MERV 11

Shop MERV 11 Air & Furnace Filters

MERV 11 filters offer advanced protection against dust, pollen, pet dander, and dust mites—making them ideal for households with pets or anyone with mild allergies. They’re also commonly used in commercial buildings, industrial workplaces, and even paint booths for dependable air quality control.

With the ability to remove up to 85% of airborne particles as small as 1–3 microns, MERV 11 filters help maintain cleaner indoor air and keep your HVAC system running efficiently. If you want to improve air quality without jumping to the highest filtration level, MERV 11 is a smart middle ground.

WHAT MERV 11 AIR FILTER DO YOU NEED?

What Does MERV 11 Protect Against?

MERV 11 filters are designed to capture finer particles than MERV 8 filters, blocking airborne contaminants as small as 1–3 microns. While MERV 8 filters handle most common household particles like dust, pollen, and lint, MERV 11 removes smaller irritants that can affect your health and comfort.

Here’s what MERV 11 filters help protect against:

Dust: Besides standard household dust, MERV 11 filters trap finer dust particles that may escape lower-rated filters, helping keep surfaces and air ducts cleaner for longer.
Pollen: Ideal during allergy season, MERV 11 filters reduce the amount of pollen circulating indoors, easing allergy symptoms like sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes.
Dust mites: These microscopic pests and their droppings can trigger allergic reactions. MERV 11 filters effectively reduce their presence in the air.
Bacteria: MERV 11 filters capture larger bacterial particles, helping limit exposure and contributing to a healthier indoor environment.
Pet dander: These filters trap fine dander particles that can otherwise linger in the air and stick to surfaces. They are great for homes with one or more pets.
Cigarette smoke: MERV 11 filters can help reduce lingering smoke particles, improving air quality in homes with smokers or neighbors who smoke.
Smog: In areas with high pollution levels, MERV 11 filters provide added protection by capturing smog particles that may otherwise enter through HVAC systems.

If you’re looking for a more affordable air filter, MERV 8 is a solid option for general use. But if you want stronger protection against airborne pollutants, allergens, or mild smoke, MERV 11 offers a great balance between filtration performance and airflow.

For even higher protection, especially from viruses, mold spores, or fireplace smoke, MERV 13 is your best bet.

Available MERV 11 Air Filter Sizes

Most Common MERV 11 Filters

Below are the most common MERV 11 filter sizes, perfect for residential and commercial HVAC systems.

Popular MERV 11 Filter Sizes

MERV Comparison

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Recommended for

Ideal for

Comparable Ratings

Particle Capture

Dust / Pollen

Mold

Dust Mites

Bacteria

Pet Dander

Smoke

Allergens

Cooking

Odor

Smog

MERV 8

General Use

Families & Offices

Similar to MPR 600 & FPR 5

Filters 90% of Common Particles

Yes

MERV 11

Enhanced Filtration

Allergy Relief

Similar to MPR 1000–1200 & FPR 7

Filters 95% of Common Particles

Yes

MERV 13

Highest Efficiency

Sensitive Environments

Similar to MPR 1500–1900 & FPR 10

Filters 98% of Common Particles

Yes

MERV 8 Carbon

Odor Control & General Use

Homes with Pets, Smokers, or Odors

Not specified

Filters 75–80% of particles 1–3 microns

Yes

What is a MERV 11 Filter?

A MERV 11 filter offers mid-level filtration—more powerful than MERV 8, but not as intense as MERV 13. It’s a great choice if you want better indoor air quality without overloading your HVAC system.

MERV 11 filters are recommended for homes with one or more pets, or for people with mild to moderate allergies or asthma. They capture smaller particles like pet dander, mold spores, and fine dust that a MERV 8 filter might miss.

If you don’t have pets, allergies, or breathing sensitivities, a MERV 8 filter usually provides enough protection for everyday air quality needs. But if you want cleaner air and an extra layer of defense against airborne irritants, MERV 11 is a solid step up.

MERV Ratings: What Does MERV 11 Mean?

MERV refers to the “minimum efficiency reporting value” of a filter. The rating measures how effectively the filter stops contaminants and other particles from entering a home through the HVAC system. Established in 1987 by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), MERV is the only standardized filter rating system.

The higher the MERV rating, the more airborne contaminants the filter can remove from the air before entering your home. A high MERV filter also means the HVAC system has to work harder because there is more to block airflow. Using a filter that’s too high for your system can increase back pressure and block airflow, affecting your system’s efficiency.

Filters in the 8 to 13 range are best for residential and commercial environments. MERV 4 to 6 aren’t recommended for residential use, but have adequate removal efficiency in handling industrial applications. MERV 14 to 20 is best for hospital and laboratory applications where capturing as much as possible from the air is necessary. MERV 11 furnace filters offer a balance between indoor air quality and HVAC efficiency.

Where do HEPA filters fit in? They aren’t MERV rated, but would be equivalent to the MERV 17 to 20 range because of how much air filtration they provide.

Other rating systems, like the microparticle (MPR) and filter performance rating (FPR), are available but aren’t independent consumer standards. 3M created the MPR system to rate their products, while Home Depot developed the FPR.

What Does a MERV 11 Filter Block?

MERV 11 air filters block at least 65% to 79% of airborne particles in the 1.0 to 3.0-micron size range. They’ll also provide 85% or better filtration of particles in the 3.0 to 10.0-micron range. This includes things like:

Pet dander
Pollen
Dust and lint
Mold spores
Hair spray
Carpet and clothing fibers
Cement dust
Humidifier dust
Auto emissions
Smog
Milled flour

For reference, a single human hair is 20 to 40 microbes in size, while viruses, the smallest airborne microbes, are 0.1 to 0.3 microns.

Is the MERV 11 Too Strong for Home Use?

Not at all! MERV 11 is safe for most residential HVAC systems. It strikes a good balance between filtration power and airflow, meaning it won’t overwork your system under normal conditions.

Unless your HVAC unit specifically recommends a lower-rated filter, MERV 11 is a smart upgrade if you want cleaner air, especially in homes with pets, allergy sufferers, or higher dust levels.

Who is the MERV 11 Best For?

The MERV 11 filter is best for pet owners and people with certain health conditions, such as mild allergies and asthma. It offers more filtration for cleaner air than the MERV 8 but doesn’t filter as much as the MERV 13 (the highest option suggested for residential use).

Upgrading to the MERV 13 may be the better option if you or someone in your home deals with:

Severe allergies
Severe asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic bronchitis
Or another similar health condition that affects the lungs and breathing

How Often Should a MERV 11 Filter Be Changed?

As your filter works to trap airborne particles and contaminants, it gets dirty. When left too long, it blocks airflow, forcing the system to work harder to pull air through, driving up energy costs and increasing wear and tear.

Typically, air filters last three to five months before they need to be replaced. However, this is not a hard and fast rule, so you may need to change your filter on a different schedule. Signs it’s time to change your filter include:

Abnormally high energy bills
Dust and dirt covering the filter’s surface area
Dust build-up around the home.
Burning smells around your HVAC system

Changing your air filter regularly is one of the most important maintenance tasks you can do to keep your HVAC system in top shape.

Filter King: Air Filter Delivery Service

Filter King offers a hassle-free MERV 11 air filter subscription service so you never forget to replace your air filters. Simply choose your correct filter size and your preferred delivery frequency, and we’ll handle the rest! Even if you have an odd-sized filter, our custom filters have you covered.