Product line against product line

MRCOOL DIY vs Advantage mini splits

Both lineups side by side at every size both lines sell, from the 28 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 21 MRCOOL DIY and 7 MRCOOL Advantage mini splits in stock, and both lines sell 5 sizes in common (9,000, 12,000, 18,000, 24,000 and 36,000 BTU).

  • MRCOOL DIY's cheapest do-it-yourself kit costs $250 to $970 more than MRCOOL Advantage's cheapest installer-fitted system at each of the 5 sizes both sell, but the two prices do not buy the same thing. The installer-fitted price is the equipment only: a technician installs it, vacuums the lines and charges them with refrigerant. The kit's pre-charged quick-connect lines are made to skip the vacuum and the charge, though under EPA Section 608 connecting refrigerant lines is still certified-technician work, so budget for a technician with either.
  • MRCOOL DIY has the higher-rated (SEER2) model at 4 of the 5 sizes where both publish a rating; their best are within 0.5 at 1.
  • MRCOOL DIY sells 21 do-it-yourself kits with pre-charged line sets in stock; MRCOOL Advantage sells none, so every MRCOOL Advantage system here is installer-fitted.
  • For heating in the cold, MRCOOL Advantage's coldest-rated model keeps running down to -22°F outdoors against -13°F for MRCOOL DIY's, as the retailer lists them.

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

Prices last refreshed Oct 7, 2026Independent, nobody pays for placement.

MRCOOL DIY and MRCOOL Advantage at a glance

MRCOOL DIY and MRCOOL Advantage mini splits: the in-stock lineups compared
MRCOOL DIYMRCOOL Advantage
In stock of models we track21 of 217 of 7
Sizes in stock9,000 to 36,000 BTU9,000 to 36,000 BTU
Live prices$1,249 to $3,469$829 to $2,499
Best SEER2SEER2 23.6 (DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU Mini Split)SEER2 21.3 (Advantage 12,000 BTU 5th Gen Mini Split - 230V)
DIY kits21 of 210 of 7
115 V models10 of 212 of 7
Coldest heating rating-13°F outdoors-22°F outdoors
Compressor warranty, as listed2 to 7 yr (21 of 21 state it)2 yr (6 of 7 state it)
Recall checkNone namedNone named

What each maker says about the line

MRCOOL DIY

MRCOOL sells its DIY, DIY Easy Pro and DIY Select mini split heat pumps as do-it-yourself kits: the line set comes pre-charged and joins with Quick Connect fittings, so no vacuum pump or refrigerant charging is needed on site. The EPA's Section 608 guidance says connecting or disconnecting pre-charged lines still requires a Section 608 certified technician.

Sources: MRCOOL, DIY 5th Generation; MRCOOL, DIY Easy Pro; MRCOOL, DIY Select; EPA, Section 608 questions and answers, read September 30, 2026.

Every MRCOOL DIY model

MRCOOL Advantage

MRCOOL's Advantage is a wall-mounted inverter mini split heat pump that MRCOOL says is not a DIY system: an HVAC professional installs it, vacuums the system and charges the lines with refrigerant, using the included pre-flared line sets.

Source: MRCOOL, Advantage 5th Gen, read September 30, 2026.

Every MRCOOL Advantage model

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
  • Cheapest models install differently (kit against installer-fitted)
  • Best SEER2: MRCOOL DIY 23.6 against 21.2

MRCOOL DIY · 5 in stock

Show 2 more MRCOOL DIY models at this size

MRCOOL Advantage · 2 in stock

12,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • Cheapest models install differently (kit against installer-fitted)
  • Best SEER2: MRCOOL DIY 23.5 against 21.3

MRCOOL DIY · 5 in stock

Show 2 more MRCOOL DIY models at this size

MRCOOL Advantage · 2 in stock

18,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • Cheapest models install differently (kit against installer-fitted)
  • Best SEER2: MRCOOL DIY 22.5 against 19.2

MRCOOL DIY · 5 in stock

Show 2 more MRCOOL DIY models at this size

MRCOOL Advantage · 1 in stock

24,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • Cheapest models install differently (kit against installer-fitted)
  • Best SEER2: MRCOOL DIY 22.7 against 18.7

MRCOOL DIY · 5 in stock

Show 2 more MRCOOL DIY models at this size

MRCOOL Advantage · 1 in stock

36,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • Cheapest models install differently (kit against installer-fitted)
  • Best SEER2 within 0.5 of each other

MRCOOL DIY · 1 in stock

MRCOOL Advantage · 1 in stock

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 vs MRCOOL Advantage: common questions

Is a MRCOOL DIY or a MRCOOL Advantage cheaper?
On the sticker, comparing the cheapest new, in-stock model of each at the same size: 9,000 BTU, $1,249 for the MRCOOL DIY kit against $829 for the MRCOOL Advantage, 12,000 BTU, $1,399 for the MRCOOL DIY kit against $979 for the MRCOOL Advantage, 18,000 BTU, $1,690 for the MRCOOL DIY kit against $1,399 for the MRCOOL Advantage, 24,000 BTU, $1,899 for the MRCOOL DIY kit against $1,649 for the MRCOOL Advantage and 36,000 BTU, $3,469 for the MRCOOL DIY kit against $2,499 for the MRCOOL Advantage. The installer-fitted price is the equipment only: a technician installs it, vacuums the lines and charges them with refrigerant. The kit's pre-charged quick-connect lines are made to skip the vacuum and the charge, though under EPA Section 608 connecting refrigerant lines is still certified-technician work, so budget for a technician with either. These are live retailer prices and change often.
Which is more energy efficient, MRCOOL DIY or MRCOOL Advantage mini splits?
Comparing the best SEER2 rating each line publishes for its in-stock models at the same size, MRCOOL DIY has the higher-rated model at 9,000 BTU (SEER2 23.6 against 21.2), 12,000 BTU (SEER2 23.5 against 21.3), 18,000 BTU (SEER2 22.5 against 19.2) and 24,000 BTU (SEER2 22.7 against 18.7) and their best ratings are within 0.5 at 1 size. 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 and MRCOOL Advantage mini splits come in?
In stock right now, MRCOOL DIY sells 9,000, 12,000, 18,000, 24,000 and 36,000 BTU and MRCOOL Advantage sells 9,000, 12,000, 18,000, 24,000 and 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 or MRCOOL Advantage myself?
MRCOOL DIY sells 21 do-it-yourself kits in stock with pre-charged quick-connect line sets, so there is no vacuum pump or refrigerant charging on site; MRCOOL Advantage's systems here are installed the conventional way. 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 or MRCOOL Advantage?
As the retailer lists them, MRCOOL DIY's coldest-rated in-stock mini split keeps heating down to -13°F outdoors (17 models) and MRCOOL Advantage's down to -22°F (6 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. 21 of 21 in-stock MRCOOL DIY listings and 6 of 7 MRCOOL Advantage listings state a limit.
Which has the longer warranty, MRCOOL DIY or MRCOOL Advantage?
As the retailer listings state it, in-stock MRCOOL DIY models cover the compressor for 2 to 7 years depending on the model (21 of 21 listings state a term) and MRCOOL Advantage models for 2 years (6 of 7). 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 or MRCOOL Advantage mini splits been recalled?
None of the 21 MRCOOL DIY and 7 MRCOOL Advantage 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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