P100 Filters and Cartridges

99.97% Minimum Efficiency · Oil-Proof · NIOSH 42 CFR 84 · 3M · MSA · GVS · Moldex · Honeywell North · Dräger · Gerson

Which P100 filter do you need?

Short answer: start from your facepiece, because the fitting decides what will physically mount. The 3M P100 filter to reach for on a bayonet facepiece is the 3M 2091, the plain particulate reference; on Secure Click it is the D3091. MSA Comfo users want the low-profile P100, North's own connector users the 75FFP100, and Moldex 7000/9000 users the 7740. If you also face a gas or vapor, you need a combination cartridge instead.

Editor's pick: the 3M 2091 — it attaches directly to a 3M bayonet facepiece with no retainer, which removes the single most common assembly mistake in this category.

Affiliate disclosure: WC Safety is an independent review site. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We do not sell products directly, and no brand paid for placement.

Our methodology: how this collection was curated

We record the NIOSH class exactly as approved and never imply a class that does not exist. Fitting systems are noted per product because approval applies to the assembled respirator rather than the filter alone, and a filter that will not mount is not a cheaper option. Where a filter carries nuisance-level relief we treat that as an odor feature rather than gas protection, and where an item in this grid is a complete respirator rather than a filter, we say so instead of letting the collection title imply otherwise.

P100 Filters and Cartridges (2026)

The P100 designation carries two pieces of information. The number is the minimum efficiency — at least 99.97% of airborne particles at the most-penetrating particle size — and the letter is oil resistance, where N-series filters are not resistant to oil aerosols, R-series are somewhat, and P-series are oil-proof. That combination makes P100 the highest particulate class NIOSH issues under 42 CFR Part 84, which is why it turns up in silica, lead, asbestos abatement, welding fume and mold work. Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134, any tight-fitting respirator carrying one needs medical evaluation and fit testing first. Every model here can be confirmed against the CDC NIOSH-approved respirator list or the NIOSH Certified Equipment List.

What this collection covers — and what sits here that is not a filter

Ninety products from 3M, MSA, GVS, Honeywell North, Gerson, Moldex, Dräger, Miller and Klein Tools. They divide as follows:

• Plain P100 particulate filters — no gas bed: 3M 2091 and 2291, Secure Click D3091, MSA low-profile, Moldex 7740, Honeywell 75FFP100, GVS SPR321, and the Dräger X-plore P100.
• Combination cartridges — a rated gas bed plus P100: the 3M 60921 to 60928 range, the MSA GM-series, Honeywell 7581–75852 P100L, Moldex 7367/7467/7667, and Gerson G73/G78. Full set in combination respirator cartridges.
• P100 filters with nuisance-level relief — particulate protection plus an odor layer, no rated gas protection: 3M 2096 and 2097, 2296, 2297, Secure Click D3096 and D3097, Moldex 7760, and the Gerson XP100 pancake.
• 15 items that are not filters at all. Five complete reusable respirators — Miller LPR-100, Klein Tools 60552, GVS Elipse SPR457, Integra and FFM1243 — plus two Gerson kits, three disposable respirators, three complete PAPR kits, and a splash guard accessory. They are real products; they are just not P100 filters.

Related: organic vapor cartridges, acid gas cartridges, multi-gas cartridges, nuisance relief respirators, the filters and cartridges hub, half mask respirators, full face respirators, and PAPR filters, which use the HE classification rather than P100.

Particulate class comparison

How to choose a p100 respirator filter

Is there a P200 or P300 filter?

No. NIOSH classifies particulate filters under 42 CFR Part 84 by two letters-and-number pairs only: N, R or P for oil resistance, and 95, 99 or 100 for efficiency. P100 is the top of the scale, and 100 already means 99.97% — there is nothing above it to designate. "P200 filter" and "P300 filter" circulate in search suggestions and product listings anyway, and neither is a real approval. If a listing advertises one, that alone tells you the seller is not reading the certification. The same applies to the invented classes that appear around disposable masks, such as P200 and N94.

What is the difference between a P100 filter and a P100 cartridge?

A filter removes particles only. A cartridge in this collection usually means a combination — a rated gas or vapor sorbent bed with a P100 filter built in, such as the 60921 for organic vapor. If your hazard is dust, fume, or mist alone, the plain filter is lighter, cheaper and correct, and you do not need a P100 filter cartridge at all. If a gas or vapor is present, no amount of particulate filtration helps and you need the combination. Note also that a nuisance-level relief layer on a filter is not a gas bed — it reduces odor below the exposure limit and nothing more.

Will a P100 filter fit my respirator?

Only if the fitting matches. 3M bayonet, 3M Secure Click, MSA Comfo, MSA Advantage, North's own connector, Moldex 7000/9000, GVS Elipse, Dräger X-plore and Miller LPR-100 are separate proprietary systems, and even within one brand they differ — a Secure Click D3091 will not mount on a 3M bayonet facepiece. NIOSH approval covers the complete assembly, so mixing brands voids it. Check the fitting against your specific facepiece before ordering; are respirator cartridges universal covers why they are not.

Do P100 filters need a retainer?

Some do and some do not, and getting it wrong leaves the filter unseated. On 3M bayonet facepieces the 2000-series filters — 2091, 2096, 2097 — attach directly with no extra part. The 5N11 and 5P71 pre-filters are different: they require the 3M 501 filter retainer to hold them against a cartridge. Check the manufacturer's assembly instructions rather than assuming, because the two look interchangeable in a parts bin.

When should you replace a P100 filter?

Particulate filters behave more helpfully than gas cartridges here, because they load up rather than break through: as particles accumulate, breathing resistance rises, and that rise is your signal. Replace when breathing becomes noticeably harder, when the filter is damaged or wet, or per your written program, whichever comes first. Do not attempt to clean or wash a filter — the media is electrostatically charged and washing destroys it. Note that this loading signal applies to the particulate side only; a combination cartridge's gas bed gives no such warning.

Storage and hard limits

Store filters sealed in original packaging away from moisture and contamination, and keep a respirator bagged between shifts rather than hanging exposed in the work area. Plain particulate filters do not degrade from ambient air the way sorbent beds do, but they are still damaged by moisture, crushing and dust picked up in storage, and a filter contaminated before first use starts its life already partly loaded.

One limit applies to everything here: no air-purifying filter or cartridge may be used in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere, in an atmosphere immediately dangerous to life or health, or where the contaminant is unidentified. These products clean the air around you rather than supplying it, so those conditions require supplied-air or self-contained breathing apparatus. Further reading: P100 vs N95, organic vapor vs P100, and ESLI vs written change schedule.

P100 filter FAQ

What does P100 mean?

P means the filter is oil-proof and 100 means it removes at least 99.97% of airborne particles at the most-penetrating size. It is the highest particulate class NIOSH issues under 42 CFR Part 84.

Is there a P200 or P300 filter?

No. NIOSH uses N, R or P with 95, 99 or 100 only. P100 is the top of the scale, and any listing advertising a P200 or P300 is not describing a real approval.

What is the difference between a P100 filter and a P100 cartridge?

A filter removes particles only. A P100 cartridge here usually means a combination with a rated gas or vapor bed built in. If your hazard is dust or mist alone, the plain filter is correct and lighter.

Will any P100 filter fit my respirator?

No. 3M bayonet, 3M Secure Click, MSA Comfo, MSA Advantage, North's own connector, Moldex, GVS Elipse, Dräger and Miller are separate fitting systems, and approval applies to the complete assembly. Even Secure Click and 3M bayonet do not interchange.

Is P100 the same as HEPA?

They are the same efficiency threshold — 99.97% — but different certification schemes. HEPA describes air-cleaner and vacuum media; P100 is a NIOSH respirator approval that also covers oil resistance and the full respirator assembly.

Do P100 filters protect against gases or vapors?

No. Particulate filters capture particles; gases and vapors pass straight through. A nuisance-level relief layer only reduces odor below the exposure limit and is not gas protection. For that you need a rated cartridge.

When should I replace a P100 filter?

When breathing resistance rises noticeably, when the filter is damaged or wet, or per your written program. Rising resistance is a genuine signal because particulate filters load rather than break through.

Can I wash or clean a P100 filter?

No. The media relies on an electrostatic charge that washing destroys, leaving a filter that looks fine and no longer performs. Replace rather than clean.

Do I need a fit test to use one?

For workplace use, yes — OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 requires medical evaluation and annual fit testing for any tight-fitting respirator, and facial hair across the sealing surface prevents a seal regardless of filter class.

Is P100 enough for asbestos or silica?

P100 is the particulate class typically specified for both, but the substance-specific OSHA standards govern the full program — exposure assessment, respirator selection and training — so the filter class alone does not establish compliance.

Do 3M 2000-series filters need the 501 retainer?

No. The 2091, 2096 and 2097 attach directly to a 3M bayonet facepiece. The 5N11 and 5P71 pre-filters are the ones requiring the 501 retainer to hold them against a cartridge.

Are PAPR filters the same as P100?

No. Powered air-purifying respirators use the HE classification, which shares the 99.97% threshold but is a distinct approval for a different respirator class. They are not interchangeable with negative-pressure filters.

Why trust WC Safety on respiratory protection?

WC Safety reviews workplace PPE full-time as an independent affiliate site — we do not sell products, hold no inventory, and accept no paid placements. Here that means saying plainly that P200 and P300 filters do not exist even though search engines suggest them, that fifteen items in this ninety-product grid are complete respirators, kits or accessories rather than filters, and that PAPR media carry an HE approval rather than P100. We report NIOSH classes exactly as issued, record fitting systems because approval covers the assembly rather than the part, and never present nuisance-level relief as gas protection. Standards referenced are NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134. Reviewed by Steven Eaton, WC Safety editor. Last reviewed: July 2026.