A filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner including a filter cartridge a first substantially rigid pleated filter element having a plurality of pleats with pleated edge and a flexible pre-filter element positioned over the pleated edge of the filter cartridge. The pleats may be radial, longitudinal or conical with the pre-filter a disc, cylinder or frusto-conical in shape. In each case the pre-filter is positioned on the pleats so that dirt laden air is drawn through the pre-filter element and then through the pleated filter element before being drawn into a vacuum motor