The Difference Between MERV and MPR Ratings

When it comes to your home’s different systems, there are a lot of acronyms, and it can get overwhelming to keep them all straight. Especially when you’re trying to compare one against another!

There are two common ratings you’ll come across when you’re shopping for an air filter for your home furnace: MERV and MPR. They both help you figure out the same thing—how effective your filter is against particles of different sizes. 

MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It is an industry standard, developed back in the late-1980s by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, & Air-Conditioning Engineers). 

MPR is another rating system developed by 3M, used to help customers find the right Filtrete filter for their furnace.

They both measure particle size in microns, and help you choose between a basic, better, and best level of air filtration. With both of these ratings systems, the higher the number, the better your home is protected from harmful contaminants like dust, mould, smoke, smog, chemical substances, viruses and bacteria.

Here is a handy chart to help you find the filter you’re looking for.