Filtrete MPR vs MERV: The Translation You Actually Need
3M Filtrete labels its filters with MPR (Microparticle Performance Rating), not MERV. MPR was invented by 3M and only 3M uses it. If you're trying to compare a Filtrete MPR 1500 against a Honeywell MERV 11, here's what those numbers actually mean.
The conversion table
- MPR 300 ≈ MERV 6 (basic dust)
- MPR 600 ≈ MERV 8 (Filtrete Clean Living)
- MPR 1000 ≈ MERV 11 (Filtrete Allergen Defense — basic)
- MPR 1500 ≈ MERV 12 (Filtrete Allergen Defense — premium)
- MPR 1900 ≈ MERV 13 (Filtrete Healthy Living)
- MPR 2200 ≈ MERV 13 (Filtrete Ultra Allergen)
- MPR 2800 ≈ MERV 14 (Filtrete Ultimate Allergen)
Why two scales?
MERV (ASHRAE Standard 52.2) measures particle capture across three size bins — 0.3-1, 1-3, and 3-10 microns. MPR is 3M's proprietary scale that weighs sub-micron capture more heavily.
Practically: a Filtrete MPR 1900 captures fine particles slightly better than a typical MERV 13 from another brand, but its 1-3 micron capture is roughly equivalent.
Which scale should you trust?
MERV is the industry standard, used by HVAC professionals and most other brands. MPR is fine for shopping Filtrete-vs-Filtrete, but useless for comparing across brands. Filtrete prints the MERV equivalent on the package too — just in small font on the back.
Same product, different labels
Confusingly, the same Filtrete filter sometimes ships under different MPR numbers depending on retail channel. The Filtrete Healthy Living filter is sold as MPR 2200 at Costco and MPR 1900 at Home Depot — same filter, same MERV 13 capture class, different sticker.
Home Depot's FPR — yet another scale
Just to make it interesting, Home Depot has their own scale: FPR (Filter Performance Rating, 4-10). FPR 7 ≈ MERV 11. FPR 10 ≈ MERV 13. Same approach as MPR — proprietary, marketing-friendly, only useful within one retailer.
Get a reminder when it's time to change.
Filtermap sends a friendly email when your specific filter is due — and the best Amazon price the day you need it.