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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

Top 10 by hot-day cooling efficiency only: ducted, 2 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. 1ZRUN024GSS0LG2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.8
  2. 2N5H8T24*K*AAA*with indoor coil FG81*36+TXV and furnace *80MSU0601716ACarrier (sold as Day & Night)2 tons · 24,600 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.5
  3. 3GH8TAN524**AA*with indoor coil PL36H210P29*+TXV and furnace 58SP*B070V17**16CarrierAlso listed as 27TPA824A**302 tons · 24,400 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.5
  4. 4248TAN024**AA*with indoor coil PL36H210P29*+TXV and furnace 83*CA36040C17Carrier (sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems)2 tons · 25,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.5
  5. 5PH8TAN524**AA*with indoor coil CVAMA3117XMA and furnace 83*SB36040M17Carrier (sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems)Also sold as Grandaire W5H8T24*K*AAA, HEIL H5H8T24*K*AAA, Comfortmaker C5H8T24*K*AAA, Kenmore (C,H,T)5H8T24*K*AAA and 2 more2 tons · 24,800 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.0
  6. 67HP14F24P-**Awith indoor coil D(A,C,E)36D3J+TDR and furnace 80G1UH090BE16Lennox (sold as Concord)2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.0
  7. 7EL16KP1-024-230A**with indoor coil LP36/37R*+TXV and furnace ML180UH070E36BLennoxAlso listed as ML14KP1-024-230A2 tons · 23,800 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.0
  8. 827VNA324A*030*with indoor coil CVAMA4421XMA*+UI and furnace 58CU*B040C17**12CarrierAlso sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems 293VAN024**AA, HEIL B5H3V24*K*AAA2 tons · 23,800 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.0
  9. 927VPA924A*030*with indoor coil CVAMA2517XMA and furnace 58SU*B060M17**16CarrierAlso sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems 249VAN024**AA, Arcoaire N5H9V24*K*AAA, Arcoaire Q5H9V24*K*AAA2 tons · 24,600 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.0
  10. 10MOD30-24HFN10-M1Hwith ducted air handler MSEPD-24HRFN10-M1HMidea (sold as MDV)2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%14.0

Every ducted, 2 tons model, highest first

Top cold-climate picks, ducted 2 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 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
    2.18+
    Top 10%
    2.43+
  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

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

    Good
    8.8+
    Great
    9.5+
    Top 10%
    10.2+
  • SEER2

    Summer-long cooling efficiency

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

    Good
    18.0+
    Great
    19.0+
    Top 10%
    20.0+

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.

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