Certified-data shortlist

Best cold-climate mini splits

Every model here is cold-climate listed. Comparing low-temperature output within the same size class keeps whole-house systems from crowding out room-sized options.

Start with the right size class, then compare the published efficiency and performance numbers.

Illustration: snowy home exterior with a ductless mini-split outdoor condenser

Source-backed shortlist

22 picks from 570 matching models.

How these picks are ranked: Grouped by heating size, then ranked by the share of certified 47°F heating output retained at 5°F. HSPF2 (heating efficiency) and SEER2 (cooling efficiency) break ties. Source: official certification records only.

6,000 BTU class

Top 2 of 10 matching models in this size class.

See all 92 in this size ↗

#1 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ series unit (same housing as ACIQ-06ZPL-HP230B)

Same housing as ACIQ-09ZPL-HP230B; small details may differ.

22 SEER2

ACIQ 7,100 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for small rooms around 250–300 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number ACIQ-06ZPL-HP230B / SCC-0609-HH-M at your preferred retailer.

Model #: ACIQ-06ZPL-HP230B / SCC-0609-HH-M

Also sold as DIYCOOL ACIQ-06ZPL-HP230B

#2 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ series unit (same housing as ACIQ-06ZPL-HP230C)

Same housing as ACIQ-09ZPL-HP230C; small details may differ.

25.5 SEER2

ACIQ 7,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for small rooms around 250–300 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number ACIQ-06ZPL-HP230C / ACIQ-06W-HH-MD at your preferred retailer.

Model #: ACIQ-06ZPL-HP230C / ACIQ-06W-HH-MD

9,000 BTU class

Top 2 of 64 matching models in this size class.

See all 92 in this size ↗

#1 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-09ZPL-HP230C outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

27.2 SEER2

ACIQ 9,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for bedrooms or offices around 350–400 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Model #: ACIQ-09ZPL-HP230C / ACIQ-09FM-HH-MD

#2 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-09ZPL-HP230C outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

20.5 SEER2

ACIQ 9,900 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for bedrooms or offices around 400–450 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Model #: ACIQ-09ZPL-HP230C / ACIQ-09CD-HH-MC

12,000 BTU class

Top 2 of 105 matching models in this size class.

See all 129 in this size ↗

#1 in this size

Senville SENE-09EL-OH outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

33.3 SEER2

Senville 12,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for bedrooms or offices around 450–550 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number SENE-09EL-OH / SENE-09EL-IHH at your preferred retailer.

Model #: SENE-09EL-OH / SENE-09EL-IHH

#2 in this size

Senville SENE-12EL-OH outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

29.4 SEER2

Senville 12,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for bedrooms or offices around 450–550 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number SENE-12EL-OH / SENE-12EL-IHH at your preferred retailer.

Model #: SENE-12EL-OH / SENE-12EL-IHH

18,000 BTU class

Top 2 of 130 matching models in this size class.

See all 163 in this size ↗

#1 in this size

Photo coming soonWe do not have a confirmed photo for model ACIQ-18Z-E-HH-M2 yet.

23.3 SEER2

ACIQ 18,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for open rooms around 700–1000 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number ACIQ-18Z-E-HH-M2 at your preferred retailer.

Model #: ACIQ-18Z-E-HH-M2

#2 in this size

Photo coming soonWe do not have a confirmed photo for model ACIQ-18Z-E-HH-M2 yet.

21.9 SEER2

ACIQ 18,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for open rooms around 700–1000 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number ACIQ-18Z-E-HH-M2 at your preferred retailer.

Model #: ACIQ-18Z-E-HH-M2

24,000 BTU class

Top 2 of 89 matching models in this size class.

See all 101 in this size ↗

#1 in this size

Photo coming soonWe do not have a confirmed photo for model ACIQ-24Z-E-HH-M3 yet.

24 SEER2

ACIQ 24,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for large rooms around 1400–1500 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number ACIQ-24Z-E-HH-M3 at your preferred retailer.

Model #: ACIQ-24Z-E-HH-M3

#2 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-24ZPL-HP230B outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

19.2 SEER2

ACIQ 25,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for large rooms around 1400–1500 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number ACIQ-24ZPL-HP230B / ACIQ-24CD-HH-MB at your preferred retailer.

Model #: ACIQ-24ZPL-HP230B / ACIQ-24CD-HH-MB

Also sold as DIYCOOL ACIQ-24ZPL-HP230B

30,000 BTU class

Top 2 of 34 matching models in this size class.

See all 59 in this size ↗

#1 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-27Z-HH-M4C outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

21 SEER2

ACIQ 27,400 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for large rooms around 1500–2000 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Model #: ACIQ-27Z-HH-M4C

#2 in this size

Senville SENA-28HF-MOA outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

21 SEER2

Senville 27,400 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for large rooms around 1500–2000 sq. ft. and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number SENA-28HF-MOA at your preferred retailer.

Model #: SENA-28HF-MOA

36,000 BTU class

Top 2 of 52 matching models in this size class.

See all 80 in this size ↗

#1 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-36Z-HH-M5C outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

19.4 SEER2

ACIQ 36,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for large spaces that need load-calculation sizing and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Model #: ACIQ-36Z-HH-M5C

#2 in this size

Photo coming soonWe do not have a confirmed photo for model 4PAMS36-HH-MZO4 yet.

19.4 SEER2

PerfectAire 36,000 BTU Multi-Zone

Good for multi-zone planning and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number 4PAMS36-HH-MZO4 at your preferred retailer.

Model #: 4PAMS36-HH-MZO4

42,000 BTU class

Top 2 of 11 matching models in this size class.

See all 80 in this size ↗

#1 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-36ZPL-HP230B outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

19.4 SEER2

ACIQ 40,000 BTU Ceiling Cassette

Good for large spaces that need load-calculation sizing and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Model #: ACIQ-36ZPL-HP230B / ACIQ-36CC-HH-MB

Also sold as DIYCOOL ACIQ-36ZPL-HP230B

#2 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-36ZPL-HP230C outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

17.7 SEER2

ACIQ 42,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for large spaces that need load-calculation sizing and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Model #: ACIQ-36ZPL-HP230C / ACIQ-36CD-HH-MC

48,000 BTU class

Top 2 of 42 matching models in this size class.

See all 59 in this size ↗

#1 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-48Z-HH-M6C outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

20.4 SEER2

ACIQ 48,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for large spaces that need load-calculation sizing and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Model #: ACIQ-48Z-HH-M6C

#2 in this size

Photo coming soonWe do not have a confirmed photo for model 4PAMS48-HH-MZO5 yet.

20.4 SEER2

PerfectAire 48,000 BTU Multi-Zone

Good for multi-zone planning and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number 4PAMS48-HH-MZO5 at your preferred retailer.

Model #: 4PAMS48-HH-MZO5

54,000 BTU class

Top 2 of 30 matching models in this size class.

See all 59 in this size ↗

#1 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-60ZPL-HP230B outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

15.8 SEER2

ACIQ 57,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for large spaces that need load-calculation sizing and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number ACIQ-60ZPL-HP230B / ACIQ-60CD-HH-MB at your preferred retailer.

Model #: ACIQ-60ZPL-HP230B / ACIQ-60CD-HH-MB

Also sold as DIYCOOL ACIQ-60ZPL-HP230B

#2 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-48ZPL-HP230C outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

16.7 SEER2

ACIQ 52,000 BTU Ceiling Cassette

Good for large spaces that need load-calculation sizing and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Model #: ACIQ-48ZPL-HP230C / ACIQ-48CC-HH-MC

60,000 BTU class

Top 2 of 3 matching models in this size class.

See all 31 in this size ↗

#1 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-60ZPL-HP230B outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

17.3 SEER2

ACIQ 60,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for large spaces that need load-calculation sizing and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Check model number ACIQ-60ZPL-HP230B / ACIQ-60FM-HH-MB at your preferred retailer.

Model #: ACIQ-60ZPL-HP230B / ACIQ-60FM-HH-MB

Also sold as DIYCOOL ACIQ-60ZPL-HP230B

#2 in this size

ACIQ ACIQ-60ZPL-HP230C outdoor mini-split unit

Photo of this model. Image details

18 SEER2

ACIQ 60,000 BTU Wall-Mount

Good for large spaces that need load-calculation sizing and cold climates.

ENERGY STAR-certifiedccASHP-listed

Model #: ACIQ-60ZPL-HP230C / ACIQ-60FM-HH-MD