Last Updated: 10.12.2020

By feeding air that’s colder (and therefore denser), an engine is given the ability to produce more power — and even aid in its efficiency. This means by routing the air intake so that it introduces a freer flow to the engine, you can achieve a better response as well. And not just that, the intake sound also changes. So if you’re after a more sonorous experience, an air intake makes a lot of sense. But which one should you get? To answer that, and make it easier for you to understand the importance of a cold air intake, we present our latest modification guide. If you’re looking for the best cold air intake for F150 EcoBoost, this should be helpful.

The 5 Best Cold Air Intakes for F150 EcoBoost:

  1. aFe Power Magnum Force Cold Air Intake System – the best cold intake for F150 Ecoboost
  2. K&N Performance Air Intake System
  3. AEM Cold Air Intake System
  4. AIRAID Air Intake Kit
  5. S&B Filters Cold Air Intake

Our Recommendations

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Biggest Power Upgrade: aFe Power Magnum Force Cold Air Intake System – the best cold air intake for F150 EcoBoost

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With the dual cold air intake system, aFe Power promises a 44 percent increase in the flow. That, along with other aspects, translates to a power and torque increment of 32 hp and 35 lb-ft on the EcoBoost Ford F-150. aFe Power also mentions that the gains mentioned here are dyno-proven as well.

Two-filter setup

The aFe Power Magnum Force Cold Air Intake system has a unique two-filter setup. The filter is the cotton-cleanable Pro 5R, which can be washed and reused — it’s made with polyurethane and is bound to last long. A point worth noting is that if you happen to live in dusty surroundings, then you won’t be able to clean this one by pressurized air as you can in the case of dry filters. With the oiled filter, that cleaning process separates the media from the filter and makes it useless. If you’re looking for the dry filter, you can take a look at it by visiting the link at the end of the description.

The air intake is 50-state legal, which means it’s CARB-exempt, and you can use it in California as well. It not only helps feed the engine more air, but it also allows for quicker spooling of the turbocharger as well. The resulting increase in horsepower and throttle response is bound to be appreciated by enthusiastic drivers. The installation is simple as well.

What do we think of it?

If you’re looking for a power boost on your Ford F-150 EcoBoost, the aFe Power Magnum Force Cold Air Intake system is a good choice. It’s made to last long as well. The 16-gauge heat shield should keep the temperatures in check whereas the well-built equal-length pipe helps allow the engine to breathe freely. Users appreciate the improved response from their truck’s engine, the turbo’s more pronounced sound, and more power. And it’s CARB-exempt as well!

Check with the seller about the warranty (since the Amazon listing has no info on that). Regarding the compatibility, it’s made for the 2012 – 2014 Ford F-150 EcoBoost (3.5-liter V6 turbocharged gas) trucks.

Dry Filter Version:

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Pros

  • Power increase
  • CARB exempt

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Cons

  • None


Great all-round choice: K&N Performance Air Intake System

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The K&N Performance Air Intake for F150 with EcoBoost offers improved engine performance, longer life, better response, pronounced engine sound, easy maintenance, and a long warranty. To start with the basics, with the K&N Performance Air Intake system, you’re looking at an increase of about 50 percent in airflow (in comparison to the stock intake). That gives the engine a power increment of up to 23 hp.

The intake tube is made of high-density polyethylene and it also has a custom heat shield, which keeps the air relatively cooler. The intake comes with an oiled cotton filter, which can be washed and reused. K&N mentions that under normal highway driving, the filter requires cleaning once in 100,000 miles, but depending on your use, that may vary. The bolt-on air intake uses factory mounts, comes with the required hardware, and can be installed in about 90 minutes.

Improved towing ability and sound

Apart from the increase in power, the K&N intake also improves the truck’s towing ability, makes the engine sound better under acceleration, and offers improved protection to the engine. Since it’s not CARB-exempt, it’s not available for sale or use in California.

What do we think of it?

The K&N performance air intake system improves the way the F-150 performs, which is why it’s worth considering. It’s also backed by a 10-year/million-mile warranty, which also serves as further reassurance that you’re purchasing the right product. It’s compatible with the 3.5-liter-V6-engined Ford F-150 EcoBoost trucks with the model years 2015 – 2016. You can contact the seller if you need any further information before making the purchase. Users appreciate the fit and the increase in performance. A handful of them have mentioned the check engine light coming on, so check with the seller about that as well.

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Pros

  • Performance increase
  • Makes the truck sound better

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Cons

  • Not CARB exempt


CARB-free: AEM Cold Air Intake System

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The AEM Cold Air Intake system brings to the table some of the same features as others on the list but backs it all up with the use of aluminum tubing. That allows for improved airflow, which in turn helps it achieve a boost in power and response. It’s tuned and dyno-tested to offer an estimated power increase of 17 hp.

Bolt-on kit

Made for the Ford F-150 EcoBoost, the AEM Cold Air Intake features an AEM Dryflow washable, oil-free air filter. It’s said to last up to 100,000 miles before requiring a clean-up (depends on the driving conditions). The system gets a heat-shield for keeping a check on the incoming air’s temperature. 

In addition to that, it also has a provision to accommodate factory emission control devices. That means the system is CARB-exempt, so you can buy and install it if you’re in California as well. Talking of installation, it’s a bolt-on filter, so that shouldn’t take too long. AEM mentions that with commonly available tools, the installation is easy and can be done at home. The inclusion of mounting hardware makes the process even simpler.

What do we think of it?

The AEM Cold Air Intake for the Ford F-150 EcoBoost is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. We’d suggest you drop a message to the seller if there’s anything else you’d like to know about it. It’s compatible with the 2015 – 2016 3.5L Ford F-150 EcoBoost (V6 turbocharged gas) and 2015-2020 2.7L F-150 EcoBoost (V6 turbocharged gas).

Users like the fit, ease of installation, and the slight increase in performance. The truck becomes more responsive to throttle inputs and the turbocharger sounds become more apparent. It’s something enthusiasts love. If you’re looking for an increase in power but don’t want the extra sound, it’s good to know that the noise is likely to not be annoying at highway speeds.

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Pros

  • Increase in power
  • CARB exempt
  • Fits well

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Cons

  • None


Solid choice: AIRAID Air Intake Kit

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The AIRAID Air Intake kit offers a completely concealed airbox connected to the engine using high-density polyethylene tubes. So not only is the intake air going to be protected from the engine’s heat, but it will also travel faster what you’d get with the factory intake. As a result, this means an increase in the engine’s performance as well — improved response and increase power and torque.

Can be installed with common tools

The model that we’ve listed replaces the stock intake tubing, air filter, and air box. It can be installed using common tools and is accompanied by the necessary hardware required for such a job. The filter used here is of the cotton gauze/oiled variety and so it’s washable and reusable. You can also opt for a dry filter if you’d like that. The link for that is mentioned at the end of the description.

The improvement in performance is owed to an estimated increase in power by up to 24 hp. But that doesn’t affect the road-legal status of your Ford F-150, as Airaid mentions that the filter is CARB exempt. So using your Airaid-equipped F150 EcoBoost in all US states including California is legal. You can read more about the compatibility in the next paragraph.

What do we think of it?

The Airaid Performance air intake system is backed by the company’s no-hassle lifetime warranty. It’s compatible with the 2015 – 2016 Ford F150 EcoBoost (3.5-liter turbocharged V6 gas) and the 2015-2020 2.7L F-150 EcoBoost (V6 turbocharged gas). The Amazon listing mentions that the product isn’t CARB-exempt, but since it’s got an E0 Number (D-609-19), it’s safe to say that it is. But it’d be best to check with the seller about this, or if you have any queries regarding compatibility, warranty, or possible warning lights, drop the seller a message before making the purchase. Users appreciate that while it’s more expensive than others, the fit and finish is second to none. It also doesn’t produce as much noise as some of the other aftermarket intakes, so if you’re looking for a quieter cabin but want your truck to perform better, this is one solid choice.

Dry Filter Version:

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Pros

  • Better response
  • Good fit and finish
  • Great choice for those looking for a quieter cabin

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Cons

  • Expensive


Proven choice: S&B Filters Cold Air Intake

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The S&B Filters Cold Air Intake for Ford F-150 EcoBoost improves the truck’s airflow (by 28.33 percent in comparison to the stock intake), and at the same time ensures that dirt and engine heat don’t reach the filter, thanks to its fully enclosed air box. A performance increase is expected but S&B doesn’t claim any horsepower gains.

The intake kit comes with an 8-layer cotton-cleanable filter. You can also opt for a Dry Extendable one (link to which is mentioned below), especially if you live in dusty environments. Because as mentioned earlier in this guide, it’s easy to clean a dry extendable filter with the help of pressurized air to get rid of the dust.

Larger intake

The increase in airflow is also possible due to the presence of a larger rubber inlet for the intake box (said to be 48 percent improved in comparison to the stock one). In addition to that, S&B mentions that the cold air intake is programmed to not throw any check-engine lights. The air intake kit is street legal in all US states — it’s CARB exempt.

What do we think of it?

The S&B Filters Cold Air Intake comes with a proven increase in performance, easy installation, and a million-mile warranty. We suggest you get in touch with the seller regarding the warranty coverage. As far as compatibility is concerned, the S&B Filters cold air intake for F150 EcoBoost is made for Ford F-150 trucks with model years 2011 – 2014. Users appreciate the quality and improved performance the S&B Filters intake for F-150 has to offer.

Dry filter version:

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Pros

  • Added response
  • Concealed airbox

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Cons

  • None

What is the best cold air intake for F150 EcoBoost?

Getting a cold air intake not only makes the engine perform better, but its benefits are also more evident when other relevant upgrades are made. All the products mentioned here improve the throttle response and come with a verified performance upgrade. 

The aFe Power Magnum Force is a great choice not only because it’s claimed to offer a huge improvement in power but because it’s a good one otherwise as well. The AIRAID and S&B Filters intakes come with concealed air boxes, which is a clear positive, as that keeps the intake less affected by the engine’s heat and also keeps the filter shielded from the elements. The K&N system makes for a decent overall choice, and the same can be said about the AEM intake.