A surface cleaning apparatus includes an air flow path, a filter housing, and a filter member in the filter housing. In some embodiments, the filter member includes a plurality of individual filter elements arranged in parallel, each including porous filter material having at least one upstream face and at least one portion defining a porous filter media air outlet. In other embodiments, the filter member has an outer upstream surface that abuts an axially extending air impermeable wall to inhibit bypass of the filter.