MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split vs MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V

The MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split and the MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V side by side on one honest scale: cooling, room coverage, noise, energy rating and live price, with which one actually fits your room. Every number is the manufacturer's own or a live retailer price. We never invent a spec.

The verdict

For your 500 sq ft room, neither is an ideal fit: the MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split is undersized and the MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V is undersized. On the numbers, the MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V is cheaper at $1,249. Compare their specs side by side below, or try a different room size.

Prices last refreshed Oct 8, 2026Independent, nobody pays for placement.
MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split

MRCOOL

DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split
SplitSEER2 23.6 In stock

$2,029

Lowest since Jul 25, 2026 $2,029
Buy at Sylvane
MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V

MRCOOL

DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V
SplitSEER2 17.5 In stock

$1,249

Buy at Sylvane
Cooling & fit
Room fitUndersized for 46.5 m²Undersized for 46.5 m²
Cooling power9,000 BTU · 2.6 kW9,000 BTU · 2.6 kW
Coversup to 400 sq ftup to 400 sq ft
Comfort
Indoor noise43 dB(A)about as loud as a quiet library43 dB(A)about as loud as a quiet library
Indoor unit sizeSlimSlim
Efficiency
Energy ratingSEER2 23.6SEER2 17.5
SEER2 (cooling)23.617.5
Practicalities
Heats tooYesYes
Heats down to-13°F outdoors-13°F outdoors
RefrigerantR-454BR-454B
InstallDIY kit, certified refrigerant hookupDIY kit, certified refrigerant hookup
Outdoor unitYesYes
WarrantyEligible for MRCOOL Care Program; 7-Year Compressor Warranty; 5-Year Limited Parts Warranty1-Year Parts Limited Warranty; 2-Year Compressor Limited Warranty
Price
Price$2,029$1,249Best

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How we compare these

Both units are scored on the exact same scale, from the manufacturer's own published specs and the live retailer price where we have one. Room fit uses the official ENERGY STAR sizing chart, or an estimate from cooling power when a maker publishes no coverage. Where the two efficiency scales are not comparable, we never crown a winner. Nobody can pay for placement.

Read our full methodology

Frequently asked

Should I buy the MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split or the MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V?
The MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split and the MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V are close alternatives: the MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V is cheaper at $1,249. Set your room size to see which one fits it better.
Which is cheaper, the MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split or the MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V?
The MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V is cheaper at $1,249, versus $2,029 for the MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split. That is the current live retailer price where we have one, otherwise the listed price.
Is now a good time to buy the MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split or the MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V?
The MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split is currently at the lowest price we have tracked at Sylvane since Jul 25, 2026 ($2,029). The MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V does not have a verified current low in our available history. A dated observation from our own daily price history, not a manufacturer sale.
Do I need a professional to install the MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split or the MRCOOL DIY Select 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump 115V?
Both are sold as do-it-yourself kits with pre-charged quick-connect line sets, so neither needs a vacuum pump or refrigerant charging on site. Under EPA Section 608, though, connecting the refrigerant lines is certified-technician work for either one, and most jurisdictions want a permit for the outdoor unit.
How much cooling power do I need for my room?
A common US rule of thumb for a standard, reasonably insulated room with an 8-foot ceiling is about 20 BTU per hour per square foot, so a 300 sq ft room is often quoted around 6,000 BTU and a 500 sq ft room around 10,000 BTU. compare.ac instead sizes against the official ENERGY STAR room air conditioner chart, which is not a flat rate: it recommends about 7,000 BTU for that same 300 sq ft room and about 12,000 BTU for a 500 sq ft room, then adjusts up for a hot or humid climate and down for a mild one once you pick your region. Add capacity for a sunny west-facing or top-floor room, a kitchen, or extra people who are regularly in it. Undersizing means the unit runs flat out and never cools; oversizing short-cycles and leaves the room cool but clammy.
What will it cost to run, and what do the efficiency ratings mean?
Running cost is driven by efficiency: CEER on window and portable units, and SEER2 on mini-splits. Higher is better on both, but they are separate scales and a SEER2 number cannot be read as a ratio against a CEER number. Directionally, an efficient inverter mini-split is the cheapest type to run, while a single-hose portable can cost roughly two to three times as much for the same comfort, because much of its capacity is lost back through the exhaust hose. For window and portable units that ENERGY STAR certifies, we go a step further and show an estimated dollars-per-year figure, taken from the model's published annual energy use (a DOE test that assumes about 750 hours of cooling a year) priced at the average US residential electricity rate. It is a standardized figure for comparing units, not a personal bill: your real cost depends on how much you run it, your local electricity rate, and your climate. Mini-splits are usually the most efficient of all but are rated on SEER2, so we do not convert those to a dollar figure, and a missing running cost is a data gap, never a sign a unit is worse.

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Buying guides to help you decide

The bigger questions behind this comparison, answered from live prices and real specs.