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Ranked by winter-long heating efficiency only

Heating efficiency over a whole winter, measured with a federal test. Like miles per gallon for heating: higher means more heat per unit of electricity over the test season. The federal minimum for a new split heat pump is 7.5. 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 winter-long heating 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. 1NTXSKS30A112**with ducted air handler TPEADA0301AA90AMitsubishi Electric (sold as Trane / Mitsubishi Electric)Also listed as SUZ-KA30NA2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%11.7
  2. 2SUZ-KA30NAH*with ducted air handler PEAD-A30AA9Mitsubishi Electric2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%11.5
  3. 338MURAQ36AB3*with indoor coil H,PG48936 and furnace 927TA48080V17Carrier (sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems)3 tons · 38,000 Btu/h · DuctedBelow the middle11.5
  4. 4SUZ-KA30NA2with ducted air handler TPEADA0301AAMitsubishi Electric (sold as Trane / Mitsubishi Electric)2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%11.4
  5. 5PUMY-HP36NKMU1Mitsubishi ElectricAlso sold as Trane / Mitsubishi Electric NTXMSH36A142A; also listed as MXZ-SM36NAMHZ3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%11.0
  6. 6MOE30U-36HFN1-M-[X]with ducted air handler MTI-36HWFN1-MMidea (sold as MDV)Also sold as CTMorley MOU-A36LH-2; also listed as MOE30U-36HFN1-M(GA), MOE30U-36HFN1-M(GA)-L3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%11.0
  7. 7MLB036S4S-1Pwith ducted air handler MMDB036S4-2PLennox3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%11.0
  8. 8CH-HYP36LCUOwith ducted air handler CH-36LCDTU/ICooper&Hunter (sold as C&H)Also listed as CH-NHPR36LCU-230VO3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%11.0
  9. 9BMY36HHUCwith ducted air handler BM36MCDBlueRidge3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%11.0
  10. 10MLB036S4S-2Pwith ducted air handler MMDB036S4Lennox3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · Ducted11.0

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
    65%+
    Great
    82%+
    Top 10%
    90%+

  • 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+

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