A cabin air filter is a component in most cars’ HVAC systems. Prior to the late ‘80’s, the air that entered a car’s cabin came directly from the exterior, but since then, many vehicles have integrated cabin air filters which remove pollutants, particles and pollen.
It’s easy to replace a cabin air filter; the steps might even be described in your car’s manual. Cabin air filters typically cost between $20 and $100, while the labor to replace them costs about 15 minutes to one hour at the shop’s rate (typically $83 to $131 per hour, according to Statista). This means, in total, it’ll likely cost you between about $40 to $231 to have your filter replaced by a mechanic.
What influences cabin air filter costs?
Let’s take a look at what causes the variation in costs.
Quality of cabin air filter replacement
Cabin air filters have varying levels of filtration. For example, car parts manufacturer Purolator offers three levels of air filter. The most basic blocks 96.5% of allergens like pollen, dust and soot from entering the cabin, while the most advanced blocks 99% of particles, including virus aerosols.
The prices of the filters increase as you step up in quality. For a 2013 Acura TSX, carparts.com sells Purolator’s medium-level air filter for $18.49, while its most advanced costs $30.99. Similarly, for a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the medium-level filter costs $24.49, and the most advanced costs $29.99.
Similarly, if you have a luxury car, you’ll likely pay more for a cabin air filter. BMW Direct Parts sells a cabin air filter for 1997-2003 BMW 5-series cars for $133.43 and one that fits 7-series cars between 2002-2008 for $108.23.
Labor costs
It typically takes mechanics about 15 minutes to one hour to replace a cabin air filter, depending on the complexity of your vehicle. According to Statista, mechanics across the United States in 2020 typically charge about $83 per hour if they’re an independent workshop, $98 if they belong to a chain of garages, and $131 if they’re a dealership. Based on those rates, you could expect to pay between about $20 (at 15 minutes with an independent workshop) and $131 (at one hour with a dealership) in labor to have your cabin air filter replaced.
In some cases, mechanics might quote a flat fee for the service, rather than splitting the charge into parts and labor components.
How to change a cabin air filter by yourself
By changing your cabin air filter yourself, not only will you save time from visiting the mechanic, you’ll also avoid labor charges. In general, changing a cabin air filter is easy and follows these steps:
- Locate the filter. Your manual might tell you where it is. Broadly, it’s accessible either from the glove box or under the hood.
- Remove any covers to reach the cabin air filter, and take out the old one, noting the direction in which it was installed.
- Install the new filter, watching out for directionality.
- Reinstall any covers you removed.
Your manual will recommend how often your filter should be changed. In general, you should change it at least once a year or every 15,000 miles, and more frequently if you drive in high-traffic areas or areas with poor air quality. If you notice poor air flow, or unusual window fogging or smells, you might need to change your air filter.
In some cases, your owner’s manual might explain how to change the filter.
Let’s take a look at the steps from the owner’s manual of a Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD:
- Open the lower glove box.
- You’ll see four screws. Unscrew them.
- Close the door and pull out the glove box.
- You’ll see two tabs. Release them, and open the service door.
- Replace the filter.
- Close and latch the service door.
- Reverse the steps to reinstall the glove box.
Unlike the general rule of 15,000 miles, the Chevy’s manual suggests that you should inspect the filter every 22,500 miles or every two years.
Xuyun Zeng is a content strategist with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Alice Holbrook is an editor with more than a decade of experience covering personal finance, including car insurance. She\’s passionate about creating easy-to-understand content that demystifies intimidating topics for readers. Previously, she worked for NerdWallet, and her work has been featured by Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Associated Press, among others.
