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Ranked by summer-long cooling efficiency only

Cooling efficiency over a whole summer, measured with a federal test. Like miles per gallon for cooling: higher means more cooling per unit of electricity over the test season. The federal minimum for a new split heat pump is 14.3. 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 summer-long 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. 127VNA336A*030*with indoor coil CVAMA6124XMA*+UI and furnace 58TN*B090C21**20CarrierAlso sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems 293VAN036**AA, HEIL H5H3V36*K*AAA, Comfortmaker C5H3V36*K*AAA, Kenmore (C,H,T)5H3V36*K*AAA and 2 more3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%22.5
  2. 2YN030GLSI24M3GPioneer2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%22.0
  3. 3POM27H2BM3AInnovair2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%22.0
  4. 4048-TLP-MODU-1D3Della2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%22.0
  5. 5048-TPH-MODU-1D4Della2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%22.0
  6. 6ASPR27HPMULOAUX2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%22.0
  7. 7PUZ-AK30NLHZ***with ducted air handler PEAD-AA30NLMitsubishi Electric2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%21.7
  8. 8PUZ-AK36NLHZ***with ducted air handler PEAD-AA36NLMitsubishi Electric3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%21.7
  9. 9PUZ-AK30NLHZ2***with ducted air handler PEAD-AA30NLMitsubishi Electric2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%21.7
  10. 10PUZ-AK36NLHZ2***with ducted air handler PEAD-AA36NLMitsubishi Electric3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%21.7

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