Skip to content
Rebate.Blue

Ranked by hot-day cooling efficiency only

Cooling efficiency on a 95°F afternoon. A single hot-weather test point, when air conditioners work hardest. Higher is more efficient. This list ranks by that one rating. For the units that hold up best in the cold overall, see the cold-climate picks.

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

Showing Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons (39,000–56,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

Top 10 by hot-day cooling efficiency only: ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons

Ranked by this one rating, not an overall verdict. Every model here is the same size and type, so the numbers compare directly. Higher is better. One certified pairing per model.
  1. 127TPA848A**30*with ducted air handler FT5ANBD60LCarrierAlso sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems 248TAN048**AA, Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems PH8TAN548**AA, HEIL N5H8T48*K*AAA, Grandaire W5H8T48*K*AAA and 1 more; also listed as GH8TAN548**AA4 tons · 48,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5
  2. 27HP14F42P-**Awith indoor coil H,A,DG49*60+TXV and furnace 80G2UH110CE16Lennox (sold as Ducane)Also sold as Armstrong Air A7HP14F42P-**A3.5 tons · 41,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5
  3. 3H5H8T48*K*AAA*with ducted air handler FTMA5B60L0DCarrier (sold as HEIL)Also sold as Comfortmaker C5H8T48*K*AAA, Kenmore (C,H,T)5H8T48*K*AAA, Tempstar T5H8T48*K*AAA4 tons · 48,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5
  4. 4ML14KP1-042-230A**with indoor coil L*42/60Z*+TXV and furnace SL280UH080NV60CLennoxAlso listed as EL16KP1-042-230A3.5 tons · 41,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5
  5. 5NS16H42SA5-**Awith indoor coil PL60H210P19*+TXV and furnace NF80X100V5CGE Appliances (sold as GE)3.5 tons · 41,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5
  6. 6BH714S42P-**Awith indoor coil PL60H210P19*+TXV and furnace B80UR1002V5CXGree (sold as Ac Pro)3.5 tons · 41,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5
  7. 727VPA948A*030*with ducted air handler FT5BD6021XCarrierAlso sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems 249VAN048**AA, HEIL N5H9V48*K*AAA, HEIL Q5H9V48*K*AAA4 tons · 46,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5
  8. 8EL21KLV-048-230A**with indoor coil CK40HT-48B-**+TDR and furnace SL280UH090V48BLennox4 tons · 47,500 Btu/h · DuctedGood13.4
  9. 9A7CP21V48P-**Awith indoor coil 7EH48BX-**+TDR and furnace A80US2V090B16Lennox (sold as Armstrong Air)4 tons · 47,500 Btu/h · DuctedGood13.4
  10. 10A7CP21V48P-**Awith indoor coil 7EH48BX-**+TDR and furnace A80US2V090B16Gree (sold as Ac Pro)4 tons · 47,500 Btu/h · DuctedGood13.4

Every ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons model, highest first

Top cold-climate picks, ducted 3.5–4.5 tons

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

Want this size class’s full distribution and peer percentiles? Switch to Advanced

What good looks like: ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons

Good is better than half of this size class, great is the top quarter, top is the top 10%. The scale comes from the class’s own ratings.

  • COP at 5°F

    Efficiency on a 5°F day

    How much heat the unit makes from each unit of electricity when it is 5°F outside.

    Good
    2.00+
    Great
    2.10+
    Top 10%
    2.36+

  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

    Heating efficiency over a whole winter, measured with a federal test.

    Good
    8.1+
    Great
    9.0+
    Top 10%
    10.4+

  • SEER2

    Summer-long cooling efficiency

    Cooling efficiency over a whole summer, measured with a federal test.

    Good
    15.9+
    Great
    18.0+
    Top 10%
    19.8+

Next steps

The advanced view adds the all-sizes boards, each qualifier’s peer percentiles, charts of every model in each size class, and the EER2 and heat output boards.

Open the advanced view