Syringe filter selection guide

Membrane material

The same compatibility logic applies as any filter: match the membrane to your sample solvent first. See our material comparison for PTFE, nylon, PES, and PVDF side by side.

Pore size

0.22 µm is the conventional choice for sterilizing-grade filtration; 0.45 µm is the common default for general clarification ahead of analysis. Match the rating to what you actually need to remove, not habit.

Diameter

4mm and 13mm formats suit very small volumes (HPLC injection prep); 25mm and 30mm suit general lab volumes; larger formats exist for bigger pushes. Oversizing wastes sample to dead volume; undersizing slows your push and risks premature clogging.

Housing material

Polypropylene housings are the most common and broadly compatible; confirm housing compatibility with your solvent alongside the membrane, since a chemically incompatible housing can fail even with the right membrane inside. See our housing materials guide.

Single-layer vs. multilayer

For clean, low-particulate samples, a single-layer filter is sufficient. For turbid or heavily particulate samples, a multilayer filter with a prefilter layer extends usable capacity before clogging. See our multilayer syringe filter guide.

Sterile or non-sterile

Only pay for sterile if what you're filtering needs to stay sterile afterward. See our sterility guide for the distinction.