When it comes to choosing the right air filter for your home, it can be difficult to decide between a MERV rating or an FPR rating. Both are useful, but the FPR may be easier to understand, since it uses a more intuitive numbering system. The FPR stands for Filter Performance Rating and is a patented classification system developed by The Home Depot for the brands of HVAC air filters they sell in their stores. The FPR scores range from one to ten, with ten being the best.
For homeowners who are just starting to use HVAC air filters and care about them, FPR values are an excellent starting point. A minimum efficiency report value (MERV) and a filter performance index (FPR) are two ways to measure the effectiveness of an air filter. The higher the rating (for MERV, FPR and MPR), the smaller the air and dust particles your home air conditioning filter can capture. Any filter rated 4 to 5 on the FPR scale must be good enough to remove common household air contaminants, such as dust, lint, dust mites, pet dander, and pollen. My recommendation is to buy filters with a MERV rating whenever possible. All three classifications have their problems, but even Home Depot and 3M admit on their websites that MERV is the industry standard for rating filters.
In addition, if you want the filter to improve indoor air quality and not just protect the heating and air conditioning system, choose the MERV-13, FPR-10, MPR-1900 or higher. However, make sure that you can do this without reducing airflow and possibly damaging the system. HVAC air filters with an FPR of 4 are “good filters”, while HVAC air filters with an FPR of 10 are “premium filters”. So if you're looking for a good quality filter for your home, an FPR 7 should be good enough.
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