Product line against product line

MRCOOL DIY Select vs 5th Gen mini splits

Both lineups side by side at every size both lines sell, from the 13 new mini splits we can find in stock right now: live prices, SEER2 ratings, noise and the warranty each listing states.

The short answer

We track 8 MRCOOL DIY Select and 5 MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen mini splits in stock, and both lines sell 4 sizes in common (9,000, 12,000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTU).

  • MRCOOL DIY Select's cheapest model costs less at all 4 sizes.
  • MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen has the higher-rated (SEER2) model at all 4 sizes where both publish a rating.
  • MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen's listings state 7 years of compressor coverage against 2 years for MRCOOL DIY Select's.

The better buy depends on your size, so compare the models at yours below.

Prices last refreshed Oct 8, 2026Independent, nobody pays for placement.

MRCOOL DIY Select and MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen at a glance

MRCOOL DIY Select and MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen mini splits: the in-stock lineups compared
MRCOOL DIY SelectMRCOOL DIY 5th Gen
In stock of models we track8 of 85 of 5
Sizes in stock9,000 to 24,000 BTU9,000 to 36,000 BTU
Live prices$1,249 to $1,899$1,880 to $3,469
Best SEER2SEER2 17.5 (several models)SEER2 23.6 (DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split)
DIY kits8 of 85 of 5
115 V models4 of 82 of 5
Coldest heating rating-13°F outdoors-13°F outdoors
Compressor warranty, as listed2 yr (8 of 8 state it)7 yr (5 of 5 state it)
Recall checkNone namedNone named

What each maker says about the line

MRCOOL DIY Select

DIY Select is the single-zone DIY mini split heat pump MRCOOL markets on price, sold in white and in black, with the same pre-charged Quick Connect line sets. MRCOOL rates it up to 17.5 SEER2 and 9.0 HSPF2, and says it uses R-454B refrigerant and can be run from the MRCOOL SmartHVAC app or a voice assistant.

Source: MRCOOL, DIY Select, read October 8, 2026.

Every MRCOOL DIY model, DIY Select included

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen

The DIY 5th Generation is MRCOOL's original do-it-yourself mini split heat pump line, in five single-zone sizes from 9,000 to 36,000 BTU and in multi-zone systems. MRCOOL says its Quick Connect line sets come pre-charged with R-454B refrigerant so no vacuum is needed, that it keeps heating down to -13°F, and that only some models are ENERGY STAR certified (the 36,000 BTU single-zone model is not).

Source: MRCOOL, DIY 5th Generation, read October 8, 2026.

Every MRCOOL DIY model, DIY 5th Gen included

Size by size

Every new mini split of each line we can find in stock, cheapest first, at each size both sell. A model within 5% of a size is grouped with it and shows its own rating. marks a noise rating we have checked against the retailer's specification for that exact model.

9,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • MRCOOL DIY Select's cheapest is $780 less
  • Best SEER2: MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 23.6 against 17.5

MRCOOL DIY Select · 2 in stock

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen · 1 in stock

12,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • MRCOOL DIY Select's cheapest is $481 less
  • Best SEER2: MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 23.5 against 17.5

MRCOOL DIY Select · 2 in stock

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen · 1 in stock

18,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • MRCOOL DIY Select's cheapest is $919 less
  • Best SEER2: MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 22.5 against 17.3

MRCOOL DIY Select · 2 in stock

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen · 1 in stock

24,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • MRCOOL DIY Select's cheapest is $676 less
  • Best SEER2: MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 22.7 against 16.5

MRCOOL DIY Select · 2 in stock

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen · 1 in stock

only MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen sells 36,000 BTU.

Prices are live retailer offers and change often. compare.ac may earn a commission on purchases, at no cost to you; it never changes the price you pay or how we compare.

How we compare two lines

  • Only new units we can find in stock with a live price, at the same size. A line's average says more about its size mix than about the line.
  • Mini splits are compared wall-mounted against wall-mounted: a ceiling cassette, floor or concealed-duct indoor unit installs differently and costs differently, so it is counted but not compared.
  • A price difference counts when it is at least 5% and at least $20, and only between models that install the same way (a do-it-yourself kit is never priced against an installer-fitted system).
  • Efficiency is compared on one scale (SEER2) and counts at a gap of 0.5 or more; noise counts at 3 dB(A) or more, using only ratings checked against the retailer's specification for the exact model.
  • Warranty terms are as each listing states them. Models named in a CPSC recall are never compared or sold here.
Read our full methodology

MRCOOL DIY Select vs MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen: common questions

Is MRCOOL DIY Select or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen cheaper?
It depends on the size. Comparing each line's cheapest new, in-stock model at the same size, MRCOOL DIY Select's cheapest model costs less at 9,000 BTU ($1,249 against $2,029), 12,000 BTU ($1,399 against $1,880), 18,000 BTU ($1,690 against $2,609) and 24,000 BTU ($1,899 against $2,574.99). These are live retailer prices and change often.
Which is more energy efficient, MRCOOL DIY Select or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen mini splits?
Comparing the best SEER2 rating each line publishes for its in-stock models at the same size, MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen has the higher-rated model at 9,000 BTU (SEER2 23.6 against 17.5), 12,000 BTU (SEER2 23.5 against 17.5), 18,000 BTU (SEER2 22.5 against 17.3) and 24,000 BTU (SEER2 22.7 against 16.5). A higher SEER2 means less electricity for the same cooling. Not every listing publishes a rating, so a size with a rating on one side only is not compared.
What sizes do MRCOOL DIY Select and MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen mini splits come in?
In stock right now, MRCOOL DIY Select sells 9,000, 12,000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTU and MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen sells 9,000, 12,000, 18,000, 24,000 and 36,000 BTU. So only MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen sells 36,000 BTU. Size the unit to the room first: an oversized unit short-cycles and leaves the air cool but damp.
Can I install MRCOOL DIY Select or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen myself?
MRCOOL DIY Select sells 8 do-it-yourself kits in stock with pre-charged quick-connect line sets, so there is no vacuum pump or refrigerant charging on site, and MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen sells 5. Under EPA Section 608, connecting refrigerant lines is still certified-technician work for any of them, and most areas want a permit for the outdoor unit, so budget for a technician either way; a kit needs far less of their time.
Which heats better in cold weather, MRCOOL DIY Select or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?
As the retailer lists them, both lines' coldest-rated in-stock mini splits keep heating down to -13°F outdoors (MRCOOL DIY Select: 8 models; MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen: 5 models). That is the lowest temperature each is rated to run at, not its output there: a heat pump delivers less heat as it gets colder. 8 of 8 in-stock MRCOOL DIY Select listings and 5 of 5 MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen listings state a limit.
Which has the longer warranty, MRCOOL DIY Select or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?
As the retailer listings state it, in-stock MRCOOL DIY Select models cover the compressor for 2 years (8 of 8 listings state a term) and MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen models for 7 years (5 of 5). Where a listing names no separate compressor term, its general or parts term is what covers the compressor. Some terms require registering the unit, and a maker can require professional installation to honor its warranty, so read the warranty document before you buy.
Have any MRCOOL DIY Select or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen mini splits been recalled?
None of the 8 MRCOOL DIY Select and 5 MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen mini splits we track is named in a CPSC recall notice we check. That covers the models listed here, not every model either line has sold, and it is not a safety certification.

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