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Top cold-climate picks by size

Heat pumps that keep most of their heat when it is 5°F outside, ranked on three ratings at once against units their size: how much heat they keep, how efficient they are at 5°F, and how efficient they are over a whole winter (HSPF2).

Covers heat pumps sold new today (R-454B and R-32 refrigerant). See older R-410A models · Updated

Top cold-climate picks, ducted 5 tons and up

Only units that keep at least 70% of their heat at 5°F, ranked on heat kept, efficiency at 5°F and seasonal efficiency (HSPF2), against units their size.

79 of 479 models in this size class qualify. 262 keep less than 70% of their heat at 5°F and 138 have no 5°F heat output rating, so they cannot show it.

  1. 1MCY-MUB0608HS2P-ULCarrier (sold as Toshiba Carrier)5 tons · 60,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 73% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    73% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.22 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Seasonal efficiency
    10.1 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    94.7score / 100
  2. 2KUMXB601ALG5 tons · 60,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 82% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    82% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.33 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Seasonal efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    94.6score / 100
  3. 3AUWR-60U3TH5with ducted air handler AUH-60UX3TEH3Hisense5 tons · 57,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 75% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    75% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.42 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Seasonal efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    88.6score / 100
  4. 4AUWR-6024Pwith ducted air handler AUH-6024HisenseAlso listed as AOH-60U3T24P5 tons · 57,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 74% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    74% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.46 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Seasonal efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    88.3score / 100
  5. 5AVW-60F3DAH2Hisense5 tons · 60,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 100% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Seasonal efficiency
    10.1 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    88.2score / 100
  6. 6CHV6-RS60URBMHHCooper&Hunter (sold as Cooper & Hunter)5 tons · 60,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 100% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Seasonal efficiency
    10.1 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    88.2score / 100
  7. 7AM060FCMDCG1Samsung5 tons · 60,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 85% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    85% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.04 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Seasonal efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    83.7score / 100
  8. 8VPD060H6M-5PLennox5 tons · 60,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 85% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    85% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.04 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Seasonal efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    83.7score / 100
  9. 927VNA360A*030*with ducted air handler FE5BNBD60L*+UICarrierAlso sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems 293VAN060**AA, HEIL B5H3V60*K*AAA5 tons · 58,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 74% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    74% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.18 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Seasonal efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    82.3score / 100
  10. 103TXK2260AF00HAATraneAlso listed as 3TVHS060SF000AA5 tons · 60,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 82% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    82% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Seasonal efficiency
    11.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    81.1score / 100

These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.

Want every qualifier’s peer percentiles and the all-sizes board? Switch to Advanced

What good looks like: ducted, 5 tons and up

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
    53%+
    Great
    67%+
    Top 10%
    72%+
  • 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%
    2.20+
  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

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

    Good
    7.2+
    Great
    9.0+
    Top 10%
    9.5+

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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