Both the Vital 200S and the Vital 200S-P take the same main filter, the Vital 200S-RF, at $49.99 list from Levoit. Most owners should buy the plain white version and plan on a swap roughly every nine months; homes with a shedding dog or cat should budget for two a year.
Which filter you need
Look for Vital 200S-RF in the listing title. The purifier's model code, on the label, is LAP-V201S-WUS (white) or LAP-V201S-KUS (black); if yours matches, every version below fits.
| Version | Part number | Color | Price seen (2026-10-01) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Vital 200S-RF | LRF-V201-WUS | White | $49.99 list at Levoit |
| Pet Allergy (Vital 200S-RF-PA) | LRF-V201-YUS | Yellow | about $59.99 on Amazon |
| Toxin Absorber (Vital 200S-RF-TX) | LRF-V201-GUS | Green | $59.99 at Levoit |
| Smoke Remover (Vital 200S-RF-SR) | LRF-V201-BUS | Blue | not confirmed |
- Life: the Vital 200S-P manual says about 12 months; Levoit's filter listing hedges at 6 to 12.
- What's in the box: one block of HEPA-grade media bonded to activated carbon. The washable pre-filter is separate and stays in the machine.
- Won't fit: the Vital 100S (different filter) or any Core-series model, including the Core 300S, Levoit Core 400S-P and Core 600S.
- Genuine vs compatible: the genuine Levoit Vital 200S Replacement Filter is the one the purifier's 250 CFM AHAM rating was earned with. Third-party packs fit for less, with performance claims that only the seller vouches for.
Is there a separate filter for the 200S-P?
No. The "-P" marks the current, AHAM-verified listing of the same LAP-V201S machine, not new hardware. Amazon's genuine listing calls it a "Vital 200S-P" replacement filter, and it is the same Vital 200S-RF that an original Vital 200S owner needs. If you see a listing that names only one of the two, it still fits both.
Standard or one of the colored versions?
Start with white. All four share the bonded HEPA-plus-carbon construction, and Levoit publishes no data showing that the tinted ones capture more particles. What changes is the odor side of the filter and the price.
- Toxin Absorber (green): $10 more per filter at Levoit. Worth it if cooking smells or new-furniture odors are the reason you bought a purifier.
- Smoke Remover (blue): sold as a 4-in-1 design for smoke odor. Check the price at checkout; we could not confirm a current list figure.
- Pet Allergy (yellow): about $59.99 on Amazon at last check. One snippet suggested Levoit's own store sells it for less, so compare the two before ordering.
The extra $10 adds up faster than it looks. Changed twice a year, the green filter costs $20 more annually than white for a benefit you'll notice only if odor is your problem.
How long does it actually last?
Levoit's 6-to-12-month range is wide because it depends on what the filter is fighting. In owner reports, the recurring pattern is filters looking loaded at three or four months in homes with heavy pet hair or nearby construction dust. A bedroom with no pets, running on a low speed, is the case for the 12-month end.
The filter-life reminder is a useful prompt, but it's an estimate; it doesn't inspect the media. Swap earlier if:
- the pleats look gray all the way across, not just at the edges
- smells that used to clear in minutes now hang around
- auto mode sits on a higher speed than it used to in the same conditions
The separate pre-filter is your best lever on that interval. Because it lifts out on its own, you can rinse dog or cat hair off it without touching the main block, which keeps fur out of the HEPA layer. Let it dry completely before it goes back in. The signs a filter is due guide covers the visual checks in more detail.
What it costs per year
At $49.99 per standard filter (and $59.99 for the green Toxin Absorber):
| Swap every | Filters a year | Standard | Toxin Absorber |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months | 1 | $50 | $60 |
| 9 months | 1.33 | $67 | $80 |
| 6 months | 2 | $100 | $120 |
Over three years, the filter that ships with the purifier covers the first stretch, so you buy 2 replacements at a 12-month pace ($100), 3 at nine months ($150) or 5 at six months ($250).
Filters dwarf the power bill on this machine. HouseFresh measured the Vital 200S at 8.01 W on speed 2, which is about $12 a year running around the clock at $0.17/kWh. Even a light-use household spends four times that on filters. Plug your own interval into the filter cost calculator if it differs.
Swapping it
- Switch the purifier off and unplug it.
- Take out the pre-filter, then the main filter behind it.
- Unwrap the new Vital 200S-RF completely; packaging left on blocks airflow.
- Seat it flat, then refit the clean, dry pre-filter. A filter sitting slightly proud is a common explanation for the clicking some owners report after a change.
- Reset the filter reminder. A reset is needed after every swap; the user manual and the VeSync app show how on your unit.
Genuine or third-party?
Compatible Vital 200S filters often come in 2-packs for less than one genuine filter. They fit the housing, and many print H13 or True HEPA on the box, but those labels are the seller's claim rather than an AHAM result, and the carbon layer's weight is rarely stated.
The saving is largest for pet homes buying two filters a year, so that's where a well-reviewed compatible makes the most sense. If someone in the house has asthma or bad allergies, the known quantity is worth the extra $50 or so a year. There's a checklist for judging a third-party listing in genuine vs compatible air purifier filters.
Neither type is covered by Levoit's 2-year purifier warranty, which excludes consumables. If you're still choosing a purifier for a pet room, the Levoit Vital 200S-P is the Levoit built around this filter and the rinse-off pre-filter, and the best air purifiers for pets list shows the alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy a new pre-filter with the Vital 200S filter?
No. The Vital 200S-RF is the main filter only. The mesh pre-filter is a separate, washable part that stays in the purifier, so you rinse it and refit it rather than replacing it.
Is the Smoke Remover worth it for wildfire smoke?
For the particles in wildfire smoke, the HEPA-grade layer in every version does the catching, so the standard filter already helps. The blue Smoke Remover is a 4-in-1 design aimed at the smell. We could not confirm its current list price, so compare it against the $49.99 standard before paying the premium.
Will a Vital 100S filter fit my Vital 200S?
No. The Vital 100S uses its own, different filter. Only Vital 200S-RF parts (standard, Pet Allergy, Toxin Absorber or Smoke Remover) fit the Vital 200S and Vital 200S-P.
Are Levoit filters covered by the purifier's warranty?
No. Levoit's 2-year limited warranty covers the purifier, and filters are treated as consumables. A defective filter is a return matter for the retailer you bought it from.
Why does my Vital 200S click after a filter change?
A common pattern in owner reports is a clicking or rattling noise traced to a main filter or pre-filter that is not fully seated. Power off, take both out, and refit them so they sit flat before assuming the fan is at fault.