Abstract: A filter element with a preferably multilayer structure of a pleated filter medium (3) with a plurality of individual filter pleats (5, 7) is characterised in that, due to an alternating sequence of filter pleats (5) with a first pleat height (h1) and filter pleats (7) with a second pleat height (h2), more effective filter surfaces are available than with filter pleats with a uniform pleat height, and therefore, upon throughflow by a fluid to be filtered, there is a lower surface load for the filter medium (3) and lower passage speed of the fluid during filtration, with the consequence that a static loading of the filter medium (3) during operation of the filter is reduced. The invention also relates to a hydraulic circuit with such a filter element (1).