12" Ten 20" Ten 1", that means the following:

Width = 12"
Length = xx"
Depth = i"

In some cases the length and the width are interchangeable, merely you'll always need to make sure that yous mensurate for those three specific air filter or furnace filter dimensions.

Below y'all can see an example of an air filter size nautical chart:

air filter size chart by Filterbuy

As for the depth measurement, standard air filters sizes are nominally 1" (bodily 0.75"), 2" (actual 1.75"), and 4" (actual 3.75") deep. These standard air filter sizes are easier to observe and are the about usually used. To shop for these standard filters by size, click below.

What If Standard Filter Sizes Don't Match Your Air Filter's Dimensions?

If you don't see your size, you tin can create it yourself using our custom filter tool. Building a custom AC or furnace filter allows you to pick specific dimensions if the standard sizes don't work for you.

Whether you decide on custom or standard, we always provide the ability to select functioning rating of filter, selection the quantity of filters, and choose whether you would similar filters delivered at recurring intervals.

Image of commonly sized air filters, including a 1-inch filter, a 2-inch ac filter, and a 4-inch standard size filter

If the filter you are looking for does not friction match these standard measurements, then you can look for your make on our whole business firm replacement filters page or asking a custom size filter!

Find the Right Air Filter Size for Yous

Once you properly measure your air filter and get the correct dimensions, you can search for it on our mutual filter sizes page. We recommend you offset your replacement air filter search by narrowing down to your air filter's depth.