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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

Top 10 by heat output 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. 1ZRUM048GSS0LG4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%54,000 Btu/h
  2. 237MBHAQ58AA3with ductless indoor unit 45MCFAQ58XA3CarrierAlso sold as Midea 37MBHAQ58AA3, Midea D5CLHAH58AAK, MDV MOE30-60HFN10-M2X, Arcoaire D5CLHAH58AAK4.5 tons · 54,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%54,000 Btu/h
  3. 3AC048DXSCCGwith ductless indoor unit AC048DN4DCGSamsung4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%54,000 Btu/h
  4. 4BZ33-HYP55OUT2-454-G3-Pwith ductless indoor unit BZ33-IFCM60-454-G3-PBreeze334.5 tons · 54,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%54,000 Btu/h
  5. 5MO1HU-H60B-2Awith ductless indoor unit MFBHS-H60B-2AMideaAlso sold as CTMorley MOU-B55LH-24.5 tons · 54,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%54,000 Btu/h
  6. 6MXZ-SM48NLHZ***Mitsubishi ElectricAlso listed as PUMY-HL48NKMU, MXZ-SM48NLHZ-4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%54,000 Btu/h
  7. 7BMS60HHUYCwith ductless indoor unit BMS60FCCBlueRidgeAlso listed as BXL2A60UC04.5 tons · 54,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%54,000 Btu/h
  8. 8CH-RHP60LCU-230VOwith ductless indoor unit CH-RSH60LCFCCooper&Hunter4.5 tons · 54,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%54,000 Btu/h
  9. 9ML60HP230LCMH-Owith ductless indoor unit ML60HP230FLO-IRheem (sold as Mainline)4.5 tons · 54,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%54,000 Btu/h
  10. 10AVW-48F3DAH2Hisense4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%54,000 Btu/h

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.
  • 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+
  • SEER2

    Summer-long cooling efficiency

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

    Good
    21.1+
    Great
    22.0+
    Top 10%
    23.0+

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