What is the difference between MRCOOL DIY and Easy Pro?

Both are MRCOOL DIY mini splits with pre-charged Quick Connect lines. The DIY 5th Gen is more efficient (23.5 vs 19.5 SEER2 at 12,000 BTU), makes more heat at 5°F (8,400 vs 6,700 BTU), is cold-climate certified, and comes with a 25-ft line set and a 5/7-year warranty. The Easy Pro is cheaper, with an 11.5-ft line set and a 3/5-year warranty.

Is the MRCOOL Easy Pro DIY?

Yes. MRCOOL says its 11.5-ft Quick Connect line set is pre-charged with R-454B and needs no vacuum pump or special HVAC tools, and that it eliminates the need for a professional installation. You may still need an electrician for the circuit.

Is the MRCOOL Easy Pro good for cold climates?

Not the best choice. AHRI does not list it as cold-climate certified. At 12,000 BTU it makes 6,700 BTU of heat at 5°F, 56% of its rated heat. The DIY 5th Gen makes 8,400 BTU.

Which is more efficient, MRCOOL DIY or Easy Pro?

The DIY 5th Gen. At 12,000 BTU it rates 23.5 SEER2 and 10.2 HSPF2; the Easy Pro rates 19.5 SEER2 and 9.3 HSPF2 (AHRI).

What size line set comes with the MRCOOL Easy Pro?

The new DIY Easy Pro comes with an 11.5-ft line set; the older Easy Pro came with 16 ft. MRCOOL sells 16, 25, 35 and 50 ft sets separately. The DIY 5th Gen comes with 25 ft.

What is the warranty on the MRCOOL Easy Pro vs DIY?

DIY 5th Gen: 5 years parts, 7 years compressor. New DIY Easy Pro: 3 years parts, 5 years compressor. Older Easy Pro: 1 year parts, 2 years compressor. MRCOOL requires no registration for the DIY and new Easy Pro warranties, but the system must be installed by the instructions and local code.

Is the MRCOOL Easy Pro ENERGY STAR?

Only the 9,000 BTU size, per AHRI. The DIY 5th Gen is ENERGY STAR at 9,000, 12,000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTU.

Is the MRCOOL Easy Pro worth it?

For cooling a room in a mild climate, yes: it installs the same way as the DIY and was $1,599 at 12,000 BTU on October 17, 2026, when Amazon had no new DIY 5th Gen for sale. For heat in cold winters, the DIY 5th Gen is the better unit.

MRCOOL DIY vs Easy Pro: Which Should You Buy?

The MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen is the better unit: at 12,000 BTU it makes 8,400 BTU of heat at 5°F to the Easy Pro's 6,700, and only it is cold-climate certified. But on October 17, 2026 Amazon had no new 12,000 BTU DIY 5th Gen for sale. If you need one now, buy the DIY Easy Pro ($1,599); it installs the same way.^[10]^[1]

Buy today

MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro 12,000 BTU, 115V

$1,599 on Amazon, October 17, 2026

The better of MRCOOL's two DIY 12,000 BTU kits on Amazon today: it beats the DIY Select (17.5 SEER2, 6,200 BTU at 5°F) on every certified number. Best for cooling in a mild climate.
Check price on Amazon
19.5 SEER2 · 6,700 BTU of heat at 5°F · not cold-climate certified^[1]
Better unit, not on Amazon new today

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 12,000 BTU, 115V

No new unit on Amazon October 17, 2026

The better unit: more heat in cold weather, higher efficiency, a 25-ft line set and a longer warranty. Amazon had no new one for sale on October 17, 2026.

23.5 SEER2 · 8,400 BTU of heat at 5°F · cold-climate certified^[1]

Affiliate links; we earn a commission at no cost to you.

Why the DIY 5th Gen wins

More heat in cold weather: 8,400 vs 6,700 BTU at 5°F, and only the DIY is AHRI cold-climate certified.^[1]
More efficient: 23.5 vs 19.5 SEER2 for cooling and 10.2 vs 9.3 HSPF2 for heating. Only the DIY is ENERGY STAR at this size.^[1]
Longer line set and warranty: 25 ft vs 11.5 ft of pre-charged line, and 5 years parts / 7 years compressor vs 3 / 5.^[3]^[9]^[7]

Who should buy the Easy Pro: Buy the Easy Pro now if you mostly need cooling in a mild climate and the outdoor unit can sit within 11.5 ft of the indoor unit. It was $1,599 on Amazon on October 17, 2026. If you heat through cold winters, the DIY 5th Gen is worth waiting for.

Both are DIY. Each ships with pre-charged Quick Connect lines, so neither needs a vacuum pump, gauges or refrigerant work. MRCOOL says so for both lines.^[5]^[6]

By Erin Rose · Updated October 17, 2026

01 / Compare

The two Easy Pros and the DIY, side by side

prices October 17, 2026

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen vs both MRCOOL Easy Pro kits, 12,000 BTU: certified ratings, line set, warranty, price and price per 1,000 BTU of heat at 5°F
Unit	SEER2	Heat at 5°F	Cold-climate	Line set	Warranty	Price	Per 1,000 BTU at 5°F	Buy
MRCOOL DIY 5th GenAHRI ref 216032544	23.5	8,400 BTU	Yes	25 ft	5 yr parts / 7 yr compressor	No new unit on Amazon	—
MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro (new, 2026)Our pick · AHRI ref 217678023	19.5	6,700 BTU	No	11.5 ft	3 yr parts / 5 yr compressor	$1,599	$239	Check price
MRCOOL Easy Pro (older kit)AHRI ref 216032554	19.5	6,700 BTU	No	16 ft	1 yr parts / 2 yr compressor	$1,649	$246	Check price

12,000 BTU, 115 V kits. Certified figures from the AHRI Directory; prices from Amazon's product data on October 17, 2026, each buy box checked the same day.

02 / Price math

What you can buy today

We can't price the DIY 5th Gen today. On October 17, 2026 its Amazon listing had no new unit for sale, only a resale offer, and we don't send buyers to used units.^[10]^[1]

The DIY Easy Pro was $1,599, or $239 per 1,000 BTU of heat at 5°F.^[11]^[12]

Running cost at the U.S. average of 18.83¢/kWh (computed by us): cooling $8.01 for the DIY 5th Gen vs $9.66 for the Easy Pro per million BTU; heating $18.46 vs $20.25. The DIY's lower running cost only pays off if you can buy one.^[11]^[12]

The numbers, as of October 17, 2026: MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 12,000 BTU 115 V: 23.5 SEER2, 10.2 HSPF2, 8,400 BTU at 5°F, cold-climate certified, ENERGY STAR, 25 ft pre-charged line set, 5-yr parts / 7-yr compressor, no new unit on Amazon on October 17, 2026. MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro 12,000 BTU 115 V: 19.5 SEER2, 9.3 HSPF2, 6,700 BTU at 5°F, not cold-climate certified, not ENERGY STAR, 11.5 ft pre-charged line set, 3-yr parts / 5-yr compressor, $1,599. AHRI refs 216032544 and 217678023; Amazon prices October 17, 2026.

03 / Proof

MRCOOL's own spec sheets

Both brochures list the same SEER2 and HSPF2 that AHRI certifies. The 12,000 BTU columns are the units compared here.

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen spec sheet: 12,000 BTU model DIY-12-HP-C-115D25-O, 23.5 SEER2, 10.2 HSPF2-4 — MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen brochure, spec table (12,000 BTU column: 23.5 SEER2, 10.2 HSPF2). Matches AHRI ref 216032544. Open the PDF

MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro spec sheet: 12,000 BTU model EZPRO-12-HP-C-11511DE-O, 19.5 SEER2, 9.3 HSPF2-4 — MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro brochure, spec table (12,000 BTU column: 19.5 SEER2, 9.3 HSPF2). Matches AHRI ref 217678023. Open the PDF

04 / Every measure

Every measure, 12,000 BTU

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen vs DIY Easy Pro, 12,000 BTU, every measure
Measure	DIY 5th Gen	DIY Easy Pro
Cooling size^[1]	12,000 BTU	12,000 BTU
Power^[2]	115 V	115 V
SEER2 (cooling efficiency)^[1]	23.5	19.5
HSPF2 (heating efficiency)^[1]	10.2	9.3
Heat at 47°F^[1]	12,000 BTU	12,000 BTU
Heat at 5°F^[1]	8,400 BTU (70%)	6,700 BTU (56%)
Cold-climate certified^[1]	Yes	No
ENERGY STAR^[1]	Yes	No
Refrigerant^[1]	R-454B	R-454B
Install^[5]	DIY: pre-charged Quick Connect lines, no vacuum	DIY: pre-charged Quick Connect lines, no vacuum
Line set in the box^[3]	25 ft	11.5 ft (16, 25, 35, 50 ft sold separately)
MRCOOL's lowest working temperature^[4]	-13°F	-13°F
Warranty (MRCOOL)^[7]	5 yr parts, 7 yr compressor	3 yr parts, 5 yr compressor
Amazon price, October 17, 2026^[10]	No new unit for sale	$1,599
Price per 1,000 BTU of heat at 5°F^[12]	—	$239
Cooling cost per million BTU^[12]	$8.01	$9.66
Heating cost per million BTU^[12]	$18.46	$20.25
AHRI reference^[1]	216032544	217678023

Running costs are computed by us: 1,000 ÷ SEER2 (or HSPF2) × $0.1883/kWh, the EIA U.S. average. Your rate moves them.

05 / Old vs new

There are two Easy Pros. Buy the new one.

In June 2026 MRCOOL launched the "DIY Easy Pro": an 11.5-ft line set and a 3-year parts / 5-year compressor warranty. The older Easy Pro ships with a 16-ft line set and a 1-year parts / 2-year compressor warranty. MRCOOL says the new, longer warranty does not apply to the older system.^[4]^[8]

AHRI certifies the same numbers for both at every size (19.5 SEER2 and 6,700 BTU at 5°F at 12,000 BTU). On Amazon today the new kit costs less: $1,599 vs $1,649 for the older 12,000 BTU kit.^[1]^[10]

How to tell them apart: the new kit's model numbers end in "DE-O" and its listing says "11.5ft" line set; the older kit's end in "16D-O" and say 16 ft. Older Easy Pro warranty coverage also requires a unit bought from an authorized dealer, so check the seller.^[8]

06 / Other sizes

Other sizes

AHRI numbers for both lines at each size, with the Amazon price where a complete kit had an offer on October 17, 2026.^[1]^[10]

9,000 BTU, 115 V

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen

23.6 SEER2 · 11.5 HSPF2 · 7,300 BTU at 5°F · cold-climate · AHRI 216032543

No Amazon offer today

MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro

20.2 SEER2 · 9.2 HSPF2 · 6,200 BTU at 5°F · AHRI 217678020

$1,487 on Amazon
Check price on Amazon

DIY wins every certified number (23.6 vs 20.2 SEER2, 7,300 vs 6,200 BTU at 5°F), but no DIY 5th Gen 9K kit had an Amazon offer on October 17, 2026.
18,000 BTU, 230 V

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen

22.5 SEER2 · 11.5 HSPF2 · 12,800 BTU at 5°F · cold-climate · AHRI 216032545

No Amazon offer today

MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro

20 SEER2 · 8.5 HSPF2 · 9,800 BTU at 5°F · AHRI 217678024

$1,806 on Amazon
Check price on Amazon

DIY wins every certified number (22.5 vs 20 SEER2, 12,800 vs 9,800 BTU at 5°F), but no DIY 5th Gen 18K kit had an Amazon offer on October 17, 2026.
24,000 BTU, 230 V

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen

22.7 SEER2 · 9.5 HSPF2 · 16,100 BTU at 5°F · AHRI 216032547

No Amazon offer today

On Amazon instead: MRCOOL DIY Select 24K (certified 23,000 BTU), 16.5 SEER2 · 8.3 HSPF2 · 16,500 BTU at 5°F · AHRI 218004487. $1,899 on Amazon
Check price on Amazon

MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro

18.9 SEER2 · 8.7 HSPF2 · 17,000 BTU at 5°F · AHRI 217678025

$2,109 on Amazon
Check price on Amazon

Split. The DIY is more efficient (22.7 vs 18.9 SEER2), but at this size it is not cold-climate certified and the Easy Pro makes a little more heat at 5°F (17,000 vs 16,100 BTU), and no DIY 5th Gen 24K kit had an Amazon offer on October 17, 2026. On Amazon today the DIY line is the DIY Select (16.5 SEER2, 16,500 BTU at 5°F), which rates below the Easy Pro at this size.

Easy Pro prices are the new 11.5-ft kits. The 9,000 and 12,000 BTU sizes run on 115 V; 18,000 and 24,000 BTU need 230 V.

07 / Who should buy which

Who should buy which

Heating through a cold winter: MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen. 8,400 BTU at 5°F and cold-climate certified. No new unit on Amazon on October 17, 2026.
Cooling a room in a mild climate: MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro. Same install, $1,599 on Amazon.
Outdoor unit more than 11.5 ft from the indoor unit: MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen. 25-ft line set in the box (the Easy Pro needs a longer set bought separately).
A 24,000 BTU unit: MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro. At this size the DIY is not cold-climate certified and the 5th Gen had no Amazon offer today.
A garage: See our garage guide. Size first, then pick for heat at 5°F.

08 / Questions

Frequently asked

What is the difference between MRCOOL DIY and Easy Pro?: Both are MRCOOL DIY mini splits with pre-charged Quick Connect lines. The DIY 5th Gen is more efficient (23.5 vs 19.5 SEER2 at 12,000 BTU), makes more heat at 5°F (8,400 vs 6,700 BTU), is cold-climate certified, and comes with a 25-ft line set and a 5/7-year warranty. The Easy Pro is cheaper, with an 11.5-ft line set and a 3/5-year warranty.
Is the MRCOOL Easy Pro DIY?: Yes. MRCOOL says its 11.5-ft Quick Connect line set is pre-charged with R-454B and needs no vacuum pump or special HVAC tools, and that it eliminates the need for a professional installation. You may still need an electrician for the circuit.
Is the MRCOOL Easy Pro good for cold climates?: Not the best choice. AHRI does not list it as cold-climate certified. At 12,000 BTU it makes 6,700 BTU of heat at 5°F, 56% of its rated heat. The DIY 5th Gen makes 8,400 BTU.
Which is more efficient, MRCOOL DIY or Easy Pro?: The DIY 5th Gen. At 12,000 BTU it rates 23.5 SEER2 and 10.2 HSPF2; the Easy Pro rates 19.5 SEER2 and 9.3 HSPF2 (AHRI).
What size line set comes with the MRCOOL Easy Pro?: The new DIY Easy Pro comes with an 11.5-ft line set; the older Easy Pro came with 16 ft. MRCOOL sells 16, 25, 35 and 50 ft sets separately. The DIY 5th Gen comes with 25 ft.
What is the warranty on the MRCOOL Easy Pro vs DIY?: DIY 5th Gen: 5 years parts, 7 years compressor. New DIY Easy Pro: 3 years parts, 5 years compressor. Older Easy Pro: 1 year parts, 2 years compressor. MRCOOL requires no registration for the DIY and new Easy Pro warranties, but the system must be installed by the instructions and local code.
Is the MRCOOL Easy Pro ENERGY STAR?: Only the 9,000 BTU size, per AHRI. The DIY 5th Gen is ENERGY STAR at 9,000, 12,000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTU.
Is the MRCOOL Easy Pro worth it?: For cooling a room in a mild climate, yes: it installs the same way as the DIY and was $1,599 at 12,000 BTU on October 17, 2026, when Amazon had no new DIY 5th Gen for sale. For heat in cold winters, the DIY 5th Gen is the better unit.

How we did this

What we checked, and what we did not

We checked:

AHRI Directory ratings for every DIY 5th Gen and Easy Pro size (both Easy Pro kits), queried by model number on October 7, 2026.
MRCOOL's own spec sheets, product pages and warranty documents for both lines (linked below).
Amazon price for each listing from Amazon's product data, and a live check that each listing had an Add to Cart button, on October 17, 2026.

We did not check:

We did not install or test either unit. Heat and efficiency figures are AHRI-certified lab ratings, not our measurements.
We did not confirm whether the Amazon sellers are MRCOOL authorized dealers (it matters for the older Easy Pro's warranty).
MRCOOL's "-13°F" for the Easy Pro does not say whether it is a heating or cooling limit.
We did not price MRCOOL's separate longer line sets.

References

Sources

12 references · checked October 17, 2026

1
AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance — air-source heat pumps

Read October 7, 2026. DIY 5th Gen refs 9K 216032543, 12K 216032544, 18K 216032545, 24K 216032547; DIY Easy Pro refs 9K 217678020, 12K 217678023, 18K 217678024, 24K 217678025; older Easy Pro refs 9K 216032553, 12K 216032554, 18K 216032555, 24K 216032556.
2
MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen single-zone brochure (spec table)

Read October 7, 2026.
3
MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro brochure (spec table, "Includes 11.5 ft" line set; 16, 25, 35 and 50 ft sold separately)

Read October 7, 2026. "No HVAC license or refrigerant handling required for setup."
4
MRCOOL: DIY Easy Pro product page

Read October 7, 2026. "The system can handle temperatures from -13°F to 122°F." "The new, longer warranty for the DIY® Easy Pro® does not apply to the standard, older Easy Pro® mini-split system."
5
MRCOOL blog: "Meet the MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro" (June 5, 2026)

Read October 7, 2026. Quick Connect line sets "pre-charged with R-454B refrigerant. That means no need for vacuum pumps or specialized HVAC tools."
6
MRCOOL: DIY 5th Generation product page

Read October 7, 2026. "With reliable performance down to –13°F"; Quick Connect line set "pre-charged with R-454B".
7
MRCOOL DIY Easy Pro warranty (3-year parts, 5-year compressor)

Read October 7, 2026. "With no registration required."
8
MRCOOL Easy Pro (older) warranty (1-year parts, 2-year compressor)

Read October 7, 2026. No warranty on a unit not "purchased from an authorized dealer".
9
MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen warranty (5-year parts, 7-year compressor)

Read October 7, 2026.
10
Amazon listings (prices from Amazon product data)

Read October 17, 2026: B0DYK9J9M1 no new-unit offer, B0H3QJ26LB $1,599, B0F7Z9P48T $1,649.
11
U.S. average residential electricity price used for running cost: $0.1883/kWh

EIA; the same figure every running cost on this site uses.
12
Computed by us

Price ÷ certified heat at 5°F; 1,000 ÷ SEER2 (or HSPF2) × electricity price.