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Ranked by heat output at 5°f only

How much heat the unit can deliver when it is 5°F outside, in Btu per hour. Useful for comparing units. Whether it is enough for a particular house takes a load calculation. 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, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

Top 10 by heat output at 5°f only: ductless, 2.5–3 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. 1KUMXA361ALG3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%45,000 Btu/h
  2. 2ZRUM036GSS0LG3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%42,000 Btu/h
  3. 3MXZ-SM36NLHZ***Mitsubishi ElectricAlso listed as PUMY-HL36NKMU, MXZ-SM36NLHZ-3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%42,000 Btu/h
  4. 4AVW-36F3DAH2Hisense3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%42,000 Btu/h
  5. 5CHV6-RS36URBMHHCooper&Hunter (sold as Cooper & Hunter)3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%42,000 Btu/h
  6. 6AOUK036MSAN7Fujitsu3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%40,500 Btu/h
  7. 7AC036DXSCCGwith ductless indoor unit AC036DN4DCGSamsung3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%40,000 Btu/h
  8. 8AOUH36KUAH1with ductless indoor unit ABUH36KUASFujitsu3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%40,000 Btu/h
  9. 937MBHAQ36AA3with ductless indoor unit 45MCFAQ36XA3CarrierAlso sold as Midea 37MBHAQ36AA3, Midea D5CLHAH36AAK, MDV MOX630-36HFN10-M2X, Arcoaire D5CLHAH36AAK3 tons · 36,400 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%39,500 Btu/h
  10. 10BZ33-HYP36OUT2-454-G3-Pwith ductless indoor unit BZ33-IFCM36-454-G3-PBreeze333 tons · 36,400 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%39,500 Btu/h

Every ductless, 2.5–3 tons model, highest first

Top cold-climate picks, ductless 2.5–3 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, 2.5–3 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
    2.02+
    Top 10%
    2.10+

  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

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

    Good
    10.0+
    Great
    10.5+
    Top 10%
    10.7+

  • SEER2

    Summer-long cooling efficiency

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

    Good
    21.0+
    Great
    23.0+
    Top 10%
    24.0+

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