You pull the old filter from the return grille in your wall and read the numbers printed on the cardboard frame. At the hardware store the shelf tags stop at 25x25, and a second rack holds nothing larger. A wide two inch return needs a 25x28x2 air filter, and the local store rarely carries that size. You have done the hard part, because you found the printed number and you found our store. We stock this exact size as a box of six in three grades, and we ship it to your house. You can stop searching the local shelves. This guide confirms the size match, puts the three grades on one table, and gives you the change steps.
25x28x2 on the frame, 24.5x28.5x1.75 on the tape, and both are right
The nominal size prints on the edge of the old cardboard frame, and you order by that printed number. A tape measure gives the actual size, and ordering by the tape number gets the wrong filter. The frame shows 25x28x2 while your tape reads 24.5 x 28.5 x 1.75 inches, and both numbers tell the truth. The nominal number works as the category label, and the actual size is the physical dimension. Manufacturers print the nominal number so that every box for the same slot carries the same label, and the actual size is what fits inside the metal track.
Every 25x28x2 pleated air filter we sell measures 24.5 x 28.5 x 1.75 inches. The actual size leaves a small gap in the metal return housing, and that gap helps you pull the frame out. A tight fit crushes the cardboard edges, a crushed frame bends the pleats, and air bypasses a bent frame. A proper fit seals the edges and slides in with light pressure. Our size guide explains how to read the dimensions on any frame. The old frame gives you the only number you need, and we match that printed number to the filters in our store.
Three grades on one table for a box of six
We stock the 25x28x2 in three grades, and we sell each grade as a box of six. A 25x28x2 MERV 8 captures dust, lint and pollen. MERV 11 adds pet dander and finer dust to the capture list. MERV 13 adds smoke and fine particles.
| Grade | Price per box of six | Price per filter | What it captures |
|---|---|---|---|
| MERV 8 | $99.99 | $16.67 | Dust, lint and pollen |
| MERV 11 | $129.99 | $21.67 | Adds pet dander and finer dust |
| MERV 13 | $149.99 | $25.00 | Adds smoke and fine particles |
A box of six 25x28x2 MERV 8 costs $99.99, or $16.67 per filter. The 25x28x2 MERV 11 box costs $129.99, or $21.67 per filter. The 25x28x2 MERV 13 Pleated Air Filter 6PK costs $149.99, or $25.00 per filter. The step from MERV 11 to MERV 13 costs $20.00 more a box, and the step from MERV 8 to MERV 13 costs $50.00 more a box. Every filter has tight pleats with an electrostatic charge, and the charge helps the pleats hold airborne particles inside the folds. The static draws the dust to the media, and the folds trap it. You pay fifty dollars more to move from basic dust capture to fine particle capture across a full year of filters.
MERV 13 on a two inch return
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. The ASHRAE 52.2 test behind it measures what share of particles in each size range a filter captures. Our guide on MERV 11 and MERV 13 states that MERV 11 captures about 20 percent of particles between 0.3 and 1 micron, and that MERV 13 captures at least 50 percent of that range. That is what the $20.00 buys.
A two inch pleat carries more media face than a one inch panel, so it holds a higher grade with less resistance than a one inch filter of the same grade. Your furnace or air handler manual lists the filter resistance the blower is rated for, and that manual is the authority for your system. Our MERV 13 Air Filters collection lists every size we stock in that grade. Our MERV 11 media is changing to blue, and the change rolls out as existing stock ships first. Only the color shifts, and the capture and the airflow stay the same. We stock the 25x28x2 air filter MERV 13 for the household that wants fine particle capture in a wide return.
How to change a 25x28x2 filter
Changing the filter takes a few minutes and no tools.
- Turn the thermostat off to stop the blower.
- Open the latch on the return grille.
- Pull the old frame out of the metal housing.
- Find the printed airflow arrow on the new frame.
- Push the new frame into the housing with the arrow pointing toward the blower.
- Close the grille and turn the thermostat back on.
Every pleated filter frame prints an arrow, and the arrow points in the direction the air travels, which is out of the room and toward the blower. On a wall return the arrow points into the wall. An arrow pointing out into the room puts the pleats backward against the airflow. Follow the printed direction and push the frame in gently so the sides stay straight. A bent side leaves a gap, and air takes the gap. Write the date on the new frame before you close the grille.
How often a two inch pleat needs changing
We publish no replacement interval for air filters. The equipment manufacturer sets the schedule, and the manual gives the number for your system. General practice puts a two inch pleated filter on a 60 to 90 day change. A two inch depth holds more dust than a one inch panel, which is where the extra time comes from.
Some conditions shorten that timeline. Pets add dander to the air, pollen season fills the house in spring, cooking smoke puts fine particles in the return, and remodeling dust clogs the pleats within days. Check the media often during a remodel and during the pollen bloom. Replace a dark gray face with a fresh filter. A full filter forces the blower to pull against a blocked surface, and the system runs longer to move the same air. A box of six covers a full year at a 60 day change. Twelve months divided by two months is six filters, and one carton lasts the year.
Set the reorder on Subscribe and Save
The old media turns gray while the reorder waits, and the blower works harder against a clogged surface. Our Subscribe and Save program sends a new box on a schedule you choose, at three months, six months or a year. You receive a standing 5 percent discount on every recurring shipment. On the MERV 13 box of six, 5 percent off $149.99 is $142.49. The box arrives when the calendar says to change the media, and the spare filters wait in a dry closet until the next change. You get the highest grade at a lower price per filter, and you always have a clean replacement ready. You can pause a shipment or change the interval from your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 25x28x2 filter the same as 24.5x28.5x1.75?
Yes. The two numbers describe the same filter. The 25x28x2 number prints on the cardboard edge as the nominal size, and 24.5 x 28.5 x 1.75 inches is the actual size on a tape measure. Order by the printed nominal number.
How do I pick a MERV grade for a 25x28x2 return?
All three grades share the same physical size and fit the same housing. The choice depends on what you want to capture. MERV 8 handles dust, lint and pollen. MERV 11 adds pet dander, and MERV 13 adds smoke and fine particles. Every grade installs the same way, and your furnace or air handler manual sets the resistance limit for the blower.
Does a MERV 13 filter restrict airflow in a two inch slot?
A two inch pleat holds a higher grade with less resistance than a one inch frame, because the deeper pleats give the air more surface to pass through. Your furnace or air handler manual lists the filter resistance the blower is rated for. Read the manual to see what your system accepts.
How many filters come in the box?
We sell every 25x28x2 grade as a box of six, and you receive six frames in one carton. A box of six covers a full year when you change the media every sixty days. Store the remaining filters in the carton, in a dry closet, until the next change.
Replace your wide return filter today
The old frame gives you the printed number, and the tape confirms the actual size. We match both. Order the 25x28x2 MERV 13 Pleated Air Filter 6PK today, or choose MERV 8 or MERV 11 in the same size. Our Air Filters collection lists every size we stock. Call 855-789-3278 if you want us to confirm the match. We answer the phone Monday to Friday, 9 to 3 Central, and you can email info@poseidonfilters.com with the size off your frame. We are Poseidon Filters. We sell the filters, and we do not service furnaces or air handlers.
Reviewed by the filtration specialists at Poseidon Filters, who match residential and office systems to the correct filter sizes every day.