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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 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 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. 1SL25XPV-036-230A**with indoor coil C35-36B+TDR+TXV and furnace SL280UH090V36BLennox3 tons · 33,400 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%22.2
  2. 24SHP22LX136P-**Awith indoor coil EA(C;U)1P36B+TDR+TXV and furnace A80UH2E090B12Lennox (sold as Armstrong Air)3 tons · 35,600 Btu/h · DuctedGreat21.5
  3. 3NS22H36MA4-**Awith indoor coil NCUU36BP4+TDR+TXV and furnace NF80U090T4BGE Appliances (sold as GE)3 tons · 35,600 Btu/h · DuctedGreat21.5
  4. 425VNA436A*031*with ducted air handler FE4AN(B,F)005L+UICarrierAlso sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems 284ANV036*0**B3 tons · 34,400 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%21.0
  5. 5BMM27CBlueRidge2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%21.0
  6. 6SENA/30HF/MOQSenville2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%21.0
  7. 7M3OJ-27HFN1-M-COMideaAlso sold as MDV M3OJ-27HFN1-M, CTMorley MOU-3A27G-22.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%21.0
  8. 8CH-28MES-230VOCooper&Hunter (sold as C&H)2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%21.0
  9. 9BMS500-AAM027-1CSXRCBosch2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%21.0
  10. 10DRA3U28M1BDurastar2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%21.0

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.

  • 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