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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

Top 10 by efficiency on a 5°f day only: ducted, up to 1.5 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. 137MUHAQ18AA3with indoor coil D(A,C,E)31A3J+TDR and furnace 58SU*B080M21**20Carrier1.5 tons · 17,200 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.30
  2. 2HH824E2S11with indoor coil D(A,C,E)37E2J+TDR and furnace Y82E080B12LMPS1York1.5 tons · 20,600 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.20
  3. 337MUHAQ18AA3+TIC2025-0016with ducted air handler L(E,G)M36DJCarrier1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.18
  4. 4KUSXB181Awith ducted air handler D(A,C,E)30C3D+TDRLG1.5 tons · 16,800 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.17
  5. 5RP15AY24AJ2Nwith ducted air handler AEN+CM24C2J+TDRRheem (sold as RUUD)1.5 tons · 20,600 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.05
  6. 6KUSXA181Awith ducted air handler D(A,C,E)25C3D+TDRLG1.5 tons · 16,900 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.01
  7. 7SUZ-AA09NL***with ducted air handler PEAD-AA09NLMitsubishi Electric1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%3.00
  8. 85TWV0X24A1with indoor coil D(A,C,E)36C3J+TDR and furnace S8V2B060M4PCBTrane1.5 tons · 19,800 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%2.99
  9. 9KUSXB241Awith ducted air handler D(A,C,E)30C3D+TDRLG1.5 tons · 20,400 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%2.95
  10. 105A6V0X24A1with indoor coil D(A,C,E)24B4J+TDR and furnace L8V1A060U3VSB+LRPTrane (sold as American Standard)1.5 tons · 19,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%2.93

Every ducted, up to 1.5 tons model, highest first

Top cold-climate picks, ducted up to 1.5 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: ducted, up to 1.5 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
    74%+
    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
    1.90+
    Great
    2.10+
    Top 10%
    2.32+
  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

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

    Good
    9.2+
    Great
    10.0+
    Top 10%
    10.6+

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