Most efficient
Luxaire XH960E2C11
4 ton central · LX SERIES · cold-climate certified
- SEER2
- 22.0
- HSPF2
- 9.0
- Heat at 5°F
- 45,000
Top-rated certified model in the size most 2,500 sq ft homes need.
Full specs and running costWhat size heat pump for a 2,500 sq ft house?
Short answer: 3.5 tons to more than 5 tons, depending on your climate and insulation. In a mixed climate like Atlanta: 4 tons.
By climate
- Hot and dry (Phoenix)3.5 ton
- Hot and humid (Houston)3.5 ton
- Mixed (Atlanta)4 ton
- Cold (Chicago)5+ ton
- Very cold (Minneapolis)5+ ton
Average insulation, 8 ft ceilings, three occupants.
Best 4-ton heat pumps
Best for cold winters
Hisense AUWR-4824P
4 ton central · Hi-PRO HD · cold-climate certified
- SEER2
- 19.0
- HSPF2
- 9.0
- COP at 5°F
- 2.52
Cold-climate certified, best efficiency at 5°F in this size.
Full specs and running costWork it out for your home
Pre-filled with 2,500 sq ft. Pick your city and adjust insulation, sun and ceiling height.
More detail
Cooling and heating loads by climate
- Hot and dry (Phoenix)cooling 39,700 · heating 37,500
- Hot and humid (Houston)cooling 39,700 · heating 37,500
- Mixed (Atlanta)cooling 36,300 · heating 47,500
- Cold (Chicago)cooling 34,600 · heating 67,500
- Very cold (Minneapolis)cooling 31,200 · heating 75,000
Cooling follows the ENERGY STAR sizing table; heating uses BTU per sq ft for the climate (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
How insulation changes the size
- Poor5 ton · heating 61,800 BTU/h
- Average4 ton · heating 47,500 BTU/h
- Good3.5 ton · heating 38,000 BTU/h
- Very good3 ton · heating 30,900 BTU/h
Top 5 4-ton heat pumps
| # | Model | SEER2 | EER2 | HSPF2 | COP at 5°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luxaire XH960E2C11 | 22.0 | 12.0 | 9.0 | 2.00 |
| 2 | York YH960E2C11 | 22.0 | 12.0 | 9.0 | 2.00 |
| 3 | LG KUSXB481A | 21.2 | 12.1 | 10.4 | 1.96 |
| 4 | Carrier 27VNA154A*030also sold as 1 other model number | 21.0 | 13.0 | 10.5 | 2.00 |
| 5 | Armstrong Air A7CP21V48P-**A | 20.5 | 12.2 | 9.6 | 2.20 |
Questions
- What size heat pump do I need for a 2,500 sq ft house?
- About 3.5 tons to more than 5 tons. In a mixed climate like Atlanta the estimate is 4 tons (cooling load 36,300 BTU/h, heating load 47,500 BTU/h). Hot climates need more cooling capacity and cold climates more heating capacity, as the table shows.
- How many BTU do I need for 2,500 square feet?
- For cooling, roughly 39,700 BTU/h in a hot, dry climate and 31,200 BTU/h in a cold one. For heating, from 37,500 to 75,000 BTU/h depending on how cold winters get. Older, drafty homes need up to 30% more.
- Is it better to oversize or undersize a heat pump?
- Neither, but slight undersizing is usually less harmful for cooling. An oversized unit short-cycles and leaves the air clammy. In cold climates, size for the heating load and check the unit’s output at 5°F, or plan for backup heat on the coldest nights.