Do mini-splits and heat pumps work in cold weather?

Yes, if you choose a cold-climate model. 3,019 certified units meet the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, which require a COP of at least 1.75 and at least 70% of rated capacity at 5°F. 685 of them put out as much heat at 5°F as at 47°F.

Do heat pumps work below zero?

Cold-climate heat pumps keep running below 0°F; many makers rate them down to -13°F or -22°F. Efficiency and output fall as it gets colder, so on the coldest nights some homes use backup heat. Minimum operating temperatures come from manufacturers and are not part of the ENERGY STAR data; compare the certified output and COP at 5°F to see which units hold up best.

Which heat pump works best at the lowest temperatures?

On certified data, the Airquest DLCPRBH18AAK has the highest efficiency at 5°F (COP 2.89), delivering 24,000 BTU/h. The table below lists the top 50.

What is a hyper-heat mini-split?

Hyper-heat (Mitsubishi’s Hyper-Heating INVERTER) and similar “low ambient” or “cold climate” lines from other brands are heat pumps designed to keep their output in deep cold. ENERGY STAR cold-climate certification is the brand-neutral way to identify them.

Best cold-climate heat pumps and mini-splits

Look for ENERGY STAR cold-climate certification and compare the efficiency (COP) and heat output at 5°F. 3,019 of 4,086 certified heat pumps qualify; these lead their sizes.

Best cold-climate 12,000 BTU mini-split

Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1

12,000 BTU mini-split · AIRSTAGE H-Series · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 31.5
HSPF2: 13.7
COP at 5°F: 2.62

Highest COP at 5°F in this size: 2.62.

Full specs and running cost

Best cold-climate 24,000 BTU mini-split

MDV M3OX430-27HFN8-M1

24,000 BTU mini-split · M3O Series · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 22.5
HSPF2: 10.0
COP at 5°F: 2.80

Highest COP at 5°F in this size: 2.80.

Full specs and running cost

Best cold-climate 3-ton central heat pump

Lennox EL21KLV-036-230A

3 ton central · Elite EL21KLV SERIES · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 20.0
HSPF2: 10.4
COP at 5°F: 2.48

Highest COP at 5°F in this size: 2.48.

Full specs and running cost

Certification requires a COP of at least 1.75 at 5°F, at least 70% of rated capacity at 5°F, and an HSPF2 of 8.5 or more for ductless systems (8.1 for ducted). A COP of 2.0 means twice as efficient as a space heater at that temperature.

By size

Best cold-climate 9,000 BTU mini-splitstop COP 2.57

#	Model	SEER2	EER2	HSPF2	COP at 5°F
1	York YRACGJ09WHAAalso sold as 1 other model number	23.0	15.0	11.4	2.57
2	AUX AFEB09HP115V1CO	22.0	13.0	9.5	2.52
3	Fujitsu AOUH09KTAP1	33.5	19.1	14.0	2.48
4	American Standard / Mitsubishi Electric NAXSPH09B112A	29.8	16.1	10.9	2.40
5	Mitsubishi Electric MUZ-FS09NAalso sold as 1 other model number	29.8	16.1	10.9	2.40

All 9,000 BTU mini-splits

Best cold-climate 12,000 BTU mini-splitstop COP 2.62

#	Model	SEER2	EER2	HSPF2	COP at 5°F
1	Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1	31.5	16.7	13.7	2.62
2	TOSHIBA CARRIER RAV-BP121AT2P-UL	26.0	16.0	12.0	2.50
3	ACIQ ACIQ-12ZS-HP230C	25.5	13.0	11.5	2.50
4	AI AIR CONDITIONING AO24-12N2-M1also sold as 4 other model numbers	24.6	12.7	11.5	2.50
5	CanAir 4C25SCH12H21	25.5	13.0	11.5	2.50

All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

Best cold-climate 18,000 BTU mini-splitstop COP 2.89

#	Model	SEER2	EER2	HSPF2	COP at 5°F
1	Airquest DLCPRBH18AAK	26.3	15.3	15.5	2.89
2	Carrier 38MPRBQ18AA3	26.3	15.3	11.0	2.89
3	Goodman MSH183G26MCAAalso sold as 3 other model numbers	26.3	15.3	11.0	2.89
4	Hitachi PAS-18BUFASDQ1	25.0	15.0	11.0	2.60
5	York YPAS18BUFASDQ1	25.0	15.0	11.0	2.60

All 18,000 BTU mini-splits

Best cold-climate 24,000 BTU mini-splitstop COP 2.80

#	Model	SEER2	EER2	HSPF2	COP at 5°F
1	MDV M3OX430-27HFN8-M1also sold as 1 other model number	22.5	12.5	10.0	2.80
2	AC Pro MHPC-H-024BSB	23.0	14.0	11.7	2.54
3	Arcoaire D5CSRAH24AAK	23.1	14.0	11.7	2.54
4	Bosch BMS500-AAS024-1CSXRDalso sold as 3 other model numbers	23.0	14.0	11.7	2.54
5	CanAir 4C25SCH24H21also sold as 1 other model number	23.5	13.0	11.7	2.54

All 24,000 BTU mini-splits

Best cold-climate 3-ton central heat pumpstop COP 2.48

#	Model	SEER2	EER2	HSPF2	COP at 5°F
1	Lennox EL21KLV-036-230A	20.0	11.7	10.4	2.48
2	MDV MOE30-36HFN10-M3X	18.0	12.0	10.0	2.46
3	Armstrong Air A7CP21V36P-**A	20.0	11.7	10.4	2.46
4	GE NS21H36MA5-**A	20.0	12.2	10.4	2.46
5	Luxaire THF2B36T21	16.0	11.7	8.1	2.44

All 3-ton central heat pumps

The 50 best performers at 5°Fall sizes

#	Model	COP at 5°F	Heat at 5°F	Kept at 5°F
1	Airquest DLCPRBH18AAKMini-split · 18,000 BTU	2.89	24,000	120%
2	Carrier 38MPRBQ18AA3Mini-split · 18,000 BTU	2.89	24,000	120%
3	Goodman MSH183G26MCAAMini-split · 18,000 BTU	2.89	24,000	120%
4	MDV M3OX430-27HFN8-M1Mini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.80	21,400	79%
5	TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MAP0367HS-ULMini-split · 36,000 BTU	2.70	28,400	79%
6	Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1Mini-split · 12,000 BTU	2.62	16,200	106%
7	ACIQ ACIQ-12-EHPBCentral · Under 1.5 ton	2.60	11,000	85%
8	MDV MOX330U-12HFN1-MR0Central · Under 1.5 ton	2.60	11,000	85%
9	Hitachi PAS-18BUFASDQ1-LACMini-split · 18,000 BTU	2.60	15,000	83%
10	Hitachi PAS-18BUFASDQ1Mini-split · 18,000 BTU	2.60	16,200	81%
11	York YPAS18BUFASDQ1Mini-split · 18,000 BTU	2.60	16,200	81%
12	Friedrich FWP15AZ60AJ2NCentral · 5 ton	2.60	34,200	54%
13	Fujitsu FOP1560TJAZNACentral · 5 ton	2.60	34,400	54%
14	Rheem RP15AZ60AJ2NCentral · 5 ton	2.60	34,400	54%
15	Sure SP15AZ60AJ2NCentral · 5 ton	2.60	34,400	54%
16	Samsung AC060FCUPCGCentral · 5 ton	2.58	44,000	77%
17	York YRACGJ09WHAAMini-split · 9,000 BTU	2.57	8,400	93%
18	AC Pro MHPC-H-024BSBMini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.54	19,600	78%
19	Arcoaire D5CSRAH24AAKMini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.54	19,600	78%
20	Bosch BMS500-AAS024-1CSXRDMini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.54	19,600	78%
21	Carrier 37MARAQ24AA3Mini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.54	19,600	78%
22	Midea MO1ES-H24B-2AMini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.54	19,600	78%
23	Midea MOD-24HFN10AEMini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.54	19,600	78%
24	Midea MOD30-24HFN10-M1PMini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.54	19,600	78%
25	CanAir 4C25SCH24H21Mini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.54	19,600	71%
26	Cooper&Hunter CH-RES24-230VOMini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.54	19,600	71%
27	MDV MOD30-24HFN10-M1Mini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.54	19,600	71%
28	NOVAIR LEA24SZ26-OMini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.54	19,600	71%
29	Fujitsu AOUG15LZAS1Mini-split · 15,000 BTU	2.52	17,500	121%
30	Fujitsu AOUH15KTAP1Mini-split · 15,000 BTU	2.52	18,400	106%
31	AUX AFEB09HP115V1COMini-split · 9,000 BTU	2.52	9,200	95%
32	Hisense AUWR-4824PCentral · 4 ton	2.52	37,000	77%
33	Multi MFG MSD-48HD-BCentral · 4 ton	2.52	37,000	77%
34	Samsung AC048FCUPCGCentral · 3.5 ton	2.52	40,500	75%
35	Hisense AUWR-60U3TH5Central · 5 ton	2.52	42,000	74%
36	Lennox MWLD015S6S-1PMini-split · 15,000 BTU	2.50	15,600	104%
37	Hitachi PAS-30BUFASDQ1Mini-split · 30,000 BTU	2.50	32,600	102%
38	York YPAS30BUFASDQ1Mini-split · 30,000 BTU	2.50	32,600	102%
39	Hitachi PAS-30BUFASDQ1-LACMini-split · 30,000 BTU	2.50	30,000	87%
40	Hitachi PAS-24BUFASDQ1-LACMini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.50	19,400	86%
41	TOSHIBA CARRIER RAV-BP121AT2P-ULMini-split · 12,000 BTU	2.50	10,300	84%
42	Hitachi PAS-24BUFASDQ1Mini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.50	21,600	76%
43	York YPAS24BUFASDQ1Mini-split · 24,000 BTU	2.50	21,600	76%
44	AI AIR CONDITIONING AO24-12N2-M1Mini-split · 12,000 BTU	2.50	8,900	74%
45	AproDr ALC24-12H1BMini-split · 12,000 BTU	2.50	8,900	74%
46	Elios ESHEA12C2AN1Mini-split · 12,000 BTU	2.50	8,900	74%
47	Mainline ML12HP230NEX-OMini-split · 12,000 BTU	2.50	8,900	74%
48	Napoleon NDHAS22BA-12-OMini-split · 12,000 BTU	2.50	8,900	74%
49	Panasonic CU-YM12CBUCMini-split · 12,000 BTU	2.50	8,900	74%
50	Pioneer YN012GMSI24RPGMini-split · 12,000 BTU	2.50	8,900	74%

Number of cold-climate models by size3,019 in total

Mini-split heat pumps

Central heat pumps

Packaged heat pumps

Questions4

Do mini-splits and heat pumps work in cold weather?: Yes, if you choose a cold-climate model. 3,019 certified units meet the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, which require a COP of at least 1.75 and at least 70% of rated capacity at 5°F. 685 of them put out as much heat at 5°F as at 47°F.
Do heat pumps work below zero?: Cold-climate heat pumps keep running below 0°F; many makers rate them down to -13°F or -22°F. Efficiency and output fall as it gets colder, so on the coldest nights some homes use backup heat. Minimum operating temperatures come from manufacturers and are not part of the ENERGY STAR data; compare the certified output and COP at 5°F to see which units hold up best.
Which heat pump works best at the lowest temperatures?: On certified data, the Airquest DLCPRBH18AAK has the highest efficiency at 5°F (COP 2.89), delivering 24,000 BTU/h. The table below lists the top 50.
What is a hyper-heat mini-split?: Hyper-heat (Mitsubishi’s Hyper-Heating INVERTER) and similar “low ambient” or “cold climate” lines from other brands are heat pumps designed to keep their output in deep cold. ENERGY STAR cold-climate certification is the brand-neutral way to identify them.

Best cold-climate heat pumps and mini-splits

Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1

MDV M3OX430-27HFN8-M1

Lennox EL21KLV-036-230A

By size

Mini-split heat pumps

Central heat pumps

Packaged heat pumps

Cold-climate guides by region

Cities with the coldest winters

Best cold-climate heat pumps and mini-splits

Top picks

Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1

MDV M3OX430-27HFN8-M1

Lennox EL21KLV-036-230A

By size

Mini-split heat pumps

Central heat pumps

Packaged heat pumps

Cold-climate guides by region

Cities with the coldest winters