Size page
12x20x1 air filter: actual size, MERV, and price
A 12x20x1 is a narrower one-inch-class furnace or AC filter. Buy the printed size 12x20x1. The panel is smaller than 12 by 20 inches — commonly 11.75 × 19.75 × 0.75, with Filtrete closer to 11.81 × 19.81 × 0.81 or 11.68 × 19.68 × 0.81 and Nordic Pure about 11.5 × 19.5 × 0.75.
Same panel, swapped axes: 20x12x1. We treat 12x20x1 as the canonical label. Order 12x20x1. Do not substitute 12x24x1 or 16x20x1 — those are different printed sizes.
Actual size by brand
These numbers are copied from manufacturer or merchant product copy, not from a competitor size chart. Thickness is part of the fit: 1-inch racks take ~¾ inch media.
| Brand | Nominal | Published actual (in.) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honeywell 1-inch Standard/High/Ultra Efficiency (MERV 8, 11, and 13) | 12x20x1 | 11.75 × 19.75 × 0.75 | Honeywell Store product specs (4-pack and 12-pack) |
| Filtrete 12x20x1 MPR 1000 / MERV 11 | 12x20x1 | 11.81 × 19.81 × 0.81 | Amazon B07CS6Z1PC title “Actual Size 11.81 x 19.81 x 0.81 in” and product-dimensions field 19.81 × 0.81 × 11.81; Amazon Filtrete store 2-pack, 4-pack, and 6-pack titles match 11.81 |
| Filtrete 12x20x1 MPR 1000 / MERV 11 (some listings) | 12x20x1 | 11.68 × 19.68 × 0.81 | Amazon B005GZ98DE 4-pack and B07FP5X3KD 6-pack titles “Actual Size 11.68 x 19.68 x 0.81 in”; B005GZ98DE product-dimensions field lists 19.81 × 0.81 × 11.81; B07FP5X3KD product-dimensions field lists 19.78 × 11.81 × 0.81 |
| Filtrete 12x20x1 MPR 1500 / MERV 12 | 12x20x1 | 11.81 × 19.81 × 0.78 | Amazon B07CQGJKBL title “Actual Size 11.81 x 19.81 x 0.78 in”; product-dimensions field lists 19.81 × 0.78 × 11.81 |
| Nordic Pure 12x20x1 pleated | 12x20x1 | Approximately 11.5 × 19.5 × 0.75 (11½ × 19½ × ¾) | JB Tools listing for Nordic Pure 12x20x1M8-12 and 12x20x1M13-12 |
If you currently run Nordic Pure (~11.5 × 19.5) and switch to Honeywell (11.75 × 19.75), expect a snugger slide-in. Honeywell 11.75 vs Filtrete 11.81 or 11.68 can matter in a tight slot. Filtrete’s published actuals also disagree with each other by SKU and by field. Measure the old filter if the slot is tight. Full method: how to measure.
MERV 8 vs 11 vs 13 (facts only)
MERV is ASHRAE 52.2, as summarized by EPA. Higher MERV captures a larger share of smaller particles. It also adds resistance. EPA says to pick at least MERV 13 or as high a rating as your system fan and filter slot can accommodate, and to ask an HVAC technician if you are unsure. A 1-inch MERV 13 is not HEPA. We do not claim health outcomes.
| MERV | EPA average capture efficiency (particle size) | Typical 12x20x1 use |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | ≥20% of 1.0–3.0 µm; ≥70% of 3.0–10.0 µm | Common pleated replacement when the manual does not call for higher |
| 11 | ≥20% of 0.30–1.0 µm; ≥65% of 1.0–3.0 µm; ≥85% of 3.0–10.0 µm | Mid-grade 1-inch pleat (Filtrete MPR 1000 is commonly labeled MERV 11) |
| 13 | ≥50% of 0.30–1.0 µm; ≥85% of 1.0–3.0 µm; ≥90% of 3.0–10.0 µm | Higher-efficiency 1-inch; confirm the furnace/air handler can take the extra pressure drop |
Source: U.S. EPA, “What is a MERV rating?”, last updated 14 Jan 2026. Filtrete also prints an MPR number; MPR is 3M’s scale, not MERV. Compare MERV to MERV.
Pack prices checked 30 Aug 2026
These are public shelf/cart prices we recorded on 30 Aug 2026. They are not live. Shipping, subscribe-and-save, and store-only deals will move them. Per-filter math is pack price ÷ count, rounded to the cent.
| Listing | MERV | Pack | Price that day | Per filter | Merchant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honeywell 12x20x1 Standard Efficiency | 8 | 4 | $26.95 | $6.74 | Honeywell Store |
| Honeywell 12x20x1 Standard Efficiency | 8 | 12 | $70.95 | $5.91 | Honeywell Store |
| Nordic Pure 12x20x1 pleated (reseller) | 8 | 12 | $79.19 | $6.60 | JB Tools |
| Honeywell 12x20x1 High Efficiency | 11 | 4 | $32.95 | $8.24 | Honeywell Store |
| Honeywell 12x20x1 High Efficiency | 11 | 12 | $91.95 | $7.66 | Honeywell Store |
| Honeywell 12x20x1 Ultra Efficiency | 13 | 4 | $71.95 | $17.99 | Honeywell Store |
| Honeywell 12x20x1 Ultra Efficiency | 13 | 12 | $192.95 | $16.08 | Honeywell Store |
| Nordic Pure 12x20x1 pleated (reseller) | 13 | 12 | $98.99 | $8.25 | JB Tools |
Observed range that day for ordinary pleated 12x20x1: about $5.91–$6.74/filter at MERV 8 in multi-packs (Honeywell 12-pack $5.91; Nordic Pure 12-pack $6.60), $7.66–$8.24 at MERV 11 in Honeywell multi-packs, $8.25–$17.99 at MERV 13, with singles costing more than multi-packs. This size is less common than 16x25x1 or 16x20x1. Target listed a Filtrete 12x20x1 MPR 1000 1-pack (A-15113376); the product page loaded without a public cart price we could isolate, so that pack is omitted rather than guessed. Walmart Filtrete product pages returned a bot check or no public cart price we could record from a product URL, so those pack prices are omitted rather than guessed. Amazon Basics had no published 12x20x1 actual-size listing.
Where to buy
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It does not change the price you pay.
- Honeywell Store Current 1-inch 12x20x1, actual 11.75 × 19.75 × 0.75. Example: MERV 11 12-pack.
- Walmart Filtrete 12x20x1 MPR 1000 / MERV 11 packs: Filtrete 12x20x1 search (pack counts on the same product family).
- Target Filtrete 12x20x1 MPR 1000 1-pack: Target A-15113376.
- Amazon Search this size: 12x20x1 furnace filter.
- Home Depot Category for this size (pickup): 12x20x1 air filters.
- AirFilters.com Custom and stock 12x20x1 cuts: airfilters.com.
- Nordic Pure Reseller listing with published actual 11.5 × 19.5 × 0.75: JB Tools 12x20x1M8-12.
No ranking. Stock and price change. If the slot is an odd fraction that none of these actual sizes match, measure first — that is not a 12x20x1 SKU. A 12x24x1 or 16x20x1 is not a substitute.
Sources (accessed 30 Aug 2026)
- EPA MERV table: epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-merv-rating (updated 14 Jan 2026)
- Honeywell Store 12x20x1 MERV 8/11/13 pack pages (prices and 11.75×19.75×0.75)
- Target Filtrete MPR 1000 12x20x1 1-pack listed (A-15113376); no public cart price isolated in the fetch
- Amazon Filtrete store 12x20x1 titles (actual-size fields). B07CS6Z1PC title 11.81×19.81×0.81. B005GZ98DE and B07FP5X3KD titles 11.68×19.68×0.81 with product-dimensions fields that disagree. B07CQGJKBL title 11.81×19.81×0.78. No Amazon Basics 12x20x1 actual-size listing found
- JB Tools Nordic Pure 12x20x1M8-12 ($79.19) and 12x20x1M13-12 (11.5×19.5×0.75, $98.99)