Compare certified heat pump ratings by size
Official test ratings for 12,478 central and mini-split heat pumps sold with today’s refrigerants, explained in plain words. Models are only compared with others of the same size and type.
Covers heat pumps sold new today (R-454B and R-32 refrigerant). See older R-410A models · Updated
- Which models hold up best in the cold, in my size?Top cold-climate picks of one size and type, and why each one is there.Find out
- What are the ratings of a model?Look up a model number or AHRI number and see its ratings and the standards it meets.Find out
- Does a model meet a rebate standard?About 6 in 10 models meet CEE Tier 1, the level many utility rebates ask for.Find out
- How does a brand rate?Every brand’s models scored against others of the same size and type.Find out
Three numbers worth knowing
57%
of models meet CEE 2025 Tier 1, the efficiency level many utility rebates use.
7,144 of 12,478 models.
72%
of its 47°F heating output is what the typical heat pump still puts out at 5°F in the test.
The best on this one rating keep all of it, or more.
2.6%
reach the cold-climate tier: full heating output and a COP of 2.1 or more at 5°F.
About 1 in 40 models (327).
Middle value (median) of the 4,554 models with cold-weather test results. Each model is measured against its own 47°F output, so sizes are not mixed. Source: NEEP cold-climate heat pump list.
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All-around best, ductless 2 tons
Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.
860 of 914 models in this size class have all five ratings.
Showing Ductless, 2 tons (21,000–26,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?
- 1AM024HCMDCGSamsung2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 83.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 89% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Great
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.18 (COP at 5°F)
- Great
- Winter efficiency
- 10.7 (HSPF2)
- Great
- Cooling efficiency
- 26.0 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 17.0 (EER2)
- Top 10%
- 237MARAQ24AA3with ductless indoor unit 45MAHAQ24XA3CarrierAlso sold as Midea 37MARAQ24AA3, Midea D5CSRAH24AAK, MDV MOD30-24HFN10-M1, Arcoaire D5CSRAH24AAK2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 84.6Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 78% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Good
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.54 (COP at 5°F)
- Top 10%
- Winter efficiency
- 11.7 (HSPF2)
- Top 10%
- Cooling efficiency
- 23.1 (SEER2)
- Great
- Hot-day cooling
- 14.0 (EER2)
- Top 10%
- 3A-KZP24SA-1with ductless indoor unit B-KZP24SA-1Lennox (sold as Comfort Aire)2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 81.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 83% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Good
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.20 (COP at 5°F)
- Great
- Winter efficiency
- 11.0 (HSPF2)
- Great
- Cooling efficiency
- 25.0 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 14.0 (EER2)
- Top 10%
- 4PUZ-AK24NLHZ2***with ductless indoor unit PLA-AE24NLMitsubishi Electric2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 88.6Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Top 10%
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.20 (COP at 5°F)
- Great
- Winter efficiency
- 10.8 (HSPF2)
- Great
- Cooling efficiency
- 22.8 (SEER2)
- Great
- Hot-day cooling
- 16.1 (EER2)
- Top 10%
- 5AOUH24KWAH3Fujitsu2 tons · 22,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 86.2Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 101% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Top 10%
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.10 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 11.5 (HSPF2)
- Top 10%
- Cooling efficiency
- 23.5 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 13.5 (EER2)
- Great
Top 10 all-around, ductless, 2 tons
These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.
What good looks like: ductless, 2 tons
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
- 74%+
- Great
- 83%+
- Top 10%
- 95%+
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
- 2.11+
- Top 10%
- 2.30+
HSPF2
Winter-long heating efficiency
Heating efficiency over a whole winter, measured with a federal test.
- Good
- 9.5+
- Great
- 10.0+
- Top 10%
- 11.0+
SEER2
Summer-long cooling efficiency
Cooling efficiency over a whole summer, measured with a federal test.
- Good
- 21.0+
- Great
- 22.7+
- Top 10%
- 23.5+
EER2
Hot-day cooling efficiency
Cooling efficiency on a 95°F afternoon.
- Good
- 12.0+
- Great
- 12.8+
- Top 10%
- 13.7+
What size is my system?
Tons and Btu
A heat pump’s size is its rated cooling output, in Btu per hour. Installers talk in tons: one ton is 12,000 Btu per hour, so a 3-ton unit is about 36,000.
Where to find yours: the nameplate sticker on the outdoor unit lists the model number. Many model numbers include the size in thousands of Btu, such as 24 (2 tons), 36 (3 tons) or 48 (4 tons). Your quote or AHRI certificate also lists it. Look up a model number
These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.
Size classes used here
- Up to 1.5 tonsunder 21,000 Btu/h
- 2 tons21,000–26,999 Btu/h
- 2.5–3 tons27,000–38,999 Btu/h
- 3.5–4.5 tons39,000–56,999 Btu/h
- 5 tons and up57,000 Btu/h and up
Ducted or ductless
A ducted (central) heat pump moves air through a home’s ducts. A ductless mini-split puts a small unit on the wall of each room. Mini-splits usually test higher (typical cooling rating 21.0 vs 16.0), partly because the test for ducted units includes pushing air through ducts. That is why they are never ranked together here.
Next steps
- Top cold-climate picks by sizeThe models of your size class that hold up best in the cold, and why.
- Check a model numberIts ratings, where it sits in its size class, and the standards it meets.
- Check rebate standardsThe efficiency levels rebate programs use, in plain words.
- Look up a QMIDThe federal 25C tax credit needs the manufacturer’s Qualified Manufacturer ID.
Contractor, utility or analyst? The advanced view has every distribution, peer percentile, standards flow and data table behind these answers.
Open the advanced view