Fiberglass vs Pleated Air Filters

When it comes to choosing an air filter, having several options to choose from can make the decision more overwhelming than anticipated. Most consumers, though, end up at the same crossroads: fiberglass air filters or pleated air filters.

The two most important factors are cost and air quality - homeowners want their filters to effectively control air quality without having to pay a fortune for it. Fiberglass filters are the cheaper option, but buying filters based solely on the initial price does not guarantee quality air for your home.

Fiberglass air filters

Fiberglass filters are made with spun glass that is encased in a cardboard frame. Often the biggest selling point of fiberglass filters is that they are inexpensive, since the materials they are made with are very affordable. You can get these filters for as low as $1. However, there are several drawbacks to fiberglass air filters that need to be considered.

Pleated air filters

Pleated air filters are made from sheets of cotton, paper or polyester that are folded into pleats, which increases their surface area. They are more expensive than fiberglass filters initially - ranging from $5-$20 - but are the superior choice for home air filters for the following reasons:

Because of their benefits, pleated filters are more expensive than fiberglass filters, ranging from $5 to $20 per filter, but the pros of pleated filters far outweigh the cons. Additionally, there are easy ways to save money per filter when buying pleated. Buying in bulk is a great option - for example, those who buy 3 pleated filters from us (enough to last the year) save about 50% on the per unit cost.

FilterBuy highly recommends pleated air filters over fiberglass filters for use in homes or businesses. We offer pleated air filters in various sizes with MERV 8, MERV 11 and MERV 13 ratings, and you can order them in any quantity.