When it comes to air purifiers with HEPA filters, you often encounter two classes: HEPA13 and HEPA14. Both are considered "true" HEPA filters according to the European EN 1822 standard, but there is a clear difference in performance, and that difference is not equally relevant for everyone.
The numerical difference
Both classes fall under the European EN 1822 standard, which tests HEPA filters on their ability to capture 0.3-micrometer particles, the most difficult particle size to filter. The difference between HEPA13 and HEPA14 is therefore not in the type of filter, but in the degree of certainty regarding exactly how many particles slip through.
According to EN 1822, the following minimum capture efficiencies apply for 0.3-micrometer particles (the most difficult particle size to filter):
- HEPA13: at least 99.95 percent of particles are captured.
- HEPA14: at least 99.995 percent of particles are captured.
At first glance, that difference seems small, but in percentage terms, HEPA14 lets through about ten times fewer particles than HEPA13. In very high concentrations of pollution, that can make a measurable difference.
What that difference means in practice
For an average household, the difference between 99.95 and 99.995 percent is hardly noticeable. Both classes are considered "medical grade" filtration and easily capture fine dust, pollen, bacteria, and most virus particles. HEPA14 is primarily used in environments where extremely low particle concentrations are required, such as cleanrooms, laboratories, and some healthcare facilities.
The downside of HEPA14
A finer filter also means more resistance to the passing airflow. This has two consequences:
- A more powerful fan is required to move the same amount of air, which can lead to more noise or higher energy consumption.
- HEPA14 filters are more expensive to produce, which is often reflected in a higher purchase price for the device and the replacement filters.
For domestic use, this often does not outweigh the marginal gain in filtration efficiency compared to HEPA13.
Which class does your home need?
For most living situations (allergies, traffic-related fine dust, pets, general air quality), HEPA13 is more than sufficient. It is the same filter class that is used in hospitals and already captures more than 99.9 percent of relevant particles. HEPA14 is mainly interesting for people with very specific medical conditions, in consultation with a doctor, or for professional and industrial applications.
When might HEPA14 be worth it?
For most households, HEPA13 is the logical choice, but there are exceptions. People with a severely weakened immune system, those with specific medical advice from a doctor, or those living in an environment with extremely high fine dust concentrations may benefit from the slightly higher capture efficiency of HEPA14. For the average living room or bedroom, focused on traffic-related fine dust, pets, or hay fever, HEPA14 adds little in practice compared to HEPA13.
Our recommendation
In our experience, households sometimes choose unnecessarily expensive and energy-intensive options by automatically opting for HEPA14 without a specific reason. For home use, we recommend HEPA13 as the best balance between filtration performance, noise level, and energy consumption.
The Dynter AirPure Plus PA244 is equipped with a HEPA13 filter within a 4-stage filtration system, filters 99.97 percent of fine dust, pollen, bacteria, viruses, and microplastics according to specification, and remains quiet and energy-efficient in use at 28 to 60 dB and 45W.