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Ranked by heat output at 5°f only

How much heat the unit can deliver when it is 5°F outside, in Btu per hour. Useful for comparing units. Whether it is enough for a particular house takes a load calculation. This list ranks by that one rating. For the units that hold up best in the cold overall, see the cold-climate picks.

Covers older R-410A heat pumps, no longer installed new. See models sold today · 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 heat output at 5°f 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. 1ARUM036GSS5LG3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%48,000 Btu/h
  2. 2MOE30U-32HFN1-M-[X]with ducted air handler MTI-32HWFN1-MMidea (sold as MDV)2.5 tons · 32,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%46,000 Btu/h
  3. 3MXZ-4C36NAHZ2Mitsubishi ElectricAlso sold as Trane / Mitsubishi Electric NTXMPH36A142B, American Standard / Mitsubishi Electric NAXMPH36A142B3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%45,000 Btu/h
  4. 4RP18AZ36AJVCwith indoor coil RCFZ6021SEAAM and furnace R962V0403A17M4SRheemAlso sold as RUUD UP18AZ36AJVC3 tons · 34,200 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%43,500 Btu/h
  5. 5FOP1836MJAZCAwith indoor coil FCCA6021SZEA and furnace FF98MV510021UPS*AFujitsu3 tons · 34,200 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%43,500 Btu/h
  6. 6SP18AZ36AJVCwith ducted air handler SHMVZ6021SEACARheem (sold as SURE)Also sold as Mainline MLP18AZ36AJVC3 tons · 34,200 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%43,500 Btu/h
  7. 7FRP18AZ36AJVCwith indoor coil TCFZ3621MEAAM and furnace FR801V0504A17UHUFriedrich3 tons · 34,200 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%43,500 Btu/h
  8. 8MLB036S4S-2Pwith ducted air handler MMDB036S4-2PLennox3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%43,394 Btu/h
  9. 938MURAQ36AB3*with indoor coil H,PG7J936 and furnace 927TA48080V17Carrier (sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems)3 tons · 37,600 Btu/h · DuctedGreat42,500 Btu/h
  10. 10PUMY-HP36NKMU1Mitsubishi ElectricAlso sold as Trane / Mitsubishi Electric NTXMSH36A142A; also listed as MXZ-SM36NAMHZ3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%42,000 Btu/h

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
    1.90+
    Great
    2.05+
    Top 10%
    2.34+

  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

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

    Good
    8.1+
    Great
    9.2+
    Top 10%
    10.0+

  • SEER2

    Summer-long cooling efficiency

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

    Good
    15.8+
    Great
    17.5+
    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.

Open the advanced view