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Manufacturer specifications reviewed October 22, 2026.
Coffee-filter numbers and coffeemaker cup counts describe different things. A number-four cone filter is not a filter for every four-cup machine, and a basket filter is not interchangeable with a cone simply because the packages mention overlapping cup ranges. Start with the brewer’s filter holder and manual, then compare pack quantities.
Identify the holder before choosing the number
Write down the exact brewer model and the filter shape and size specified in its instructions. A cone-shaped holder and a broad basket-style holder need different paper shapes. Compare the size label on the replacement filter with the manufacturer’s directions rather than choosing by how much coffee you happen to brew that day.
If a machine has a reusable filter, check its instructions before adding a paper filter. Do not assume every holder is intended to use both together. This is a compatibility check, not a claim that one filter material universally makes better coffee.
Three Melitta examples separate shape from cup range
| Exact paper filter | Manufacturer’s stated brewer scope | Quantity in the example box |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Natural Brown cone, SKU 622752 | 2–6-cup electric cone makers and one-cup nonelectric/manual cone makers | 100 filters |
| #4 Natural Brown cone, SKU 624602 | 8–12-cup cone coffeemakers | 100 filters |
| 4–6-cup White basket, SKU 62914 | 4–6-cup basket-style electric coffeemakers | 200 filters |
See the manufacturer specifications for the #2 Natural Brown cone filters, #4 Natural Brown cone filters and 4–6-cup basket filters. These are product-format examples, not advertised live deals or a promise of current stock.
The overlapping cup ranges in the first and third rows do not make the filters substitutes. Their shapes differ. The #4 cone row also shows why the printed filter number should not be read as the number of cups a machine makes. Match the filter specification, not a guessed relationship between the two numbers.
Count filters inside the chosen package
Keep the product number, filters per box and number of boxes as separate fields. The cone examples contain 100 filters per box, while the basket example contains 200. Their order selectors also distinguish a single box from a case of twelve boxes. A case label does not change the shape or size of the filter inside.
Quantity calculation using those labeled counts: twelve 100-filter boxes contain 1,200 filters; twelve 200-filter boxes contain 2,400. That does not make the second case a substitute for a brewer needing the first format. Confirm the exact order option before comparing totals or choosing a large restock.
Compare useful quantity and the complete checkout cost
Once the fit is established, compare the final merchandise cost divided by the number of matching filters. Include delivery charges when comparing orders from different sellers. A lower cost per filter has little practical value if the shape is wrong or the case is much larger than the quantity you want to store.
Keep an immediate coupon separate from a reward earned later, and distinguish a one-time order from any recurring-delivery selection. This guide does not supply current product prices or claim a discount on these examples.
Read material and disposal claims on the exact product
The two Melitta cone-filter pages identify their commercial-composting certification and state that suitable facilities may not exist locally. Preserve that qualification rather than assuming it means home-compostable or accepted by every collection program. Read the current package and your local program’s rules for the filter you buy.
Keep the brewer model, required shape and size, exact filter product and box count together in your shopping notes. Use the grocery and household shopping resource for its separate selection, browse shopping guides, and save order comparisons in the shopping tools.