Our take in 30 seconds
Best for: cold and very cold climatesStrengths
- Keeps 83% of its heat at 5°F, so backup heat rarely runs
- Variable-speed compressor: quieter, steadier temperatures and better humidity control
- Uses newer, lower-impact R-454B refrigerant
Good to know
- No notable drawbacks in the certified data.
Running-cost calculator
Pre-filled with EIA prices · edit any fieldUses the base certified SEER2 (15.2) and HSPF2 (9). Assumes the unit is correctly sized. How we calculate.
Heating capacity as it gets colder
A heat pump's output falls as outdoor temperature drops. This is the certified heat output of the Panasonic CU-M48BAHU at the three ENERGY STAR test temperatures (cooling capacity is 48,000 BTU/h for reference).
Retention at 17°F: 72% · at 5°F: 83%. Learn how to use these numbers in our cold-climate guide.
Estimated running cost in every state
Same unit, very different bills: from about $1,293 a year in Louisiana to $4,858 in Maine, driven by local electricity prices and how much heating or cooling the climate needs. Click a column to sort.
| State | Price | Heating | Cooling | Total / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $480 | $813 | $1,293 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $1,326 | $162 | $1,488 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $360 | $1,136 | $1,496 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $693 | $820 | $1,513 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $814 | $723 | $1,537 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $1,002 | $551 | $1,553 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $1,359 | $226 | $1,585 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $562 | $1,046 | $1,607 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $1,037 | $614 | $1,650 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $1,178 | $479 | $1,657 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $996 | $681 | $1,677 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $925 | $796 | $1,721 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $1,349 | $378 | $1,727 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $933 | $803 | $1,736 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $764 | $1,005 | $1,769 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $958 | $825 | $1,783 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $1,497 | $296 | $1,793 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $1,107 | $702 | $1,809 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $1,321 | $521 | $1,842 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $1,516 | $385 | $1,901 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $1,566 | $412 | $1,978 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $1,452 | $556 | $2,009 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $1,485 | $537 | $2,022 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $1,411 | $613 | $2,024 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $1,924 | $228 | $2,152 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $1,831 | $380 | $2,211 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $2,059 | $189 | $2,248 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $1,815 | $457 | $2,272 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $1,695 | $591 | $2,286 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $2,076 | $221 | $2,297 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $2,020 | $311 | $2,331 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $1,428 | $939 | $2,367 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $2,093 | $404 | $2,497 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $2,067 | $490 | $2,557 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $1,940 | $676 | $2,616 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $2,164 | $488 | $2,652 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $2,477 | $299 | $2,776 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $2,322 | $550 | $2,872 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $2,588 | $368 | $2,956 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $2,363 | $699 | $3,062 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $2,217 | $902 | $3,119 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $2,943 | $436 | $3,378 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $2,876 | $503 | $3,379 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $3,306 | $339 | $3,645 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $3,306 | $534 | $3,840 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $3,362 | $588 | $3,950 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $126 | $3,874 | $4,000 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $3,685 | $436 | $4,122 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $3,739 | $578 | $4,316 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $4,706 | $93 | $4,798 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $4,453 | $406 | $4,858 |
Similar-size alternatives
Other ducted split system units within ±15% of this model's cooling capacity, sorted by efficiency. Cost difference is versus the Panasonic CU-M48BAHU at U.S.-average rates.
| Model | Cooling BTU/h | SEER2 | HSPF2 | 5°F kept | Est. yearly cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruud UP19AY48AJVC | 45,500 | 18–19 | 10 | 92% | $1,827 (−$353) | Compare |
| Gree GUD60W2/NHE-D(U) | 53,000 | 16–19 | 10.5 | 100% | $2,156 (−$24) | Compare |
| Heil B5H3V48*K*AAA* | 46,500 | 20–23 | 9.5 | 76% | $1,963 (−$217) | Compare |
| Tempstar T5H3V48*K*AAA* | 46,500 | 19.5–23 | 9.5 | 72% | $2,113 (−$68) | Compare |
| Rheem RD18AY48AJVC | 43,500 | 16–19 | 10 | 88% | $1,793 (−$388) | Compare |
| Rheem RD18AY60AJVC | 52,000 | 16–18 | 10 | 66% | $2,393 (+$212) | Compare |
Full specifications
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Outdoor model | CU-M48BAHU |
| Certified by | Panasonic |
| Product type | Ducted split system |
| Compressor | Variable-speed (inverter) |
| Refrigerant | R-454B |
| Cooling capacity | 48,000 BTU/h |
| Nominal size | 4 tons |
| SEER2 (certified range) | 15.2 – 16.7 |
| EER2 (best) | 10.3 |
| HSPF2 (best) | 9 |
| Heating capacity @ 47°F | 48,000 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 17°F | 34,800 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 5°F | 40,000 BTU/h |
| COP @ 5°F | 1.85 |
| ENERGY STAR cold-climate | Yes |
| Certified indoor pairings | 9 |
| Latest certification | 2026-05 |
Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), retrieved November 7, 2026. Capacities and HSPF2 are the highest values across certified pairings; confirm your exact system's AHRI reference number with your installer.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Panasonic CU-M48BAHU cost to run per year?
At the U.S. average residential electricity price of 18.16¢/kWh and typical national heating and cooling hours, we estimate about $2,180 per year ($1,550 heating, $631 cooling). It ranges from about $1,293 in Louisiana to $4,858 in Maine.
Does the Panasonic CU-M48BAHU work in cold weather?
Yes. It is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified and delivers 40,000 BTU/h at 5°F, 83% of its 47°F capacity, with a COP of 1.85 at 5°F.
What size is the Panasonic CU-M48BAHU?
It is rated at 48,000 BTU/h of cooling, roughly 4 tons, and 48,000 BTU/h of heating at 47°F. Proper sizing should be confirmed with a Manual J load calculation.