The relation between the structure, permeability and filtration performance of needled nonwoven filter media is reported. Surface treated and untreated fabrics were studied, including microporous coated, laminated e-PTFE, heated calendered and surface singed materials. Surface treatments appear to impart higher packing densities, but mean pore size is governed by the type of treatment with microporous and PTFE having the smaller values. Filtration performance was determined from graphs of pressure drop with filtration duration, differences in filtration efficiencies and the dust concentrations in gas emissions. Except for the singed materials, the treated fabrics depicted surface filtration and the untreated depth filtration. The trend for singed fabrics showed initial depth followed by surface filtration. Markedly higher filtration efficiencies were obtained with surface filtration, which corresponded with higher rates of pressure drop. Surface treatments, giving smaller mean pore sizes, resulted in higher filter cake resistance owing to low particle penetration through the base fabric.