Pool Filter Cartridge Finder by Filter Model

Find your filter model first

Use the model on the filter’s label or in its owner’s manual, not the filter’s size in square feet. Two filters of similar size can take different cartridges. Hayward’s C4030 is rated 425 sq. ft. and takes CX880XRE. Pentair’s Clean & Clear Plus 420 is rated 420 sq. ft. and lists R173576.

Then check three things before you order:

1. The part number, not just the shape. Hayward says its genuine cartridges carry product information molded into the end caps, so the number on your old element is worth reading.
2. How many your filter takes. Tank filters usually hold several cartridges. Hayward’s manual lists four for most SwimClear models and eight for the C7030. Pentair lists four for each Clean & Clear Plus.
3. The pack. A single element and a 4-pack carry different part numbers. Check the count on the listing before you pay.

If your model is not below, the parts list in its owner’s manual is the next place to look. This page lists only models for which a maker publishes a cartridge number.

Cartridge numbers by filter model

No row matches those words. Try only the model, such as C3030, or check the model on your filter's label and in its owner's manual.

How to read the Amazon links

• A link named for the part goes to a listing whose manufacturer part number matched the row when we checked it on October 19, 2026, and which was new and in stock then. Listings change, so confirm the part number, pack count and seller on the product page.
• “Search Amazon for…” is a search, not a product page. We use one where we could not confirm a new, in-stock listing for that exact number. The results usually include third-party cartridges sold as replacements.
• Third-party cartridges are outside what this page verified. If you buy one, confirm that the title names both your filter model and the maker’s number, and check how many cartridges the pack holds.
• Pentair’s own documents list several numbers for one filter. For the Clean & Clear Plus 320, its parts sheet shows R173573, its installation guide shows PCC80 and PCC80-PAK4, and its 2025-26 catalog shows ULTRA-A5. Each is a Pentair-listed number for that model.

Clean first, replace when the maker says so

The makers’ manuals agree on one habit: write down the gauge reading when the cartridges are clean, then compare later readings with it.

• Hayward SwimClear. Clean or replace the elements when pressure rises 7 to 10 psi above the starting pressure, or when flow drops below what you want. After cleaning, if the starting pressure is more than 6 psi above the reading with new elements, replace the elements the next time the gauge reaches the red arrow.
• Pentair Clean & Clear Plus. Clean the filter when pressure reads about 10 psi above the original starting pressure, or when flow drops noticeably. If pressure stays high after hand cleaning, Pentair says to acid soak the cartridges, and then to replace them if it still stays high.
• Jandy CL and CV. The gauge’s “dirty” mark is 10 to 12 psi above the original starting pressure. When you clean, check each cartridge for holes, tears or excessively worn pleats, and replace any that have them.
• Intex and Bestway small pumps. Both makers recommend replacing these cartridges every two weeks for best results, which is manufacturer guidance for their pumps, not a rule for larger tank filters.

Opening a pressurized filter has real hazards. Hayward’s manual says its filters should be installed and serviced only by a qualified pool professional. Pentair’s guide warns that trapped air can separate the lid with deadly force and says to follow its shutdown and air-relief steps exactly. If your gauge reads low rather than high, the cause is usually elsewhere; our flow and filter-gauge decision map covers that.

Common questions

How many cartridges does my pool filter take?

It depends on the model. Hayward’s manual lists four elements for the SwimClear C2030, C3030, C4030 and C5030 and eight for the C7030. Pentair lists four for each Clean & Clear Plus model and Jandy lists four for each CL and CV size. Check your own owner’s manual for any other model.

Can I use any cartridge that has the same diameter and length?

Not on the evidence on this page. The makers publish a specific part number for each model, and this page compares part numbers only. We did not test fit. Match the maker’s number, and if you buy a third-party cartridge, confirm that the listing names both your filter model and that number.

My filter pressure is still high after I clean the cartridges. Do I need new ones?

Possibly. Pentair’s guide says to clean the cartridges by hand, then acid soak them, and replace them if pressure stays high. Hayward says to replace the elements the next time the gauge reaches the red arrow if the starting pressure after cleaning is more than 6 psi above the starting pressure with new elements. Jandy says to replace any cartridge with holes, tears or excessively worn pleats.

Is the filter’s square footage the same as its model?

No. Hayward’s C4030 is rated 425 sq. ft. and Pentair’s Clean & Clear Plus 420 is rated 420 sq. ft., yet they use different cartridges. Find the model on the filter’s label or in the manual.

Sources and limits

Checked October 19, 2026. Maker documents:

• Hayward: replacement cartridge sheet (LITREPCT19, 2019), SwimClear owner’s manual for the C2030, C3030, C4030, C5030 and C7030 (ISC2031EF Rev B) and the CX580XRE product page .
• Pentair: Clean & Clear Plus parts sheet , Clean & Clear Plus installation and user’s guide , Clean & Clear Plus product page , pool filter replacement parts catalog and the 2025-26 filter parts catalog .
• Jandy: CL and CV cartridge filter installation and operation manual (H0291800), parts list and maintenance sections.
• Bestway US site: the Type I , Type III and Type IV-B cartridge pages and the 800 gal. , 1,000 gal. , 1,500 gal. and 2,500 gal. pump pages.
• Intex: our Intex Type A, B and H comparison , which cites Intex’s own cartridge records and covers pack sizes.

Limits. We copied part numbers as the makers print them, including Hayward’s single elements that end in RE and its 4-packs that end in XRE. Hayward’s sheet is from 2019 and Pentair’s R-numbers come from earlier catalogs, so makers may have revised numbers since; if your old cartridge reads differently, trust the manual for your filter’s serial date. Hayward’s StarClear sheet does not give element counts. For the C2030, Hayward’s manual names CX481XRE while its sheet also lists CX480XRE. Models that are not in a maker document are not here. We did not test any cartridge, measure filtration or confirm third-party equivalents.