Build It
Build Configurator
Air cleaning is simple: move air through a filter, repeat. The “best” build depends on what you’re trying to solve — dust, smoke, or virus filtration — and what you can tolerate for sound. Pick your parts below and we’ll translate the specs into real-world outcomes like ACH coverage and a shopping list.
Step 1: Pick your box size
This is the size of the filters you’ll have on each side of your box. The most important thing is choosing one that you have consistent access to. If you plan to buy filters at your local home improvement store, make sure they carry the size you choose. If you want to order them online, you may want to research which ones are the most cost effective. As a rule of thumb, the larger the filter area, the less powerful fans have to be to pull air through, resulting in a quieter build. The larger the size, the more fans you are able to put on the box, resulting in more air flow potential.
| Box size | Filter size | Max fans | Fan size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12×12 build | 12×12×1 | 4 | 120mm |
| 20×20 build | 20×20×1 | 6 | 140mm |
| 20×30 build | 20×30×1 | 7 | 140mm |
Step 2: Pick your filter
These are standard MERV-rated HVAC filters. Lower MERV numbers are more for dust, lint, and pollen. Higher MERV numbers capture more small particles — including aerosol-sized particles that matter for virus filtration. Higher MERV can be more restrictive, which can reduce airflow — but it also improves filtration. The goal is balance: enough airflow to cycle the room, with filtration strong enough for your target.
| MERV | Suggested usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Household dust and lint | Lint, larger dust |
| 8 | Dust mite debris, mold spores, pollen and pet dander | Common allergens |
| 11 | Smoke and smog particles | Finer outdoor particles |
| 12 | Cough/sneeze bacteria and virus | Smaller respiratory particles |
| 13 | Fine particles and candle soot | Indoor ultrafines and soot |
| 14 | Exhaust particles and ultrafine particles | Best filtration in this set |
If your goal is to reduce virus transmission, Filtrete (MERV 13/14) 1900, 2200, or 2800 are all excellent choices.
Step 3: Pick your fans
Fans are a tradeoff between airflow and sound. Higher airflow fans can clean faster — but they can also be louder. Two key fan specs: CFM (how much air the fan can move) and static pressure (mmH₂O, how well it can pull through resistance like filters). For filter builds, higher static pressure helps the fan keep moving air when the filter “pushes back.”
How multiple fans add up: sound adds logarithmically. 2 identical fans is about +3 dB, 4 identical fans is about +6 dB, 6 identical fans is about +8 dB. Example: one fan at 30 dBA can become roughly 36 dBA with 4 fans, and roughly 38 dBA with 6 fans at the same speed.
Step 4: Power
Power is simple here: we use one option — the Delinx dial controller + power supply. The dial changes the voltage going to the fans. Lower voltage usually means quieter with lower airflow. Higher voltage means louder with higher airflow. This gives you an easy “quiet mode” vs “boost mode” control.
Delinx 36W controller + power supply
Single control knob to tune fan speed (quiet mode ↔ boost mode)
Make selections to see results
Choose a size, filter, and fans to calculate airflow, estimated coverage at 6 ACH and 12 ACH, and your shopping list.
Ceiling height (ft)
Shopping list
Your selections will appear here instantly.
Planning note: airflow and “CADR proxy” are estimates from manufacturer specs and a simple model. Real results vary with sealing, fan speed, filter loading, and room layout.