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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, Up to 1.5 tons (under 21,000 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

Top 10 by hot-day cooling efficiency only: ducted, up to 1.5 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. 1EL16KP1-018-230A**with indoor coil LP36/37R*+TXV and furnace EL280UH070E36ALennoxAlso listed as ML14KP1-018-230A1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%15.0
  2. 237MAHAQ06AA3with ducted air handler 45MBDAQ06XA3CarrierAlso sold as Midea 37MAHAQ06AA3, Midea D5CSHAH06AAK, MDV MOX230-06HFN10-M1X, Arcoaire D5CSHAH06AAK0.5 tons · 6,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.5
  3. 37HP14F18P-**Awith indoor coil H,A,DG80*36+TXV and furnace 80G1UH045AE12Lennox (sold as Ducane)Also sold as Armstrong Air A7HP14F18P-**A1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.5
  4. 4BH714S18P-**Awith indoor coil PL36H175P15*+TXV and furnace B80UR402V3AXGree (sold as Ac Pro)1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctedGood14.5
  5. 5DRA1H06S2Awith ducted air handler DRADL0612F2ADurastar0.5 tons · 6,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.4
  6. 6MO1HS-H06B-2Awith ducted air handler MDLHU-H06B-2AMidea0.5 tons · 6,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.4
  7. 7PUZ-AK12NL***with ducted air handler PEAD-AA12NLMitsubishi Electric1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.4
  8. 8BMS626HHYCwith ducted air handler BMC6LCDBlueRidge0.5 tons · 6,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.4
  9. 9CH-RHP06F9-230VOwith ducted air handler CH-RS06MDT-MSCooper&Hunter0.5 tons · 6,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.4
  10. 10ML06HP230NEXH-Owith ducted air handler ML06HP230LSDUC-IRheem (sold as Mainline)0.5 tons · 6,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.4

Every ducted, up to 1.5 tons model, highest first

Top cold-climate picks, ducted up to 1.5 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, up to 1.5 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
    1.90+
    Great
    2.10+
    Top 10%
    2.32+

  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

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

    Good
    9.2+
    Great
    10.0+
    Top 10%
    10.6+

  • SEER2

    Summer-long cooling efficiency

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

    Good
    16.0+
    Great
    19.7+
    Top 10%
    20.5+

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