The invention concerns a filter element having a support member (11) which comprises a support tube (12) which can be brought into abutment with a filter mat (14) and which is provided with apertures (16) for the passage of a filtered medium. The apertures (16) are formed by the axial spaces between individual rings (18) of the support member (11) which are supported by support walls (20) dividing the interior of the support tube (12) into individual chambers (22). By virtue of the fact that the support member (11) is rendered compression-stiff such that it exclusively supports the filter mat (14) when the medium flows therethrough, the respective support wall (20) is directly connected to the rings (18) for this purpose and each ring (18) with its closed annular shape surrounds the support walls (20) on the peripheral side from the exterior, the filtration capacity of filter elements can be improved and the weight and cost simultaneously reduced owing to the highly stable and compression-stiff support member.
