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Ranked by winter-long heating efficiency only

Heating efficiency over a whole winter, measured with a federal test. Like miles per gallon for heating: higher means more heat per unit of electricity over the test season. The federal minimum for a new split heat pump is 7.5. 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 winter-long heating efficiency 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. 1MCY-MUB0368HS2P-ULCarrier (sold as Toshiba Carrier)3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%12.1
  2. 2MXZ-SM36NLHZ***Mitsubishi ElectricAlso listed as PUMY-HL36NKMU, MXZ-SM36NLHZ-3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%12.0
  3. 3YPAS30BUFASDQ1with ductless indoor unit YPCIB30UFA1DQYork2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%12.0
  4. 4YPAS30BLFASDQ1with ductless indoor unit YPCIB30UFA1DQYork2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%12.0
  5. 5RAV-BP301AT2P-ULwith ductless indoor unit RAV-HB301UTP-ULCarrier (sold as Toshiba Carrier)2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%11.8
  6. 6YPAS36BUFASDQ1with ductless indoor unit YPCIB36UFA1DQYork3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%11.8
  7. 7YPAS36BLFASDQ1with ductless indoor unit YPCIB36UFA1DQYork3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%11.8
  8. 8M5OX631-36HFN10-M1XD*Midea (sold as MDV)Also sold as CTMorley MOU-5B36H-2; also listed as M5OX631-36HFN10-M1X, M5OX631-36HFN10-M1XD-D3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%11.3
  9. 9DRA5H36M2ADurastar3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%11.3
  10. 10ML36HP230MULH-ORheem (sold as Mainline)3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessGreat11.3

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.

  • 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
    74%+
    Great
    99%+
    Top 10%
    100%+

  • 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+

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