Best 16x22.25x2 MERV 13 Furnace & HVAC Air Conditioner Filters

By Michelle Wan, Brand Manager and Air Quality Writer · Reviewed by David Clark, Licensed HVAC Technician · Published August 12, 2026 · Updated August 12, 2026

TL;DR

The 16x22.25x2 MERV 13 is a listed size, so you can order it as-is. MERV 13 is our Optimal tier, and it captures 98% of airborne particles. It's the tier to reach for when smoke is the concern. Check your HVAC manual to confirm which MERV rating your system takes, the same way you'd confirm a size. We cut, pleat, and frame every filter to order in our own US plants.

Key Takeaways

• 16x22.25x2 is a listed size. You don't need a custom order, and you don't need to round to something close.

• MERV 13 is our Optimal tier. It captures 98% of airborne particles, and it's comparable to MPR 1500–1900 and FPR 10.

• Reach for MERV 13 when smoke is the concern. MERV 11 covers allergies and pets, MERV 8 covers everyday dust.

• Check your HVAC manual to confirm which MERV rating your system takes.

• Plan on a fresh filter about every 90 days. Homes with pets or heavy use go through them faster.

Is 16x22.25x2 Your Size?

Start with the filter you're pulling out. Almost every filter has its size printed on the cardboard frame, usually along one edge. If yours reads 16x22.25x2, you're in the right place and you can order it as-is. If the print has worn off or there's no filter in the slot, measure the slot itself.

That 22.25 throws people, because it doesn't look like a size anyone would round to. It's a real size, we stock it, and it ships like any other.

One thing worth knowing about filter sizes generally: the number you order by is the nominal size, and the filter itself is cut a little smaller on purpose. That bit of clearance is what lets it slide into the track instead of binding. So a filter measuring slightly under its stated size isn't a defect. It's how it's supposed to fit.

If your measurement doesn't match anything on our size list, we'll cut one for you. Custom filters go to the eighth of an inch, in MERV 8, 11, or 13. Enter your numbers on the custom air filters page and we'll build it.

What Does MERV 13 Do, and When Should You Pick It?

MERV 13 is our Optimal tier, and it captures 98% of airborne particles. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, the industry scale for how much a filter catches. Here's how our tiers compare.

MPR and FPR are third-party rating systems operated by other companies, shown here for comparison only.

Picking between them is mostly about what's bothering you at home:

• MERV 8 is the standard choice for most homes.

• MERV 11 is the one for allergies and asthma, and it's also the pick for pets and pollen.

• MERV 13 is the one for smoke.

• Odor Eliminator, our activated carbon filter, is the one for odors.

If smoke is what brought you here, MERV 13 is the tier built for it. The EPA also points to MERV 13 or higher for households dealing with wildfire smoke (EPA guidance).

Want the step down? Compare the 16x22.25x2 MERV 11 and 16x22.25x2 MERV 8 in the same frame.

Will MERV 13 Work With Your System?

Check your HVAC manual to confirm which MERV rating your system takes. It's a quick fit check, the same as confirming the size, and it takes one look at the specifications page. Your installer can also tell you in a sentence if you'd rather ask.

Do it once and you'll know for good, whichever tier you end up buying.

How Often Should You Replace a 16x22.25x2 MERV 13 Filter?

Plan on about every 90 days. That's the interval these are built for, and for most homes it lines up neatly with the change of seasons.

Some households go through them faster. Pets, a full house, running the system hard through a hot summer, or a stretch of smoky weather will all load a filter sooner than a quiet spring will.

Here's the check that beats any calendar: pull the filter out and hold it up to a light. If light doesn't come through the pleats, it's done, whatever the date says. Take thirty seconds to do that once a month and you'll never guess.

Buying more than one saves money. The per-filter price drops as the quantity goes up, so a 4 pack or a 6 pack costs less each than a single. A 4 pack covers a year of 90-day changes. A 6 pack covers a year at 60 days and leaves you spares. Auto-delivery sends the next set on your schedule and takes another 5% off.

Why Buy From Filterbuy?

We're a manufacturer, not a reseller. Your filter is cut, pleated, and framed to order in our own US plants, then shipped straight to you. Fast and free 2-day delivery to most US states.

That's also why we carry over 600 sizes and cut custom ones. When you make them yourself, an odd size is just another order. Breathe easy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the Actual Size of a 16x22.25x2 Air Filter?

It's listed and sold as 16x22.25x2, and that's the number to order by. Like all filters, the cut is slightly under the nominal size so it slides into the track without binding. The exact figure is on the product specifications above.

Can I Use a 1-Inch Filter Instead of a 2-Inch?

No. A 1-inch filter sits loose in a 2-inch track, which lets air slip around the frame instead of going through the filter. Order the depth your slot is built for.

Can I Stack Two 1-Inch Filters to Make a 2-Inch?

No, that doesn't work the way people expect, and it isn't the same as a single 2-inch filter. If your slot takes a 2-inch, buy a 2-inch.

Do You Carry 16x22.25 in Other Depths?

Yes. We make this footprint in 1-inch, 2-inch, and 4-inch. Check which one your slot is built for and order that.

What if My Size Isn't Listed?

We'll cut it. Custom filters go to the eighth of an inch in MERV 8, 11, and 13. Start on the custom air filters page.

How Do I Know Which MERV Rating to Buy?

Check your HVAC manual for the ratings your system takes, then pick from those based on what you're dealing with: MERV 8 for everyday dust, MERV 11 for allergies and pets, MERV 13 for smoke.

Are Filterbuy Filters Made in the USA?

Yes. We cut, pleat, and frame them to order in our own US plants.