The pleated filters market will grow at a CAGR of 4.09% to reach US$17.65 billion in 2030 from US$14.45 billion in 2025.
Regulatory and standards tightening drives procurement upgrades: building and industrial buyers are specifying filters aligned to ASHRAE ventilation procedures and ISO 16890 particle classifications, creating immediate demand for pleated media that deliver PM1/PM2.5 performance. Corporate and life-science customers seek validated, site-service filter management (Donaldson launched on-site filtration services across France, Germany and Austria in Sep 2024), which shifts procurement from one-off buys to service contracts and recurrent replacement volumes. Industrial process owners adopt pleated bag and cartridge formats for lower pressure-drop and higher surface area, increasing retrofit and replacement demand. Finally, OEM electrification and battery manufacturing require specialized pleated components with hydrophobic membranes (Donaldson product launch, June 2024), producing spurred demand in targeted industrial niches.
Pleated filters imported into the United States fall under Chapter 84 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which governs filtering and purifying machinery and apparatus for gases. Depending on their construction and application, they are typically classified under subheadings within HTSUS 8421, which includes categories for air-intake filters and other gas-filtration elements. The applicable tariff treatment is determined by the exact HTSUS code assigned at entry, the material composition, and the filter’s end-use. U.S. Customs and Border Protection applies the General duty rate listed for the corresponding 8421 subheading, and the final duty liability may also reflect preferential rates available under trade agreements or additional duties imposed under special tariff programs (such as Section-301 actions on specific countries of origin).
Headwinds: raw-material price volatility (polypropylene, polyester, specialty PTFE membranes) and freight cost swings compress margins for commodity pleats and favor suppliers with in-house media capability. Standards enforcement variability across jurisdictions creates fragmented spec demand that increases compliance cost for suppliers. Opportunities: digital services and condition-based filter management (Freudenberg’s Viledon “Process View” announced at PaintExpo 2024) unlock recurring revenue and reduce total cost of ownership for end users—supporting premium pricing. Manufacturers that vertically integrate media production or offer verified ISO/ASHRAE-aligned performance and on-site validation can capture share from commoditized suppliers and convert single purchases into multi-year service contracts.
Pleated filters are a physical product whose key inputs are nonwoven media (polyester, polypropylene), specialty membranes (PTFE/ePTFE), and framing materials (cardboard, metal). Global polypropylene and polyester feedstock pricing and meltblown supply shape filter media cost and availability; firms disclosing in-house media production (e.g., Columbus Industries, Filtration Group affiliates) mitigate spot volatility and reduce lead times. Specialty ePTFE membranes command significant premium and are often produced by a narrow supplier set, making supply-chain resilience critical for high-efficiency pleats and battery-vent products. Manufacturers managing upstream media capacity or long-term polymer contracts show clear cost and delivery advantages in 2024–2025.
Production concentrates in regions with established nonwoven and polymer supply chains (North America, Europe, Mexico, selected North African sites). Key logistical complexities include high-volume, low-margin shipping of bulk pleated goods, just-in-time HVAC replacement cycles, and certification-driven hold times for life-science supplies. Vertical integrators (producers with media lines and pleaters) shorten lead times and lower inventory exposure; Filtration Group’s consolidation strategy and facility expansions historically targeted capacity and regional service (examples across its portfolio). Dependencies: polymer feedstock availability, membrane specialist supply (PTFE), and the skilled labour for pleating/assembly. Nearshoring and regional plants reduce cross-border lead time risk for critical replacement programs.
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Jurisdiction |
Key Regulation / Agency |
Market Impact Analysis |
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United States |
ASHRAE Standards (62.1/62.2) / ASHRAE |
ASHRAE ventilation requirements push building owners to higher-performance filters and documented IAQ procedures; demand for pleated filters that meet ventilation and air-cleaning procedures rises in commercial/residential retrofit procurement. |
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European Union |
Ambient Air Quality Directive / European Commission |
EU tightening of ambient air limits increases municipal and building investments in filtration and HVAC upgrades; specification moves toward filters classified under ISO/EN test regimes. |
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China |
GB 3095 (Ambient Air Quality Standard) / Ministry of Ecology & Environment |
National air quality standards (including PM2.5 limits) sustain demand for domestic HVAC and industrial pleated solutions, and incentivize local production and certified media. |
HEPA-grade pleated modules represent the premium end of the pleated market where absolute particle removal and validated leakage performance determine purchase decisions. Regulatory and sector-specific requirements (cleanrooms, healthcare, life sciences) force HEPA adoption where ISO/EN/DOE class tests and ISO 29463/EN 1822 verification are prerequisites. Demand drivers are twofold: mandatory filtration performance for critical environments, and lifecycle economics—HEPA pleats with lower initial pressure drop and longer service intervals reduce total cost of ownership despite higher unit price. Product launches targeted at higher ingress protection and hydrophobic membrane features (Donaldson’s June 2024 dual-stage battery vent and membrane announcements) demonstrate supplier focus on applications requiring fluid resistance plus particulate control. Serviceable HEPA modules and validated replacement programs (Donaldson’s Sep 2024 filtration services rollout) convert one-time transactions into recurring revenue and raise buyer willingness to pay for traceable, certified pleated assemblies. Performance verification and certification now act as primary purchase filters, favoring suppliers with in-house test labs or documented third-party test results.
Industrial end users demand pleated solutions for process protection, environmental control and worker safety; the segment prioritizes durability, media chemistry resistance (PTFE/ePTFE, aramid), and ease of maintenance. Pleated baghouse and cartridge formats reduce footprint and energy consumption in pulse-jet collectors, supporting demand where operators target lower differential pressure and longer run-times. Process-critical sectors (food & beverage, battery manufacturing, coatings) require documented filtration performance and integrated service—Freudenberg’s Viledon Process View (announced in 2024) exemplifies digital condition monitoring tied to pleat replacement cycles, reducing unplanned downtime and increasing recurring replacements. Industrial buyers also favor suppliers that provide ATEX/chemical-resistant pleat options and local field service; Donaldson’s regional service expansion into life-science manufacturing hubs (Sept 2024) is concrete evidence of supplier strategies that translate technical capability into sustained replacement demand. The industrial segment therefore rewards suppliers combining specialized media, on-site validation and spare-parts availability; these factors directly convert into larger, recurring demand streams for pleated filters.
Major players (from provided Table of Contents) include Donaldson, Freudenberg (Viledon), Columbus Industries, American Air Filter Company, Airex Filter, CLARCOR (now within Parker/Hannifin/Filtration Group structures historically), and Strainrite. Profiles (selected):
| Report Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Study Period | 2021 to 2031 |
| Historical Data | 2021 to 2024 |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026 – 2031 |
| Report Metric | Details |
| Pleated Filters Market Size in 2025 | US$14.45 billion |
| Pleated Filters Market Size in 2030 | US$17.65 billion |
| Growth Rate | CAGR of 4.09% |
| Study Period | 2020 to 2030 |
| Historical Data | 2020 to 2023 |
| Base Year | 2024 |
| Forecast Period | 2025 – 2030 |
| Forecast Unit (Value) | USD Billion |
| Segmentation |
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| Geographical Segmentation | North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific |
| List of Major Companies in Pleated Filters Market |
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| Customization Scope | Free report customization with purchase |