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Ranked by efficiency on a 5°f day only

How much heat the unit makes from each unit of electricity when it is 5°F outside. An electric baseboard heater has a COP of 1, so a COP of 2 means twice the heat from the same electricity in the 5°F test. 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, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling), the most-listed ducted size. Pick yours above. What size is my system?

Top 10 by efficiency on a 5°f day only: ducted, 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. 17HP14F30P-**Awith indoor coil D(A,C,E)37A3K+TDR and furnace 97G2UH110CE20Lennox (sold as Concord)2.5 tons · 27,400 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%4.06
  2. 2NS21H36MA5-**Awith indoor coil D(A,C,E)36C3Z+TXV+TDR and furnace NF80U045S3AGE Appliances (sold as GE)2.5 tons · 31,400 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%4.00
  3. 35TWR4036A1with indoor coil DH60T4J and furnace *UHMC100CCV4Trane2.5 tons · 32,800 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.20
  4. 45A6H5036A1with indoor coil DH36T4J and furnace S9V2C100U5PSCTrane (sold as American Standard)3 tons · 33,600 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.19
  5. 55A6H4036A1with indoor coil DH60T4J and furnace *UHMC100CCV4Trane (sold as American Standard)2.5 tons · 32,800 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.18
  6. 6KUSXA422Awith ducted air handler D(A,C,E)42B4D+TDRLG3 tons · 37,600 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.16
  7. 7KUSXB421Awith ducted air handler D(A,C,E)48D3D+TDRLG3 tons · 38,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.11
  8. 8HH836E2S12with indoor coil D(A,C,E)37E3K+TDR and furnace Z8ET100C20LMPS1York (sold as Coleman)2.5 tons · 32,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.10
  9. 95TWR5036A1with indoor coil DH60T4J and furnace S8V2B080M4PCBTrane3 tons · 33,200 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.08
  10. 10HH836E2S11with indoor coil D(A,C,E)36B4K+TDR and furnace Y81E080C20LMPS1York3 tons · 33,200 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.08

Every ducted, 2.5–3 tons model, highest first

Top cold-climate picks, ducted 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: ducted, 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
    70%+
    Great
    90%+
    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
    2.10+
    Top 10%
    2.36+

  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

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

    Good
    8.3+
    Great
    9.2+
    Top 10%
    10.2+

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