Which Levoit filter does my model use?
Levoit’s replacement filters are model-specific “RF” cartridges that combine a pre-filter, a True HEPA layer and activated carbon in one 3-in-1 unit. The part you need is tied to your exact model, so check the model number on the base of the machine and match it to the filter code before ordering.
| Levoit model | Replacement filter | Typical UK price* |
|---|---|---|
| Core 300 / 300S | Core 300-RF (3-in-1 True HEPA + carbon) | ~£20–£28 |
| Core 400S | Core 400S-RF | ~£30–£40 |
| Vital 100 / 100S | Vital 100-RF | ~£25–£35 |
| LV-H132 | LV-H132-RF | ~£15–£25 |
*Approximate UK prices at the time of writing — check current pricing before buying.
Genuine vs compatible Levoit filters
You will find plenty of third-party “compatible” filters for popular Levoit models, often at half the price. Some are perfectly decent; others use thinner media or less carbon and can restrict airflow or under-perform on capture. If you buy compatible, look for a stated HEPA grade rather than vague “HEPA-type” wording, and be wary of anything that won’t commit to a specification. Genuine cartridges remove the guesswork but cost more.
How often do Levoit filters need changing?
Levoit recommends replacing the 3-in-1 filter roughly every 6–8 months, and sooner with pets, smoke or heavy dust. Because the HEPA and carbon layers are bonded into a single cartridge, you replace the whole thing each time — you can’t refresh just the carbon, even though carbon typically saturates faster than the particle media. The app and the filter-reset button track runtime, not the true state of the filter, so use the guidance in how often to replace an air-purifier filter alongside the reminder.
Can you wash a Levoit filter?
The main filter, no. Washing the HEPA layer collapses the fibres and destroys the electrostatic charge that traps the finest particles, and it cannot be undone. You can gently vacuum the outer pre-filter surface to remove hair and large dust, which extends the cartridge’s life a little, but the filter itself is replace-only. There is more detail in can you wash air-purifier filters.
The catch: proprietary lock-in
A Core 300-RF only fits a Core 300. That’s convenient until you add up the running cost: at around £25 twice a year you are spending £40–£50 annually on filters for a machine that cost roughly the same. Over its life, the filter — not the unit — is the real price, and you are tied to whatever Levoit and its approved sellers charge.
The no-lock-in alternative
If you are open to a different style of machine, a high-airflow purifier built around standard MERV-13 sizes breaks the cycle: the filters are cheap, widely stocked and never discontinued, and they capture around 90–93% of fine particles. For the reasoning behind that, read HEPA vs MERV-13. And remember that only the activated-carbon stage deals with odours and VOCs — the HEPA layer handles particles only, whichever brand you choose.
What the 3-in-1 design means for you
Combining a pre-filter, HEPA layer and carbon into one cartridge keeps the machine compact and swaps simple, but it has a real downside: the three layers wear at different rates. The pre-filter clogs with hair and dust, the carbon saturates with odours in a few months, and the HEPA could often run longer — yet because they are fused, one spent layer condemns the whole unit. In a busy kitchen or a home with pets you may find yourself replacing perfectly good HEPA media just to refresh the carbon, which is part of why the annual cost creeps up beyond the headline filter price.