Ships from Amazon / Prime
Levoit Core 300-RF
The cheapest filter to run of the units we cover. Buy the pack that names Core 300-RF so the gasket seals.
- Fits Core 300 and Core 300S / 300S-P
- Every 6–8 months: about $53–71 a year
Filters · cost per year · Canada
How often to change a HEPA filter in Canada (and what it costs per year)
The filter is the part you keep paying for. A purifier that needs a $90 filter twice a year costs more over five years than its sticker price suggests. Below are the replacement intervals and the approximate yearly cost in CAD for the purifiers we cover, so you can compare before you buy.
Intervals are the maker-style ranges listed on our filter replacement guide. Cost per year is simple arithmetic: filter price × replacements per year. Smoke, cooking and pets shorten every interval.
Filter cost per year, by purifier
| Filter | Fits | Price (CAD) | Replace every | About per year | Amazon.ca rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levoit Core 300-RF | Levoit Core 300 / 300S / 300S-P | $35.32 | 6–8 months | $53–71 | 4.6 ★ · 22,075 reviews |
 Winix Filter Q 1712-0123-00 | Winix 5510 / 5520 | $79.98 | ~12 months | $80 | 4.4 ★ · 104 reviews |
 Honeywell HRF-R1C Type R | Honeywell Insight HPA5250BC (needs 2) | $29.97 each | ~12 months | $60 + HRF-AP1C pre-filter | 4.7 ★ · 848 reviews |
 Coway AP-1512HH-FP | Coway Airmega 200M / AP-1512HH | $71.86 | HEPA ~12 months · carbon ~6 months | About $72, more if smoke is heavy | 4.5 ★ · 8,077 reviews |
 Levoit Vital 200S-RF | Levoit Vital 200S / 200S-P | $68.69 | 6–8 months | $103–137 | 4.8 ★ · 1,482 reviews |
 Blueair F2MAX | Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max | $89.99 | 6–9 months | $120–180 | 4.7 ★ · 793 reviews |
Own a Made-in-Canada Dupray Bloom? Its replacement filter comes from Dupray; check the current price on dupray.com.
When to change it early
- The pre-filter or the outer face of the filter has turned grey.
- The unit sounds louder at the same speed, or the airflow feels weaker.
- You ran it hard through a wildfire smoke week.
- Cooking smells or odours come back sooner than they used to; the carbon layer is likely spent.
Habits that save money
- Write the install date on the filter frame with a marker.
- Buy one sealed spare in spring, before smoke season, when stock is easy to find.
- Vacuum or wash washable pre-filters monthly so the HEPA layer lasts its full interval.
- Search the part number printed on the old filter, not just the brand name.
Lowest yearly cost
Ships from Amazon / Prime
Winix Filter Q 1712-0123-00
One genuine set a year for the 5510 / 5520. It will not fit the old 5500-2, which used Filter H.
- Fits Winix 5510 / 5520 only
- About every 12 months: about $80 a year
Questions people ask
How often should I change a HEPA filter?
Most home purifier filters last 6 to 12 months. Levoit Core 300-RF and Vital 200S-RF filters are rated for 6 to 8 months, Blueair F2MAX for 6 to 9 months, and Winix Filter Q, Coway and Honeywell Type R HEPA filters for about 12 months. Change sooner after heavy smoke.
Can I wash or vacuum a HEPA filter?
No. Only wash or vacuum the parts the maker calls washable, such as the Winix FineMesh pre-filter, the Blueair fabric sleeve or the Coway pre-filter. Washing the HEPA layer damages it.
Does wildfire smoke shorten filter life?
Yes. A heavy smoke week can load a filter much faster than normal use. If the pre-filter looks grey or the unit sounds louder at the same speed, replace the filter early.
Is the filter light on my purifier a sensor?
On many purifiers the filter light is a timer based on running hours, not a measurement of the filter. Treat it as a reminder and check the filter yourself.
Are off-brand replacement filters OK?
We list genuine filters only. Off-brand media can leak air around the frame, which quietly lowers the purifier's real CADR.