10 kW class
10 kW split systems, compared on the figures that matter.
A 10 kW unit typically suits a whole open-plan floor or a big warehouse-style space — roughly 46 to 92 square metres depending on which way it faces, how well it is insulated and how many people use it. 21 models in this class are registered for sale in Australia across 6 brands.
Quick answer
A 10 kW split system air conditioner suits a room of roughly 46 to 92 square metres — typically a whole open-plan floor or a big warehouse-style space — with the exact figure depending on orientation, insulation, ceiling height and occupancy. 21 distinct 10 kW-class models are registered with the Australian Government's GEMS database across 6 brands: Carrier, Daikin, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, TCL. In this class the best cooling efficiency figure is AEER 3.85 and the best heating efficiency figure is ACOP 4.04, and the lowest declared indoor noise level is 51 dB. Thunderman Electrical and Air Conditioning Services supplies and installs units in this class across Greater Melbourne under ARCtick certification, with electrical work by REC 28523.
What this size means on the job
The part a showroom won't tell you.
The largest single-phase wall-mounted units on the register sit in this class, and they are the point at which a wall-mounted split stops being the obvious answer. A space that needs this much capacity is usually better served by a ducted system or by several heads, both because the air distribution is better and because one very large head produces a noticeable draught near it while the far end of the room stays warm. Where a single unit of this size does make sense is a large open space with high ceilings — a converted warehouse, a big extension, a commercial front room. All of those bring the supply question with them, and above this capacity the answer usually involves three-phase.
Quietest in this class
Ranked by declared indoor noise.
In this class the declared indoor noise levels run from 51 dB to 69 dB — a spread of 18 dB between the quietest and the loudest, which is a difference you would hear plainly in the same room.Capped at three models per brand so one range cannot fill the table.
| Model | Cooling | Heating | Indoor noise | AEER | ACOP | Stars | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier42QHB090N8-1 | 9.1 kW | 10.1 kW | 51 dB | 3.51 | 3.48 | 3.5 / 2 | AAC8823 |
| TCLDVO | 10.7 kW | 12.3 kW | 56.92 dB | 3.84 | 3.8 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC9761 |
| TCLDVO | 12.3 kW | 13.5 kW | 56.92 dB | 3.85 | 4.04 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC9763 |
| Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesDXK33ZRA-WF1+1 variant | 9.5 kW | 10.3 kW | 61 dB | 3.69 | 3.88 | 3.5 / 2.5 | AAC8238 |
| Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesDXK33ZRA-W+1 variant | 9.5 kW | 10.3 kW | 61 dB | 3.7 | 3.89 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC8722 |
| Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesDXK33ZRA-WF+2 variants | 9.5 kW | 10.3 kW | 61 dB | 3.69 | 3.88 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC7763 |
| FujitsuASTG34KMTC | 9.4 kW | 10.3 kW | 64 dB | 3.36 | 3.6 | 2.5 / 2 | AAC8708 |
| Mitsubishi ElectricMSZ-AS90VGD+2 variants | 9 kW | 10.3 kW | 64.9 dB | 3.42 | 3.81 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC9071 |
Cooling and heating are rated capacity. AEER andACOP are the annual efficiency figures for cooling and heating — higher is cheaper to run. Stars are shown as cooling / heating for a mixed climate zone, which is the one Melbourne sits in. Indoor noise is the manufacturer's declared sound level for the indoor unit. Every figure is as registered with the Australian Government's GEMS register, and the registration number is there so you can look it up yourself.
Cheapest to run — cooling
Ranked by AEER.
Cooling efficiency in this class runs from AEER 3.12 to 3.85 — the best unit here delivers about 23% more cooling per unit of power than the weakest. That gap is what you are choosing between, and it does not show up on the star sticker, because stars are banded.
| Model | Cooling | Heating | Indoor noise | AEER | ACOP | Stars | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCLDVO | 12.3 kW | 13.5 kW | 56.92 dB | 3.85 | 4.04 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC9763 |
| TCLDVO | 10.7 kW | 12.3 kW | 56.92 dB | 3.84 | 3.8 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC9761 |
| Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesDXK33ZRA-W+1 variant | 9.5 kW | 10.3 kW | 61 dB | 3.7 | 3.89 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC8722 |
| Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesDXK33ZRA-WF1+1 variant | 9.5 kW | 10.3 kW | 61 dB | 3.69 | 3.88 | 3.5 / 2.5 | AAC8238 |
| Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesDXK33ZRA-WF+2 variants | 9.5 kW | 10.3 kW | 61 dB | 3.69 | 3.88 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC7763 |
| Carrier42QHB090N8-1 | 9.1 kW | 10.1 kW | 51 dB | 3.51 | 3.48 | 3.5 / 2 | AAC8823 |
| FujitsuASTH34KMTD | 9.5 kW | 10.3 kW | 65 dB | 3.49 | 3.39 | 3.5 / 2.5 | AAC7652 |
| FujitsuASTH34KNTA | 9.5 kW | 10.3 kW | 65 dB | 3.49 | 3.39 | 3.5 / 2.5 | AAC7645 |
Best for a Melbourne winter
Ranked by ACOP — the heating figure.
Heating efficiency here runs from ACOP 3.17 to 4.04, a spread of about 27%. Because Melbourne runs a reverse-cycle system for warmth far more of the year than for cooling, that spread costs more over time than the cooling one does — and this ranking is rarely the same as the one above it.
| Model | Cooling | Heating | Indoor noise | AEER | ACOP | Stars | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCLDVO | 12.3 kW | 13.5 kW | 56.92 dB | 3.85 | 4.04 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC9763 |
| Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesDXK33ZRA-W+1 variant | 9.5 kW | 10.3 kW | 61 dB | 3.7 | 3.89 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC8722 |
| Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesDXK33ZRA-WF1+1 variant | 9.5 kW | 10.3 kW | 61 dB | 3.69 | 3.88 | 3.5 / 2.5 | AAC8238 |
| Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesDXK33ZRA-WF+2 variants | 9.5 kW | 10.3 kW | 61 dB | 3.69 | 3.88 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC7763 |
| Carrier42QAF090N8 | 9 kW | 9.5 kW | 65.23 dB | 3.48 | 3.84 | 4 / 2.5 | AAC9378 |
| Carrier42QRF090N8 | 9 kW | 9.5 kW | 65.23 dB | 3.48 | 3.84 | 4 / 2.5 | AAC9458 |
| Mitsubishi ElectricMSZ-AS90VGD+2 variants | 9 kW | 10.3 kW | 64.9 dB | 3.42 | 3.81 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC9071 |
| TCLDVO | 10.7 kW | 12.3 kW | 56.92 dB | 3.84 | 3.8 | 3 / 2.5 | AAC9761 |
Not sure this is the right size?
Look either side.
All figures from the GEMS registration database (Australian Government). Every model above carries its registration number so you can check it atthe register.
10 kW air conditioners — common questions
When should I choose ducted instead of a large split system?
When the space has more than one distinct zone, or when air needs to reach rooms a single wall unit cannot see. A large split system heats and cools the room it is mounted in, so a house that needs several rooms conditioned is generally better served by ducted or by a multi-head system. Ducted also removes the visible indoor head, which matters to some people. It is a bigger installation and depends on roof space, so it is quoted after a site visit rather than off a floor plan.
How many 10 kW models are sold in Australia?
21 distinct models in this capacity class are currently registered with the Australian Government's GEMS database, across 6 brands: Carrier, Daikin, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, TCL. That count is registrations rather than shelf listings — a single registration often covers several colourways of the same unit, which is why a retailer's catalogue looks larger.
What is the quietest 10 kW air conditioner?
The lowest declared indoor sound level in this class is 51 dB. Noise figures are declared by the manufacturer at a stated fan speed, so they compare like with like between models but will not match what you measure in a room — where the mounting position, the wall and the furnishings all change what you hear. A unit that is quiet on paper and badly positioned will still be the loudest thing in a bedroom.
Does a 10 kW unit heat as well as it cools?
Not necessarily, and in Melbourne that is the question worth asking. In this class the best cooling efficiency figure (AEER) is 3.85 and the best heating figure (ACOP) is 4.04, and they usually belong to different models. Because a reverse-cycle system here runs for warmth far more of the year than for cooling, the heating figure generally deserves more weight than the cooling star rating a showroom will point at.
Right size, wrong switchboard is still the wrong job.
Yiannis will confirm the capacity against the actual room, check the board can carry it, and quote the whole job rather than the easy half. Free quote, ARCtick certified, REC 28523.