Which Water Filter Fits My Samsung Refrigerator? (DA29-00020B and More)

The right samsung refrigerator water filter is the one that matches the shape and model number printed on your current filter – not the one that “looks close enough” on the shelf. Samsung sells three main internal filters that are not interchangeable: the round DA29-00020B (HAF-CIN), the square DA97-17376B (HAF-QIN), and the older HAF-CU1. Bespoke refrigerators use their own filters again. Get the shape wrong and the filter will not seal – or worse, it can crack the housing.

This guide tells you exactly how to identify your filter, then explains the traps – including the DA29-00020A-vs-DA29-00020B confusion and the round-vs-square mismatch – so you order once and order right.

The one rule before you buy anything

Confirm the model printed on your current filter or in your manual first. One fridge line uses different filters across model years, so memory and “my fridge is a Samsung French door” are not enough.

Samsung’s own replacement guide says the same thing: find the filter’s location (it varies by model), then check the model number printed on the existing cartridge to determine whether you need HAF-CIN, HAF-QIN, or HAF-CU1 (Samsung US support). If you no longer have the old filter, look up your refrigerator’s model number on the label inside the unit and run it through Samsung’s water filter finder (Samsung filter finder).

Two ways to confirm, in order of reliability:

1. Read the part number off the old filter itself (usually printed on the cap or body).
2. Read your refrigerator’s model number off the interior label and match it to the official filter list.

If you want a faster cross-check, our Which Filter Fits tool maps Samsung part numbers to the housings they actually seat in.

Round vs square: DA29-00020B (HAF-CIN) vs DA97-17376B (HAF-QIN)

This is the single most important distinction. The two filters are physically different shapes and will not swap.

• DA29-00020B (HAF-CIN) is a smooth, round cylinder. It is the filter in most standard Samsung French Door and Side-by-Side refrigerators from roughly 2010 to 2021.
• DA97-17376B (HAF-QIN) is a blocky, square-bodied cartridge. It is used in newer side-by-side, French Door, and 4-Door Flex models – many RF23M-series fridges, for example, take the HAF-QIN (Samsung DA97-17376B on Walmart).

The housings are keyed to the shape. A round HAF-CIN will not seal in a square HAF-QIN housing, and a square cartridge will not seat in a round one. Forcing a quarter-turn against the wrong locking teeth can crack the internal manifold – an expensive repair to save a few dollars on the wrong filter. So before you install, physically compare the new filter’s shape to the old one. Do not rely on memory while standing in the store aisle.

A quick way to remember it: round is the older standard line; square shows up on the newer and 4-Door Flex models. But shape-matching the old cartridge beats any rule of thumb.

The DA29-00020A vs DA29-00020B trap

Here is where people overpay or second-guess. The DA29-00020A and DA29-00020B are the same physical round filter for fit purposes – the same HAF-CIN/EXP housing. The “A” is the older designation and the “B” is the current one; they are cross-listed as compatible across retailers and Samsung’s own genuine-filter packaging carries both numbers (Samsung genuine HAF-CIN listing).

So if your old filter says DA29-00020A, a DA29-00020B will fit. You do not need to hunt for the exact “A” part.

One genuine caveat: the DA29-00020B-1 variant. Some users report a physical difference, so if your fridge shipped with a DA29-00020B-1, verify before assuming a plain DA29-00020B drops in. When in doubt, match the full string on your cartridge.

HAF-CU1 and the Bespoke filters

Two more Samsung filters round out the picture.

HAF-CU1 is an older Samsung internal filter found on certain earlier models. It is its own shape and is not a substitute for the round HAF-CIN or square HAF-QIN. Samsung lists it alongside the other two as a distinct option to check against your cartridge (Samsung US support).

Bespoke refrigerators use their own filter parts. Samsung’s Bespoke line introduced newer housings, so a filter that fit a 2018 French Door will not necessarily fit a current Bespoke unit. Because Bespoke part numbers vary by configuration, this is the case where you should absolutely pull the model number off the interior label and confirm against Samsung’s finder rather than guessing from the brand name.

The pattern across all four: the brand “Samsung” tells you almost nothing. The printed part number tells you everything.

What the certifications actually mean

A filter that fits is not automatically a filter that protects you the way you assume. Two NSF/ANSI standards matter, and they are not the same thing:

• NSF/ANSI 42 covers aesthetic effects – chlorine taste and odor. It does not address health contaminants.
• NSF/ANSI 53 covers health-related contaminants like lead and cysts.

Samsung’s genuine DA29-00020B is certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53, with a rated life of about 6 months or 300 gallons, whichever comes first (Samsung genuine filter spec). For context on why lead reduction is worth verifying, the EPA notes there is no safe level of lead exposure and that home filtration certified to reduce lead is one mitigation path (EPA: basic information about lead in drinking water).

The honest trade-off lives in the aftermarket. Many compatible filters cost far less and some are genuinely NSF 53 certified – but certification is SKU-specific. A brand claiming “NSF 53” on one product does not mean every product it sells reduces lead. Before you trust a lead-reduction claim on any aftermarket filter, look up that exact model in the NSF certified products database (info.nsf.org). If the specific SKU is not listed for the claim you care about, treat the claim as marketing, not data.

That is the “by the book” position: a cheaper filter can be a smart buy, but only when you have verified the certification on the part you are actually putting in your fridge.

How to install and reset

Once you have the right filter, the swap is tool-free:

1. Shut off the water supply to the refrigerator, then dispense water until flow stops to relieve pressure.
2. Turn the old filter counterclockwise to release it and pull it out.
3. Insert the new filter and turn clockwise until it locks (a quarter-turn on most models).
4. Run several gallons through the dispenser to flush carbon fines and air.
5. Reset the filter indicator – on standard models, press and hold the Filter Reset button about three seconds (Samsung US support).

Replace every six months or 300 gallons, whichever comes first. If your water is heavily sedimented, you may hit the gallon limit sooner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the DA29-00020A the same as the DA29-00020B?

For fit, yes. Both are the round HAF-CIN/EXP filter and share the same housing; the “B” simply supersedes the “A.” If your old filter reads DA29-00020A, a DA29-00020B will install. The exception to verify is the DA29-00020B-1 variant, which some owners report differs physically.

Can I put a HAF-QIN square filter in a HAF-CIN round housing?

No. The round DA29-00020B (HAF-CIN) and square DA97-17376B (HAF-QIN) are not interchangeable. The housings are keyed to the cartridge shape, and forcing the wrong one can crack the internal manifold. Always match the shape of your old filter before installing.

How do I find which filter my Samsung fridge uses if I lost the old one?

Read the refrigerator’s model number off the label inside the unit (usually on a side wall or ceiling of the fresh-food compartment), then enter it in Samsung’s water filter finder or our Which Filter Fits tool. The model number maps to exactly one filter part.

Are cheaper aftermarket Samsung-compatible filters safe?

They can be, but verify per SKU. NSF/ANSI 53 certification (lead, cysts) is specific to the exact product, not the brand. Look up the precise model at info.nsf.org and confirm the listing before trusting any lead-reduction claim. If the SKU is not listed, the claim is unverified.

How often should I replace my Samsung refrigerator water filter?

Every six months or about 300 gallons, whichever comes first, per Samsung’s recommendation. Heavier sediment or hard water can shorten that. If your home runs hard water, our water softener sizing calculator can help you reduce the scale load upstream of the fridge.

The short version

Match the printed part number and the shape of your current filter, not the brand. Round DA29-00020B (HAF-CIN) and square DA97-17376B (HAF-QIN) do not swap. DA29-00020A and DA29-00020B do. HAF-CU1 and Bespoke filters are their own parts – confirm by model number. And before you trust any aftermarket lead claim, verify the exact SKU at info.nsf.org. Confirm first, buy once.