Inconsistent filtering of force plate data persists in published studies. Previous evidence suggests that low pass filtering produces the largest error when calculating jump height, but used jump height from unfiltered force plate data as the criterion. This study investigated the effects of low pass filtering on jump height calculated from force plate data, using jump height recorded from optical motion capture as the criterion. Unfiltered as well as both single and dual pass filtered data, with cutoff frequencies of 100, 50 and 5 Hz, were used to calculate jump height using take-off velocity (TOV) and take-off velocity summed with displacement (TOV+s). The TOV+s method using the 5 Hz single pass filtered signal, best agreed with the criterion (p < 0.001). This was accomplished through changes in the force-time signal that decreased velocity and increased displacement at take-off (p < 0.001). This is contrary to previous recommendations and informs the development of standard procedures.