Skip to content
ENExplore Calculators

Coefficient Of Performance Calculator

Work out coefficient of performance instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Coefficient Of Performance Calculator

COP is useful heat moved divided by work supplied, and it exceeds one because the machine moves heat rather than creating it. Shifting 12 kW with 3 kW of electricity gives a cooling COP of 4. As a heat pump the same unit delivers 15 kW to the warm side, so its heating COP is 5 - always exactly one more.

Formulas

Cooling COP

COP = Q(cold) / W

Heating COP

COP = (Q(cold) + W) / W = cooling COP + 1

Worked example

With the default values below, Coefficient Of Performance Calculator returns Coefficient Of Performance of 4.000. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Heat movedminimum 0 kW
12 kW
Electrical power inputminimum 0 kW
3 kW
Operating modeone of Cooling (refrigeration), Heating (heat pump)
Cooling (refrigeration)

Results

Coefficient Of Performance
4.000
COP In The Other Mode
5.000
Equivalent EER
13.649 BTU/(W h)
Total Heat Delivered To The Warm Side
15.000 kW

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Cooling COP
  3. 3Heating COP
  4. 4Coefficient Of Performance= 4.000
  5. 5COP In The Other Mode= 5.000
  6. 6Equivalent EER= 13.649 BTU/(W h)
  7. 7Total Heat Delivered To The Warm Side= 15.000 kW

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is heating COP one higher?

Because the compressor's electrical input also ends up as heat on the warm side, so it counts as useful output when heating.

What COP is realistic?

About 3-4 for an air-source heat pump in mild weather, 4-5 for ground-source, dropping towards 2 in hard frost.

Related Calculators

Coefficient Of Performance Calculator | Calcrivo