A filter element for end face inlet formed of triangular channels which are alternately closed such that the fluid to be filtered must pass through the filter material in order to flow from the inlet side (22) to the discharge side (23). The channels are formed by alternating flat layers (17) and folded layers (18), whereby all sides of the inlet channels face a discharge channel. A particularly high filter efficiency is thereby achieved such that a large filter surface area and a high filter capacity are attained with a relatively small structural volume. The filter can be used, for example, as an air filter for various air filtration applications.