Skip to content
Rebate.Blue

Durastar vs Panasonic: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical Durastar model beats 53% and a typical Panasonic model 68%. Panasonic rates higher overall.

Covers heat pumps sold new today (R-454B and R-32 refrigerant). See older R-410A models · Updated

Durastar

53%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

67 models listed

Panasonic

68%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well above average

29 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°FDurastar: Beats 64%Panasonic: Beats 64%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FDurastar: Beats 51%Panasonic: Beats 72%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2Durastar: Beats 54%Panasonic: Beats 80%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2Durastar: Beats 47%Panasonic: Beats 66%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2Durastar: Beats 47%Panasonic: Beats 62%

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

    Durastar
    54%
    Panasonic
    97%

  • Xcel CC

    Durastar
    48%
    Panasonic
    90%

  • CEE Advanced

    Durastar
    5%
    Panasonic
    21%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    Durastar
    49%
    Panasonic
    79%

All-around best, ductless 2.5–3 tons

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

Showing Ductless, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

Durastar

  1. 1DRA5H36M2ADurastar3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 72.6Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    103% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    11.3 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    21.5 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    12.2 (EER2)
    Good
    66.3score / 100Heating 70 · Cooling 62
  2. 2DRA5U36M2ADurastar3 tons · 35,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 47.2Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    70% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    23.1 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    58.3score / 100Heating 47 · Cooling 69
  3. 3DRA4H28M2ADurastar2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 53.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    21.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    52.7score / 100Heating 54 · Cooling 52

Panasonic

  1. 1CU-5YM36CBUCPanasonic3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 73.0Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    103% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    11.3 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    21.5 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    12.2 (EER2)
    Good
    66.3score / 100Heating 70 · Cooling 62
  2. 2CU-5Z36BBUCPanasonic3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 70.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    75% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.08 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    10.3 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    22.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    11.8 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    59.6score / 100Heating 70 · Cooling 49
  3. 3CU-4YM27CBUCPanasonic2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 53.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    21.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    52.7score / 100Heating 54 · Cooling 52

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.

Open the advanced view