Exact Filters

8-7/8x33-5/8x1 Exact Filters Pleated MERV 8 (12 pack)

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Regular price $ 451.99
Sale price $ 451.99 Regular price
Unit price $ 37.67  per  item
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Estimated delivery: May 6 – May 12
Made to specification — see current production schedule for live timing.
About the filter image
Images are representative across sizes. You'll receive the exact size you select above — actual dimensions are listed in the product specs.
Not sure which size? How to measure · Filter Fit Guarantee
Need a different depth?

Need a 2″ or 4″ version of 8-7/8x33-5/8x1?

Need this in 2″ or 4″ depth? Both are available, made to specification. 2″ ships as a case of 12; 4″ ships as a case of 6 due to volume. Request a quote and we’ll come back with pricing and lead time.


Specifications

Nominal Size

8 7/8 x 33 5/8 x 1 inches

Actual Size

8 7/8 x 33 5/8 x 3/4 inches

MERV Rating

MERV 8

Filter Media

100% synthetic non-woven, proprietary media that can be recycled. Engineered with a gradient density composition that achieves it's MERV rating using the mechanical method of particle capture. Media does not rely on an electrostatic charge to capture particulate, since electrostatic charged filters dissipate over time.

Filter Support Grid

Expanded metal is continuously laminated on the air leaving side to provide pleat stability during operation. Pleat shape is maintained allowing full media utilization which improves dust holding capacity.

Frame

Heavy-duty, two piece, moisture-resistant frame with diagonal support members. Frame is bonded to the media at all points of contact for unsurpassed frame strength. Interlocking corners and positive media-to-frame seal reduce the possibility of air bypass.

Removes

MERV 8 rating reduces up to 75% of large airborne particles including dust and lint, dust mite debris, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, bacteria and virus carriers.

Life

Recommended 90 day changeout

Quantity

12 Filters

Part Number

M8 - 8 7/8 x 33 5/8 x 1 - E


8-7/8x33-5/8x1 Exact Filters Pleated MERV 8 (12 pack)

$ 451.99

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Why Exact Filters®

Made for your slot — not forced to fit it

Exact Filters® are manufactured to your measurements. No trimming, no weatherstripping, no "close enough." Built on the back of 50 years of HVAC filtration experience.

Built to your exact dimensions

Actual dimensions
8 7/8 x 33 5/8 x 3/4 inches
MERV
MERV 8

Measured in 1/8″ increments. The frame matches your slot opening so the media fits where it's supposed to — no shimming, no weatherstripping.

Eliminates filter bypass

When a loose filter lets air slip around the frame instead of through the media, your filter underperforms its MERV rating — sometimes by 20-40%. A precise fit closes that gap so your filter does the job you paid it to do.

More detail on filter bypass further down this page.

Standard MERV options

Available in MERV 1–4, MERV 8, MERV 10, MERV 11, and MERV 13 — same efficiency ratings as our stocked lineup, built to your size.

Media composition and frame construction match industry-standard specifications.

Who Orders These

If your filter slot doesn't match a standard size, you're exactly who these are for

Non-standard slots are more common than the big-box filter world wants to admit. Here's who typically lands on these pages.

Older homes

Homes built before filter sizes standardized (roughly pre-1990) often have slot dimensions like 8 7/8 x 33 5/8 x 1 inches that don't match anything in a retailer's catalog. Regional manufacturers didn't converge on today's standard dimensions until the industry consolidated in the 1990s.

Regional HVAC brands

Broan, Nutone, obsolete units, and discontinued models often used proprietary slot dimensions that never made it into the standard-size catalog. If you can't find your filter anywhere, it's probably one of these.

Contractor-framed slots

When an HVAC installer frames a filter slot in the field — especially during a retrofit — they cut to fit the space, not to match a standard filter. The result: a slot that works perfectly for the system but nothing off the shelf fits.

Retrofit installations

Adding HVAC to a space that wasn't built for it — finished basements, converted attics, additions — almost always produces non-standard slot dimensions. The new system respects the existing envelope, so the filter has to respect the slot.

Commercial & institutional

Mid-century commercial buildings, converted spaces, schools, clinics, and multifamily properties with older AHUs routinely have slot dimensions outside the standard catalog. Volume orders for these properties are a significant share of our Exact Filter business.

Precision-fit applications

Clinical spaces, labs, server rooms, and any environment where air bypass around the filter is a compliance or performance issue — not just a nuisance. If MERV rating matters for your space, slot fit matters too.

What Nobody Explains

Filter bypass — why a loose filter wastes your MERV rating

Filter bypass is what happens when air flows around your filter instead of through it. If there's a gap between the filter frame and the slot — even a small one — air takes the path of least resistance, which is the gap. That air never gets filtered.

The math is punishing. A filter rated MERV 11 that's bypassed by 15% of the airflow effectively performs closer to MERV 8. A MERV 13 with 20% bypass performs closer to MERV 10. This is documented in ASHRAE literature and is a standard problem in field filter performance.

The usual workarounds don't actually work well. Foam weatherstripping around the filter edge compresses unevenly and shifts during operation. Undersized filters with gap-filler material block part of the face area, reducing effective filtration surface. Oversized filters that get forced into the slot warp, reducing media effectiveness and creating turbulence.

Bypass doesn't just waste your MERV rating — it eats your equipment. Unfiltered air carries dust, pet dander, and construction debris straight into the parts of your system that aren't supposed to see any of it. Evaporator coils cake with buildup that reduces heat transfer, meaning the compressor works harder and runs longer. Blower wheels get coated and throw off balance, accelerating bearing wear. A season of 15–20% bypass can add up to a coil cleaning service call that runs several hundred dollars; a few years of it can shorten compressor life or require coil replacement that runs into the thousands. If your filter standard isn't perfect, it's not just air quality you're sacrificing — it's the equipment behind the filter slot.

The fix is a filter built to your slot. That's what Exact Filters are. The frame meets the slot edges with the right tolerance — no crushing, no gap. The filter captures the air it's supposed to capture, at the MERV rating you paid for.

By the Case — Facility-Grade Economics

Cases of 12. Pallets for portfolios. Standing orders for the properties that need them.

Exact Filters ship as cases of 12 — the quantity commercial buyers, facility managers, and serious maintenance operations order by default. Older schools and clinics run through them at the ASHRAE-recommended 90-day cadence. Multifamily properties stock them in the maintenance room. Property management companies consolidate the spec across their entire portfolio.

We'll quote volume pricing, set up net-terms or tax-exempt accounts, consolidate mixed sizes under one PO, and schedule standing delivery matched to your change-out cycle.

For facility buyers
Volume pricing on case-quantity and pallet orders
Net terms available for established accounts
Tax-exempt setup for schools, government, resale
Standing orders matched to your change-out cycle
Spec consolidation across mixed-size portfolios

Homeowners stocking a multi-year supply get the same case pricing — no minimum negotiation required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions specific to Exact Filters

Ordering a custom-made filter is different from grabbing a stocked size. Here's what customers ask before they order.

Measuring & ordering
How do I measure my filter slot for an Exact Filter?

Measure the opening of the filter slot itself — not your existing filter. Get length, width, and depth, and measure to the nearest 1/8″ (so 16-1/2, 16-5/8, 16-3/4, etc.). Order the filter in those exact nominal dimensions.

Our How to Measure guide walks through the process step by step with photos and common mistakes to avoid.

What's the difference between nominal and actual dimensions?

The nominal size is what you order (e.g., 16-1/2 × 22-1/2 × 1″). The actual filter is manufactured about 1/2″ less than nominal on each dimension so it slides into the slot without binding. For the 1″ depth, the actual is typically 3/4″ — the product specs above show the exact actual dimensions for this filter.

This is standard industry practice across all filter sizes, not unique to custom orders. Your HVAC slot is sized to accept this tolerance.

What if I need a depth that isn't listed?

We can build most sizes in 1″, 2″, 4″, and 5″ depths — but not every depth is available on every listing page. If you need a depth you don't see, call 866-469-8556 or request a quote and we'll confirm what we can produce, typically same business day.

Should I round up or down if I'm between sizes?

Always round up to the nearest 1/8″. Rounding down creates gap, which creates filter bypass — the exact problem Exact Filters are designed to solve. Rounding up gives the filter slightly more material to seat against; the 1/2″ nominal-to-actual tolerance built into the spec means the filter still slides in.

Production & delivery
How long does an Exact Filter take to ship?

Typical delivery is 6–10 business days from order — 3–5 business days for production, then 2–5 business days for shipping via UPS or FedEx. Since these are made to your specification, production has to happen before the order ships.

Current lead times are always live on our production schedule page. Holiday production shifts are posted there too.

Can I rush an Exact Filter order?

Rush production and expedited shipping are available for many sizes. Call 866-469-8556 before placing the order so we can confirm the lead time is actually achievable for your specifications — depending on the production queue and the filter specs, it may or may not be possible to compress the timeline.

For commercial and institutional orders with compliance deadlines, contact us first and we'll build the schedule around your need-by date.

Can you ship Exact Filters to Alaska, Hawaii, or a PO box?

Alaska and Hawaii: yes, at carrier rates calculated at checkout. Free shipping on orders $50+ applies to the lower 48 contiguous states only.

PO boxes cannot be accepted. Filter boxes are physically oversized and our carriers won't deliver to PO boxes at this size. A street address or business address is required.

Fit & returns
What if my Exact Filter doesn't fit when it arrives?

Our Filter Fit Guarantee covers Exact Filters. If the filter doesn't fit your slot as expected, contact us within 30 days and we'll make it right — including rebuilding the filter to corrected dimensions. One flat $30 fee covers exchanges under the guarantee.

We'll walk through the measurements with you to make sure the replacement fits the first time. Most fit issues trace back to measuring the existing filter instead of the slot, or to measuring from the wrong reference edge.

Can I return an Exact Filter if I just don't need it?

Exact Filters are made to your specification, so they aren't returnable for a refund the way stocked filters are — there's no second customer to sell a 16-1/2 × 22-1/2 × 1″ filter to. The Filter Fit Guarantee covers fit issues and any filter that arrives damaged or doesn't match the specs you ordered. See our refund policy for the full details.

What if the filter arrives damaged?

Submit a claim with photos of the damage and we'll replace it — no back-and-forth. Filter cartons are sturdy but shipping damage happens occasionally, and it's on us when it does.

Technical & performance
Do Exact Filters meet the same MERV specs as stocked filters?

Yes. The media, frame construction, and support grid are the same as our stocked lineup — only the dimensions are different. A MERV 11 Exact Filter captures the same particle range as a MERV 11 stocked filter at the equivalent depth. If anything, the precise fit helps the filter hit its rated performance in the real world by eliminating bypass.

How often should I replace an Exact Filter?

Same intervals as stocked filters: 1″ every 1–3 months, 2″ every 2–3 months, 4″ or deeper every 6–12 months. Homes with pets, smokers, wildfire smoke exposure, or higher occupancy should replace more often. For standing replacement orders at your change-out cadence, set up a quote and we'll schedule delivery.

Bulk & commercial
Do you offer bulk pricing on Exact Filters for facilities?

Yes. For properties with multiple non-standard slot sizes or standing-order needs, we consolidate the spec and quote volume pricing. Schools, clinics, multifamily, and government facilities with older HVAC equipment are a significant share of our Exact Filter business.

Request a quote with your size list and estimated annual volume, or visit Commercial Services for the full commercial lineup.

Are Exact Filters available tax-exempt for schools and government?

Yes. Submit your certificate through our tax-exempt purchases page and we'll set up your account so future orders — including Exact Filters — ship tax-free with no repeated paperwork. Purchase orders and government procurement are supported for established accounts.

Still Measuring?

Not sure if 8-7/8x33-5/8x1 Exact Filters Pleated MERV 8 (12 pack) matches your slot?

Send us your measurements or the HVAC unit model. Our team has two decades of sizing Exact Filters for homes and facilities — we'll tell you if the size you're ordering is right, or flag if something looks off.