Against comparable models

Each cell is the share of same-size, same-type models that the manufacturer’s typical model beats (50% is typical); the higher score is in bold. Raw medians are underneath for context: they depend on which sizes each one makes, so they are not compared.

Durastar and KADEN on every ratingPeer scores, 0–100 · grey ticks: every ranked manufacturer · shaded: the middle half of each one’s modelsMeasured against models of the same size and duct type, Durastar scores higher on 4 of the 6 ratings.

Durastar
KADEN
Other ranked manufacturers

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of Oct 11, 2026

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	Durastar	KADEN
Efficiency index	59% (higher)median — · 8th ranked	58% (higher)median —
COP at 5°F	54% (higher)median 2.00 · 14th ranked	52% (higher)median 2.00
Capacity retention at 5°F	55% (higher)median 65% · 14th ranked	41% (higher)median 65%
HSPF2	66%median 9.4 · 7th ranked	69%median 9.3
SEER2	62%median 19.0 · 7th ranked	74%median 19.3
EER2	57% (higher)median 11.7 · 10th ranked	49% (higher)median 10.9
Heating capacity at 5°F	53% (higher)median 20,400 Btu/h · 14th ranked	44% (higher)median 18,250 Btu/h
Outdoor models	35	24
AHRI certifications	293	37

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	Durastar	KADEN
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	57.1%20 models	66.7%16 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	51.4%18 models	54.2%13 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	2.9%1 models	0%0 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	45.7%16 models	25%6 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	2.9%1 models	0%0 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	60%21 models	25%6 models

Sizes and duct types offered

Models in each peer group, with the efficiency index of those models against the rest of the group.

Side by side, inside each size and duct typeShape: every model of the group · bars: each manufacturer’s middle half, median dot, 10th–90th line · 9 groups where both have models

Durastar
KADEN
All models of the group

Raw ratings are only placed side by side within one size and duct type, where they are comparable.

Source: AHRI Directory · as of Oct 11, 2026

Models per peer group · efficiency index within the group
Size and duct type	Durastar	KADEN
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	10 · index 59%	3 · index 42%
Ducted, 2 tons	3 · index 71%	2 · index 52%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	9 · index 53%	6 · index 52%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	10 · index 53%	4 · index 55%
Ducted, 5 tons and up	2 · index 55%	2 · index 42%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	8 · index 70%	7 · index 73%
Non-ducted, 2 tons	2 · index 67%	1 · index 78%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	5 · index 63%	2 · index 69%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	4 · index 51%	2 · index 49%

Cold-climate and all-around picks, size class by size class

Each manufacturer’s best model on each board in every size and duct type, side by side; the higher score is in bold. Both scores are 0–100 against every model of that size class (the line on each bar is 50, the typical model there), so the two compare fairly even when they make different sizes.

Cold-climate picks

Best cold-climate pick per size and duct type (keeps at least 70% of its heat at 5°F). Qualifies when its capacity retention at 5°F (capacity at 5°F as a share of capacity at 47°F) is at least 70% and Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 are all rated. Score = the equal-weight mean of its peer percentiles on Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100), all from one certified pairing: in each duct type a model is sold in, its qualifying pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	DurastarCold-climate score, best model	KADENCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	74.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)DRA1H09S1Awith ducted air handler DRAD09F1A7 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 210568115	52.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-PS218HP-2AAMA1 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 211793561
Ducted, 2 tons	80.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)DRA1U24S1Bwith ducted air handler DRAD24F1A2 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 207787145	62.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-UUS24HP-2AAMAwith ducted air handler KI-UUS24AHP-2AAMAAlso listed as KO-UUX24HP-2AAMA2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 211793549
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	66.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)DRA3H28M1A3 of 9 models qualify · AHRI 210568215	None on this board (0 of 6 models qualify)
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	74.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)DRA5H48M1A2 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 210568221	None on this board (0 of 4 models qualify)
Ducted, 5 tons and up	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	86.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)DRA1U09S1Bwith ductless indoor unit DRAW09F1B7 of 8 models qualify · AHRI 207787130	89.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KO-PSX06HP-2AAMAwith ductless indoor unit KI-PSX06WM-2AAMA2 of 7 models qualify · AHRI 213265556
Non-ducted, 2 tons	86.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)DRA1H24S1Awith ductless indoor unit DRAC24F1B2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 210568114	60.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-PSX24HP-2AAMAwith ductless indoor unit KI-PSX24WM-2AAMA1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 211793559
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	73.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)DRA4H36M1A4 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 210568217	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	80.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)DRA5H48M1A2 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 210568220	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)

All-around best

Best all-around model per size and duct type. Score = 50% heating, the mean of its peer percentiles on COP at 5°F, Capacity retention at 5°F, HSPF2, plus 50% cooling, the mean of its peer percentiles on SEER2 and EER2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100). All five ratings are required; there is no minimum heat kept at 5°F. In each duct type a model is sold in, it is scored on its pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher cold-climate score, then the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	DurastarAll-around score, best model	KADENAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	85.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)DRA1H09S1Awith ducted air handler DRAD09F1A10 of 10 models have all five ratings · AHRI 210568115	59.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-PS218HP-2AAMA3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793561
Ducted, 2 tons	83.8(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)DRA1U24S1Bwith ducted air handler DRAD24F1A3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207787145	52.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-UUS24HP-2AAMAwith ducted air handler KI-UUS24AHP-2AAMAAlso listed as KO-UUX24HP-2AAMA2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793549
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	74.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)DRA3H28M1A9 of 9 models have all five ratings · AHRI 210568215	75.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KO-PS327HP-2AAMA6 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793564
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	82.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)DRA5H48M1A10 of 10 models have all five ratings · AHRI 210568221	63.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-PS548HP-2AAMA4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793568
Ducted, 5 tons and up	68.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)DRHP15A60AJ2ANwith ducted air handler F,PE*DD19602 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214077297	41.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-UUS60HP-2AAMAwith ducted air handler KI-UUS60AHU-2AAMAAlso listed as KO-UUX60HP-2AAMA2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793553
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	86.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)DRA1U09S1Bwith ductless indoor unit DRAW09F1B8 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207787130	92.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KO-PSX06HP-2AAMAwith ductless indoor unit KI-PSX06WM-2AAMA7 of 7 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213265556
Non-ducted, 2 tons	72.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)DRA1U24S1Bwith ductless indoor unit DRAF24F1A2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207787146	77.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KO-PSX24HP-2AAMAwith ductless indoor unit KI-PSX24WM-2AAMA1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793559
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	70.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)DRA4H36M1A5 of 5 models have all five ratings · AHRI 210568217	78.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KO-PS327HP-2AAMA2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793563
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	73.8(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)DRA5H48M1A4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 210568220	56.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)KO-PS548HP-2AAMA2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211793567

All-around board, every manufacturer

Standout model on each rating

Each manufacturer’s model that beats the largest share of comparable models on the rating; the higher share is in bold.

Top model per rating by peer percentile, with its AHRI-certified value and peer group
Rating	Durastar	KADEN
COP at 5°F	beats 98% · 2.45DRA1U12S1BNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 97% · 2.39KO-PSX12HP-2AAMANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 95% · 113%DRA1U09S1BNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 92% · 107%KO-PSX06HP-2AAMANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
HSPF2	beats 98% · 12.0DRA1H09S1ADucted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 98% · 13.6KO-PSX06HP-2AAMANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
SEER2	beats 99% · 20.9DRA5H48M1ADucted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 99% · 24.6KO-PS327HP-2AAMANon-ducted, 2.5–3 tons
EER2	beats 95% · 15.8DRA1H09S1ANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 97% · 14.0KO-PSX24HP-2AAMANon-ducted, 2 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 96% · 20,000 Btu/hDRA2H18M1ANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 79% · 13,100 Btu/hKO-PSX18HP-2AAMANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons

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Durastar vs KADEN heat pumps