What is the Difference Between Air Filters and Cabin Filters?

Air filters and cabin filters are often mistaken for one another because both purify the air in your car.

But these are two different types of filter with separate roles. Your vehicle relies on each, not only for best performance but also for safety.

While your air filter cleans air before it flows into your engine, your cabin filter decontaminates air that flows into your cockpit.

What Does an Air Filter Do that a Cabin Filter Can’t?

Your engine combines fuel and air to provide combustion – the air filter ensures that this air is always clean for efficient combustion. By filtering contaminants from incoming air into the engine, this filter is the primary defence against particles damaging your engine.

By maintaining clean air in the engine, your air filter also improves MPG, horsepower and torque.

Air filters can be conical, round or panel-shaped. They are usually located near the front of the engine, protected by housing. Read about the different types of air filters here.

What Does a Cabin Filter Do that an Air Filter Can’t?

The cabin filter (also known as a pollen filter) is a high particulate filtration medium. The filter blocks pollution from outside air that could otherwise contaminate your cabin, improving air quality inside your car.

By preventing pollen, mould, spores, allergens, debris and other airborne nuisances from entering your cabin, this filter prevents odours and potential allergic reactions, keeping the air in your car fresh.

The cabin filter is located near the vehicle’s internal intake, often in the glove box. It’s important to regularly check and replace your cabin filter – it’s a vital health and safety component.

Servicing Your Air Filter and Cabin Filter

In short, the air filter purifies the air that your car breathes, while the cabin filter purifies the air that your passengers breathe, both by blocking contaminants from your vehicle.

Both parts need changing every 15,000-30,000 miles (depending on driving conditions) to keep air quality at its best, protecting your vehicle, you and your passengers.

Both filters become less effective the more they fill with contaminants, so regular service checks and replacements are important. Quality filters have higher holding capacities, so go for reliable brands when you replace yours. 

DIY Car Service Parts only stock trustworthy OEM and aftermarket brands.

To find air filters and cabin filters that fit your vehicle, enter your registration plate into our number plate lookup tool – we’ll find the best filters for you.

All DIY car service parts are manufactured by trusted, high-quality brands. Here are just a few of the brands that we stock.