The Winix 5510, 5520 and 5530 all take the same filter: Winix Filter Q, part number 1712-0123-00, a True HEPA panel plus a granular AOC carbon panel that are both replaced every 12 months. It lists at $79.99 but often sells for $50–$65. It does not fit the older 5500-2.
Which filter you need
| Your purifier | Filter | Part number | Carbon panel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winix 5510, 5520, 5530 | Filter Q | 1712-0123-00 | Granular AOC carbon, replaced yearly |
| Winix 5500-2 | Filter H | 116130 | Washable |
| Winix 5300-2, C535 (also P300, 5300) | Filter A | 115115 | Different design |
- Price: $79.99 list from Winix, Amazon and Walmart. Winix's store has sold it at $49.99, and Amazon's lowest tracked price was about $63 (August 2025), with an average near $72.
- Life: 12 months for both panels.
- Genuine: the Winix 5510/5530 Replacement Filter is the branded set. Third-party sets are everywhere and frequently borrow the same part number in their titles.
If your unit is a 5500-2, the Winix 5500-2 Filter Set is the right part. Filter Q is too small for that housing.
How to tell a 5510-family unit from a 5500-2
The model number on the label settles it. If the label is gone, a few clues help:
- Wi-Fi: the 5510, 5520 and 5530 work with the Winix Smart app. The 5500-2 has no Wi-Fi.
- Color and year: the 5530 is the white 2026 model; the Winix 5510 is the black 2024 version; the 5520 has a different front grille.
- Retail part numbers: some retailers list the purifier by part code. The 5530 appears as 1022-0233-08 and the 5510 as 1022-0233-00.
- The carbon panel itself: if the old carbon filter is labeled washable, you have a 5500-2.
What's in the box, and what isn't
The genuine set has two panels. The carbon one is filled with granular activated-carbon pellets, about 226 g according to CleanAirAdviser's breakdown, which is far more carbon than the dusted fabric wraps on many cylinder purifiers. That pellet bed is why the 5530 handles cooking and pet smells well, and why it costs more to replace. For why grams of carbon matter more than the word "carbon" on a box, see activated carbon filters, explained.
The fine-mesh pre-filter isn't included because it isn't a consumable. It stays in the purifier and gets cleaned, not replaced.
Why the carbon isn't washable anymore
Owners upgrading from a 5500-2 are often surprised here. The old Filter H carbon panel could be rinsed and reused, so only the HEPA was a real yearly expense. Filter Q's carbon goes in the bin with the HEPA every year.
That change is most of the running-cost difference between the two generations, and the gap is smaller than it sounds. Filter Q at list costs about $80 a year; the 5500-2's Filter H set, with its reusable carbon, lists at $84.99 but typically sells for about $60, and Filter Q on sale ($50–$65) closes most of that gap.
Price and yearly cost
Your first year is covered by the set inside a new purifier. From then on it's one Filter Q a year:
| Price paid | Per year | Three-year ownership (2 sets) |
|---|---|---|
| $79.99 list | $80 | $160 |
| ~$72 Amazon average | $72 | $144 |
| ~$63 Amazon low | $63 | $126 |
| $49.99 Winix sale | $50 | $100 |
The $30 swing between list and sale price adds up to $60 over three years, so timing the purchase is the easiest saving available. Buy a spare when the price dips and keep it sealed until the reminder comes on.
When 12 months is too long
Winix rates both panels for a year, but they don't age at the same rate in every house. The carbon tends to tire first in homes with heavy cooking, smokers or several pets: you notice it when smells that the purifier used to clear start lingering. The HEPA panel shows its age through weaker airflow and a gray, evenly loaded surface.
In a bedroom with no pets, a full year is realistic. With a smoker in the house or during a wildfire season, expect to change the set early.
Swapping and resetting
- Power down and pull the plug.
- Remove the front panel and the pre-filter, then lift out the old HEPA and carbon panels.
- Unwrap the new panels and fit them in the order and orientation the old ones came out.
- Refit the pre-filter and close the front panel.
- Clear the filter indicator. Per Winix's 5510/5520 manual: with the panel closed, power the unit on, then press and keep holding Filter Reset for 5 seconds or longer; a beep confirms it. On a 5530, match that against the button labels on its own control panel before relying on it.
Genuine or third-party?
Third-party Filter Q copies, often sold as 2-packs with extra carbon sheets, cost a fraction of the genuine set and are built to the same dimensions. The weak spot is carbon: their panels are typically much lighter than Winix's pellet bed, which matters if odors are why you bought a Winix.
For a purifier that mostly fights dust and pollen, a well-reviewed compatible set is a reasonable saving. For smoke, cooking or pet odor, stay genuine and wait for a sale. If you go third-party, this comparison of genuine and compatible filters lists what to look for in a listing.
A household running two of these, say a Winix 5530 in the living room and a 5510 in the bedroom, can buy several sets at once when the price is right.
Frequently asked questions
Is Filter Q the same as Filter H?
No. Filter H (116130) is the 5500-2's set, with a washable carbon panel, and it is a different size. Filter Q (1712-0123-00) is for the 5510, 5520 and 5530, and its carbon panel is replaced rather than washed.
Does the genuine Filter Q include a new pre-filter?
No. The genuine set is one True HEPA panel and one AOC carbon panel. The fine-mesh pre-filter is a washable part of the purifier and is reused.
Can I replace only the carbon panel in Filter Q?
The two panels are separate pieces, so physically yes, and filter guides note they can be swapped independently. Winix sells them as a set rated for 12 months together, so a carbon-only change mainly makes sense when odors return well before the HEPA is due.
When is the cheapest time to buy Filter Q?
Prices move. Winix's own store has run the set at $49.99 against a $79.99 list, and Amazon's tracked low was about $63 with an average near $72. Buying a spare when it drops below about $65 beats paying list on the day the reminder comes on.
Are the 2-pack Filter Q listings genuine?
Many are not. Several third-party 2-pack and 4-pack listings reuse the 1712-0123-00 part number in their titles. Check that the brand and seller are Winix if you want the genuine set.