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Ranked by hot-day cooling efficiency only

Cooling efficiency on a 95°F afternoon. A single hot-weather test point, when air conditioners work hardest. Higher is more efficient. 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 hot-day cooling efficiency 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. 17HP14F36P-**Awith indoor coil H,A,DG47*36+TXV and furnace 80G1UH090CE20Lennox (sold as Ducane)Also sold as Armstrong Air A7HP14F36P-**A3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedGreat14.0
  2. 2EL16KP1-036-230A**with indoor coil LH23/37W*+TXV and furnace EL280UH110E60CLennoxAlso listed as ML14KP1-036-230A3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.0
  3. 3SL22KLV-036-230A**with indoor coil CK40HT-51/61C-**+TDR and furnace SL280UH090V60CLennox3 tons · 35,600 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.6
  4. 4KUSXA301Awith ducted air handler KNUJB301ALG2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctedBelow the middle13.5
  5. 5ZRUM036GSS0LG3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5
  6. 6KUMXA361ALG3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5
  7. 7PUZ-AK30NLHZ***with ducted air handler PVA-AA30NLMitsubishi Electric2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5
  8. 8A7HP14F30P-**Awith indoor coil H,A,DG80*36+TXV and furnace A80UH1E090B16Lennox (sold as Armstrong Air)Also sold as Ducane 7HP14F30P-**A2.5 tons · 29,600 Btu/h · DuctedGreat13.5
  9. 9EL16KP1-030-230A**with indoor coil LP36/37R*+TXV and furnace SL280UH080NV48BLennoxAlso listed as ML14KP1-030-230A2.5 tons · 29,600 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5
  10. 10BH714S36P-**Awith indoor coil PL36H175P45*+TXV and furnace B80UR802V4BXGree (sold as Ac Pro)3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%13.5

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.

  • 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+

  • SEER2

    Summer-long cooling efficiency

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

    Good
    16.5+
    Great
    18.5+
    Top 10%
    19.4+

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