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Ranked by heating power kept at 5°f only

How much of its mild-weather heating power the unit still delivers at 5°F. At 100% the unit puts out as much heat at 5°F as at 47°F in the test. Lower means less heating output in deep cold. 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 Ductless, 3.5–4.5 tons (39,000–56,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

Top 10 by heating power kept at 5°f only: ductless, 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. 1AOUH42KUAH1with ductless indoor unit AUUH42KUASFujitsu3.5 tons · 42,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%102%
  2. 2ZRUM048GSS0LG4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%100%
  3. 3AC048DXSCCGwith ductless indoor unit AC048DN4DCGSamsung4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%100%
  4. 4KUMXA421ALG3.5 tons · 42,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%100%
  5. 5KUMXA481ALG4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%100%
  6. 6AUW-48U3TH1(JCH)with ductless indoor unit AUC-48UR3TKA1(JCH)Hisense3.5 tons · 44,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%100%
  7. 7UPC48CN23STG1with ductless indoor unit UNI48CS23STG1York (sold as Guardian)3.5 tons · 44,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%100%
  8. 8MXZ-SM42NLHZ***Mitsubishi ElectricAlso listed as PUMY-HL42NKMU, MXZ-SM42NLHZ-3.5 tons · 42,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%100%
  9. 9MXZ-SM48NLHZ***Mitsubishi ElectricAlso listed as PUMY-HL48NKMU, MXZ-SM48NLHZ-4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%100%
  10. 10AVW-48F3DAH2Hisense4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%100%

Every ductless, 3.5–4.5 tons model, highest first

Top cold-climate picks, ductless 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: ductless, 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.

  • Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F

    Heating power kept at 5°F

    How much of its mild-weather heating power the unit still delivers at 5°F.

    Good
    81%+
    Great
    90%+
    Top 10%
    96%+

  • 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
    2.06+
    Top 10%
    2.11+

  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

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

    Good
    10.0+
    Great
    10.6+
    Top 10%
    11.0+

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