Our ranked heat pump picks for 2026 — best overall, best for cold climates, best ductless, quietest, most efficient and best value — with a sortable comparison table.
Ranked by overall score. Each links to the full review with specs, pros and cons, and alternatives.
Best for: Cold climates and homes without complete ductwork
The most dependable cold-climate heat pump platform sold in the U.S., provided you buy it through a Diamond Contractor and accept a…
Best for: Ducted homes wanting maximum efficiency, zoning and humidity control
One of the most efficient and best-controlled ducted heat pumps on the market, priced at the very top and tied to a…
Best for: Cold-climate homes without ductwork that want heat pump heating without fossil backup
The most credible alternative to Mitsubishi Hyper-Heating, with documented full capacity at 3°F and slim-duct options that hide the hardware.
Best for: Replacing an electric tank in a basement, utility room or garage
The most complete heat pump water heater sold in the U.S., and the 120V plug-in versions make gas-to-electric conversions genuinely practical.
Best for: Ducted homes wanting quiet inverter comfort without flagship pricing
The best value in ducted inverter heat pumps: flagship-class comfort and quiet for mid-tier money, provided you can find an experienced dealer.
Best for: Tight lots, noise-sensitive sites and heating-dominated climates
The quietest and one of the most efficient ducted heat pumps you can buy, held back by a 10-year warranty and Lennox's…
Best for: Zone 3–5 homeowners who want connected controls and dual-fuel flexibility
The most complete mid-priced variable-speed heat pump: real cold-weather data, a genuine control ecosystem and a unit replacement warranty.
Best for: Ducted homes prioritizing longevity, and dual-fuel systems in cold climates
The ducted heat pump to buy when durability and warranty matter more than the last two efficiency points.
SEER2, HSPF2, cold-weather limit, noise, refrigerant, warranty and typical installed price — sortable, and readable on a phone.
| Model | Rating | Type | SEER2 | HSPF2 | Heats to | Noise | Refrigerant | Warranty | Typical installed price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitsubishi Electric Hyper-Heating H2i / H2i plus (MSZ-FS, MXZ, SVZ/PVA, intelli-HEAT) |
4.7 | Ducted + ductless | up to about 29.8 (9,000 BTU/h single-zone); mid-to-high teens for multi-zone and ducted | up to about 10.9 | about -13°F (heating) | roughly 49–58 dB(A) depending on size and speed | R-454B on 2025+ units; transitional R-410A stock still in circulation | 12 yr parts and compressor with registered Diamond Contractor install; otherwise about 5 yr parts / 7 yr compressor | $5,500–$9,500 single zone; $10,000–$18,000 two to three zones; $15,000–$28,000 whole-home ducted or 4+ zones (2026, before incentives) | Cold climates and homes without complete ductwork |
|
Carrier Infinity 24 Heat Pump with Greenspeed Intelligence (25VNA4; 27-series on R-454B) |
4.6 | Central (ducted) | roughly 22 (25VNA4); up to about 23 on R-454B 27-series | roughly 10.5 (25VNA4); about 9.5–10 on current R-454B models | heats below freezing with declining capacity; low-ambient cooling to 0°F with the Infinity control | as low as 51 dB(A) at low speed | R-454B (Puron Advance) on current models; R-410A on the earlier 25VNA4 | 10 yr parts limited plus 10 yr unit replacement on compressor failure, with registration; labor not included | $14,000–$19,000 for 2–3 tons; $16,000–$22,000 for 4–5 tons (2026, before incentives) | Ducted homes wanting maximum efficiency, zoning and humidity control |
|
Fujitsu General Halcyon / Airstage XLTH series (RLS3H, RLXFWH, RLFFH, RLXFZH) |
4.6 | Ductless mini-split | up to roughly the mid-20s single zone; about 20.5 on multi-zone outdoor units | roughly 9–11.5 depending on model and match | -15°F (heating) | typically high 40s to mid 50s dB(A) | R-410A on legacy XLTH models; R-32 on newer Airstage products | 12 yr parts & compressor with registered licensed-contractor install; labor not included | $5,000–$8,500 single zone; $13,000–$26,000 multi-zone (2026, before incentives) | Cold-climate homes without ductwork that want heat pump heating without fossil backup |
|
Rheem ProTerra Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater (Professional Prestige and Performance Platinum) |
4.5 | Heat pump water heater | — | — | — | — | — | 10-year limited tank and parts; labor generally not included beyond an initial period | $2,500–$4,500 (2026, before incentives); more for gas-to-electric conversions | Replacing an electric tank in a basement, utility room or garage |
|
Bosch IDS 2.0 / IDS Premium Connected (BOVA series); IDS Ultra cold-climate variant |
4.5 | Central (ducted) | up to 20.5 | roughly 9.5–10.5 depending on matched indoor unit | IDS Ultra rated for heating to roughly -13°F; standard IDS 2.0 tapers below the 20s°F | as low as about 56 dB(A) | R-454B version in current catalog; transitional R-410A stock still appears on some quotes | 10 yr parts limited and 10 yr compressor with registration; labor not included | $9,500–$14,000 for 2–3 tons; $11,500–$16,500 for 4–5 tons; $8,000–$12,500 for a dual-fuel retrofit (2026, before incentives) | Ducted homes wanting quiet inverter comfort without flagship pricing |
|
Lennox SL25XPV (Dave Lennox Signature Collection) |
4.4 | Central (ducted) | up to about 23.2 (2 ton); about 21.8–22.2 on larger sizes | up to about 11.2 (3 ton); about 9.7–9.8 on 2 and 4 ton | heats below freezing with declining capacity; auxiliary or dual-fuel recommended in zone 5 and colder | 58 dB(A) published rating | R-454B on current production | 10 yr limited on compressor and covered components with registration; labor not included | $14,500–$20,000 for 2–3 tons; $16,500–$23,000 for 4–5 tons (2026, before incentives) | Tight lots, noise-sensitive sites and heating-dominated climates |
|
Rheem Endeavor Line Prestige Series RP20 (RP18 / RP17 lower tiers) |
4.4 | Central (ducted) | up to about 20.0 (varies by match; some listings 17.5–19) | up to about 10.0 | rated to about -10°F (heating) | as low as about 58 dB(A) | R-454B | 10-yr parts + 10-yr conditional unit replacement when registered; labor not included | $10,000–$16,000 (2026, before incentives) | Zone 3–5 homeowners who want connected controls and dual-fuel flexibility |
|
Trane XV20i TruComfort Variable Speed Heat Pump |
4.4 | Central (ducted) | up to 20.5 | up to 8.7 | heats below freezing with declining capacity; usually paired dual-fuel in zone 5 and colder | low 60s dB(A) at full speed; markedly quieter at part load | R-454B on current production | 12 yr compressor, 10 yr outdoor coil and internal parts, with registration; labor not included | $13,000–$18,000 for 2–3 tons; $15,000–$21,000 for 4–5 tons (2026, before incentives) | Ducted homes prioritizing longevity, and dual-fuel systems in cold climates |
|
Daikin Daikin FIT (DZ17VSA / DH7VS series) |
4.3 | Central (ducted) | up to about 17.5 (DZ17VSA); roughly 18 across the FIT family | up to about 8.6 | heats below freezing with declining capacity; FIT Aurora holds rated capacity to about -4°F | mid-50s dB(A) at full speed, notably quieter at low speed | R-32 on newer FIT equipment | 12 yr parts limited when registered; 12 yr unit replacement on many configurations; labor not included | $9,000–$14,000 for 2–3 tons; $11,500–$17,000 for 4–5 tons (2026, before incentives) | Ducted homes in mild to moderate climates with limited outdoor space |
|
Goodman GSZV9 (and 2025+ R-32 GZV9S side-discharge sibling) |
4.2 | Central (ducted) | up to 22.5 (best match); most systems 19–21 | roughly 8.2–10, varies widely by matched indoor unit | Not published for GSZV9; R-32 GZV9S lists heating operation to about -20°F | Not published for GSZV9; GZV9S quotes as low as 45 dB(A) in quiet mode | R-410A (GSZV9); R-32 on 2025+ GZV9S/GZV7S/GZV6S | 10-yr parts + 10-yr unit replacement limited warranty with registration within 60 days (5 yr unregistered) | $8,000–$13,000 (2026, before incentives) | Value-focused buyers in mild to moderate climates who want inverter comfort |
|
MRCOOL DIY 4th Generation and 5th Generation (single and multi-zone) |
4.0 | Ductless mini-split | up to 23.6 (5th Gen); up to about 22.7 (4th Gen) | roughly 8.5–11.5 depending on size; published separately for DOE regions IV and V | -13°F heating on 12k–24k DIY models; 5°F on the 36k model | typically low-to-mid 50s dB(A) | R-454B (5th Gen); R-410A (4th Gen) | 5-yr parts, 7-yr compressor with registration; authorized-retailer purchase required | — | DIY installers conditioning garages, workshops, additions and bonus rooms |
|
Senville AURA series (SENA); LETO budget line |
3.9 | Ductless mini-split | up to about 22 (21 on the 24,000 BTU/h model; 23 on the 27,000 BTU/h 3-zone) | up to about 10 in DOE region V; higher region IV figures are quoted separately | -22°F (heating), manufacturer-listed operating limit | — | R-32 or R-454B depending on model and production date; older LETO stock R-410A | 5-yr parts / 10-yr compressor (AURA); professional installation required, labor not covered | $2,500–$5,000 single zone including licensed line-set install (2026, before incentives) | Budget buyers who can source their own licensed installer |
Efficiency ratings are manufacturer maximums and vary by capacity and matched indoor unit. Installed prices are typical 2026 U.S. contractor ranges before incentives. Tap a column heading to sort.
The right heat pump depends on your climate, your ducts and your budget more than on the brand badge.
Eight value heat pumps for 2026, from $6,500 ducted systems to sub-$1,000 mini-splits, with typical installed price ranges and the…
Eight of the highest-rated heat pumps you can buy in 2026, ranked by published SEER2 and HSPF2, with a spec…
Seven of the quietest heat pumps you can buy in 2026, with published outdoor and indoor dB ratings, an explanation…
Eight heat pumps that stand out in 2026, from the cold-climate Mitsubishi Hyper-Heating to value ducted systems and DIY mini-splits,…
Six cold-climate heat pumps that keep heating below zero, plus how to use the NEEP list, capacity and COP at…
Six heat pumps sized for homes under about 1,200 square feet, from the Mitsubishi MSZ-FS to compact ducted systems and…
Every model on this page is scored against the same six criteria, weighted the same way, using the same sources. We publish the weights so you can argue with them.
| Criterion | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Heating performance | 25% | Rated capacity, how much of it survives at 5°F and below, minimum operating temperature, defrost behaviour, and whether backup heat is required in the target climate. |
| Efficiency | 20% | SEER2, HSPF2 and EER2 across the capacity range — not just the headline number for the one size that rates highest. |
| Reliability and warranty | 20% | Parts and compressor warranty length, registration requirements, whether unit-replacement cover is offered, parts availability and the size of the dealer network. |
| Value | 15% | Typical installed price against delivered performance. A premium system that costs 60% more for 10% better efficiency scores lower here, not higher. |
| Noise | 10% | Published outdoor and indoor sound ratings, and whether the quoted figure applies at low speed only. |
| Features and controls | 10% | Inverter staging, thermostat and app compatibility, zoning options, diagnostics, and refrigerant generation. |
We do not test heat pumps in a laboratory, and we never claim to. Our ratings come from manufacturer specification sheets and submittal data, AHRI Directory certified ratings, ENERGY STAR and NEEP cold-climate listings, published warranty documents, contractor pricing data and aggregated owner feedback. Where a figure is a manufacturer maximum that only applies to one capacity or one matched indoor unit, we say so.
We also do not accept payment for placement, and no manufacturer sees a review before it publishes. Some links on this site earn us a commission, which is disclosed on every page and never affects a score. Read our full methodology and editorial policy.
Independent field studies repeatedly find that installation quality — correct load calculation, correct refrigerant charge, adequate airflow, sensible controls setup — moves real-world efficiency more than the difference between two good brands. A well-installed mid-tier system will usually beat a badly installed premium one. Budget accordingly: choose the contractor as carefully as the equipment.
Goodman's inverter GSZV9 delivers most of the Lennox SL25XPV's efficiency for thousands less. Lennox is quieter and slightly more efficient,…
A heat pump is an air conditioner that can run in reverse. It costs about $1,000–$3,000 more and pays off…
At 2026 average prices a heat pump beats a 96% furnace on running cost above a COP of about 3.2.…
There is no single best brand for every home. Mitsubishi and Fujitsu lead on cold-climate ductless performance; Carrier, Trane and Lennox lead on premium ducted comfort and dealer networks; Bosch and Rheem are strong mid-market options; Goodman is the value pick. The right answer depends on your climate, whether you have usable ductwork, and which brands have good installers near you.
Most whole-home ducted installations land between roughly $6,000 and $14,000 before incentives, with premium variable-speed systems and difficult installations running higher. A single-zone mini-split is typically $3,000 to $6,000 installed, and multi-zone systems scale from there. Use our cost calculator for an estimate based on your home size, climate and efficiency tier.
No. The 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, which offered 30% up to $2,000 for qualifying heat pumps, ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. State rebate programs funded through the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates programme, state tax credits and utility rebates still exist in many areas — check your state energy office and your utility before you buy.
Modern cold-climate models do. Look for systems on the NEEP cold-climate air-source heat pump list, check the published capacity retention at 5°F, and confirm the minimum operating temperature. Many current models hold full or near-full rated heating capacity at 5°F and continue operating well below 0°F, though a backup heat source is still sensible in the coldest zones.
We re-check the models, ratings and prices on this page as manufacturers update product lines and as incentive programmes change. The last-updated date is shown at the top of the page. Efficiency ratings and prices in particular move, so always confirm the exact AHRI-matched combination and current price on your written quote.
