Quick Answer: LG’s current U.S. residential ductless lineup splits into three practical single-zone tiers: Standard (about 18 SEER2, R-32) runs roughly $929-$1,328 for a 12k system, High Efficiency (about 20 SEER2) runs about $1,240-$1,575, and the design-forward Art Cool line splits further into Premier (24-25 SEER2, -13°F rated, about $2,888 for 18k) and Deluxe (25.5 SEER2, rated to a remarkable -31°F, about $2,162 for 12k). Every tier is pro-install only — LG sells no DIY line — and warranty coverage tops out at 12 years parts-and-compressor when registered within 60 days through an LG Excellence Contractor.
LG doesn’t have MRCOOL’s DIY-brand recognition on this site, but as one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world, it brings nationwide service-network depth and an efficiency ceiling most brands here don’t reach — Art Cool Deluxe’s -31°F heating rating is the coldest-rated system we’ve found across every brand review on this site. Here’s how the lineup actually breaks down.
LG tiers compared
| Tier | Efficiency | Low-ambient rating | Install type | 12k typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | ~18 SEER2 | Not cold-climate rated | Pro (braze + vacuum) | ~$929-$1,328 | Budget entry |
| High Efficiency | ~20 SEER2 | Not cold-climate rated | Pro (braze + vacuum) | ~$1,240-$1,575 | Mid-tier value |
| Art Cool Premier | 24-25 SEER2 | -13°F | Pro (braze + vacuum) | ~$2,888 (18k) | Design + cold climate |
| Art Cool Deluxe | 25.5 SEER2 | -31°F | Pro (braze + vacuum) | ~$2,162 (12k) | Coldest-climate heating |
1. Standard — Best Budget Pick
LG Standard (12,000 BTU, model KSSAE121A)
- Standard is LG's answer to the budget tier every other brand on this site offers — a plain rectangular wall-mount indoor unit with no Art Cool design premium, priced to compete directly with Senville LETO and Pioneer Essenza.
- Current retailer pricing for a 12k Standard system runs about $929 on sale ($1,328 list) per HVACDirect's current listing — one of the lower entry points in this site's brand-review series once you're already paying pro-install labor either way.
- Built-in Wi-Fi and app control via LG's ThinQ platform ship standard even on this entry tier, which isn't universal at this price point across every brand this site covers.
Standard is the tier to price out if the room is in a moderate climate and you’re already paying an installer — see our mini split refrigerant guide for how LG’s R-32 lineup compares to the R-454B brands. Try Amazon Prime free for 30 days to get a line-set cover and condensate pump on hand before install day, since neither ships in the box on a pro-install system.
2. High Efficiency — Best Value Step-Up
LG High Efficiency (12,000 BTU, model KSSAC121A/B)
- High Efficiency steps up roughly 2 SEER2 points over Standard for a moderate price increase — current pricing runs about $1,240 on sale ($1,551 list) for the 230V unit, $1,259 for the 115V variant, per HVACDirect.
- The 115V option is worth noting specifically: most mini split tiers on this site (including LG's own Standard tier) default to 230V-only, so High Efficiency is one of the few LG configurations that works off a standard household outlet circuit rather than requiring a dedicated 230V line.
- Neither Standard nor High Efficiency carries a cold-climate rating — both are built for moderate climates, not the -13°F-or-colder heating range Art Cool Premier and Deluxe are engineered for.
High Efficiency is the tier to compare against Klimaire’s standard inverter line if the room has only a 115V circuit available — see our Klimaire mini split review for that brand’s own 115V options.
3. Art Cool Deluxe — Best for Coldest Climates
LG Art Cool Deluxe (12,000 BTU)
- Art Cool Deluxe's -31°F heating rating is, as far as this site's brand-review series has found, the coldest-rated mini split heating range of any brand reviewed here — well past Mitsubishi H2i and Daikin Aurora's -13°F benchmark and past MRCOOL Hyper Heat and Senville AURA's -22°F rating.
- Current retailer pricing for a 12k Art Cool Deluxe system runs about $2,162 on sale ($2,704 list) per HVACDirect — a real premium over the plain Standard/High Efficiency tiers, but it buys both the flush design-panel indoor unit (not a standard rectangular box) and the deepest cold-climate rating on this site.
- Worth confirming before buying: a -31°F rating matters for genuinely extreme-cold climates (northern Minnesota, interior Alaska, high-altitude mountain regions); for most U.S. climates where winter lows stay above -13°F, Art Cool Premier or a cheaper cold-climate tier from another brand delivers the same practical heating performance for less.
Art Cool Deluxe is the tier to compare directly against Mitsubishi H2i and Daikin Aurora if you’re in a genuinely extreme-cold climate — see our best mini split heat pump roundup for how all three stack up on real low-ambient performance.
Where LG fits against MRCOOL, Mitsubishi, and the rest
LG’s real differentiator is efficiency ceiling and cold-climate depth, not price or DIY convenience. Its Art Cool Deluxe -31°F rating stands alone among every brand this site has reviewed — see our mini split brands breakdown for how it stacks up against Mitsubishi, Daikin, MRCOOL, and the rest of the field. What buyers give up versus MRCOOL or Klimaire is any homeowner-install path at all: LG’s cheapest Standard system needs the exact same licensed installer and EPA 608 certification as its flagship Art Cool Deluxe, so total installed cost never drops below pro-install labor the way a DIY system’s can. Against Daikin specifically, both brands top out at a 12-year parts-and-compressor warranty ceiling, but LG’s path there (10/10 base registered, +2/+2 via an Excellence Contractor) is more forgiving than Daikin’s, where the compressor extension requires Comfort Pro certification specifically rather than just any licensed installer.
The bottom line
Buy Standard if the room is in a moderate climate and you’re already paying a technician — it’s one of the lower entry prices in this site’s brand-review series. Step up to High Efficiency if a 115V circuit is what you have available, or you want a couple extra SEER2 points for a modest premium. Go with Art Cool Premier if you want the design-forward flush indoor unit and standard -13°F cold-climate performance. Choose Art Cool Deluxe only if you’re in a genuinely extreme-cold climate where -31°F heating capacity is worth the premium over Premier’s -13°F — for most cold-climate buyers, Premier, Mitsubishi H2i, or MRCOOL Hyper Heat will perform identically in practice for less money. Whichever tier you pick, register within 60 days and confirm your installer is an LG Excellence Contractor if the full 12-year compressor term matters to you (see our mini split warranty registration guide for how LG’s window compares to the other 9 brands we cover). Still comparing brands before you commit? See our best mini split roundup for how LG stacks up against MRCOOL, Senville, Pioneer, and Mitsubishi across the board.