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Daikin vs Lennox: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical Daikin model beats 45% and a typical Lennox model 56%. Lennox rates higher overall.

Covers older R-410A heat pumps, no longer installed new. See models sold today · Updated

Daikin

45%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Below average

367 models listed

Lennox

56%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Above average

313 models listed

Rating by ratingEach bar is the share of same-size, same-type heat pumps that a typical model beats, so the two brands compare fairly even if they make different sizes.
  • Efficiency on a 5°F dayCOP at 5°FDaikin: Beats 56%Lennox: Beats 58%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FDaikin: Beats 40%Lennox: Beats 48%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2Daikin: Beats 35%Lennox: Beats 49%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2Daikin: Beats 39%Lennox: Beats 49%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2Daikin: Beats 48%Lennox: Beats 54%

Average (50%)Dashed outline: the other brand, for comparison

Want ranks, distributions per size class and cold-weather curves? Switch to Advanced

Rebate standards

Share of each brand’s models that meet the level. Programs can have other rules too.
  • CEE 2025

    Daikin
    27%
    Lennox
    46%
  • Xcel CC

    Daikin
    15%
    Lennox
    29%
  • CEE Advanced

    Daikin
    2%
    Lennox
    1%
  • ENERGY STAR CC

    Daikin
    8%
    Lennox
    20%

All-around best, ducted 2.5–3 tons

Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.

Showing Ducted, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling), the most-listed ducted size. Pick yours above. What size is my system?

Daikin

  1. 1MST363G22MHAADaikin (sold as Goodman)3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 79.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.4 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    83.7score / 100Heating 80 · Cooling 88
  2. 2MST273G22MHAADaikin (sold as Goodman)2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 80.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    101% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    11.8 (EER2)
    Great
    81.9score / 100Heating 80 · Cooling 83
  3. 3RZQ36TBVJU*with ducted air handler FXMQ36TBVJUDaikin3 tons · 35,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 79.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    8.8 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    16.9 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    75.1score / 100Heating 80 · Cooling 70

Lennox

  1. 1A-VMH36QV-1ALennox (sold as Comfort-Aire)3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 79.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.4 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    83.7score / 100Heating 80 · Cooling 88
  2. 2SL25XPV-036-230A**with indoor coil CRX35-50/60C-**-*+TDR and furnace SLP99DF090XV36CLennox3 tons · 34,200 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 65.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    81% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.86 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.4 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    22.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    13.5 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    82.5score / 100Heating 65 · Cooling 100
  3. 34SHP22LX136P-**Awith indoor coil C(A,C,D,E)48C34+TDR and furnace A97US2V080C16XLennox (sold as Armstrong Air)3 tons · 33,400 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 66% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026
    Heat kept at 5°F
    66% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.69 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    80.8score / 100Heating 72 · Cooling 90

These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.

Next steps

The advanced view adds ranks, both brands’ models inside every size class, standout models per rating and cold-weather curves.

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