Daikin's ducted residential equipment (the DM, DC, DX and DZ lines) is built in the same Texas plant as Goodman and Amana, and the model numbers use the same position logic. If you can read a Goodman number, you can read a Daikin. This guide decodes Daikin furnace and air-conditioner model numbers position by position, using the key Daikin prints on its own product data sheets.
Daikin owns Goodman and Amana. The three brands share nomenclature, so the Goodman model number decoder and the Amana guide will look familiar. This page covers the Daikin-specific letters.
Where to Find the Daikin Model Number
On a furnace, the rating plate is inside the front door or on the side of the cabinet, usually a foil or paper label with the model (M/N) and serial (S/N) side by side. On an outdoor AC or heat pump it is on the side of the condenser near the refrigerant line connections. Copy the model number exactly as printed, including dashes: the position of each character is what carries the meaning.
Daikin Furnace Model Number Format
A typical Daikin furnace model number looks like: DM96VC0603BNA. Use the table to split it up:
| Position | Characters | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | D | D = Daikin | D |
| Configuration | M | M = upflow / horizontal; C = downflow / horizontal | M (upflow) |
| AFUE | 96 | 92, 96, 97 = nominal AFUE (80 on 80% families) | 96% AFUE |
| Gas valve | V | V = two-stage; S = single-stage; M = modulating; H = convertible two-stage | V (two-stage) |
| Motor | C | C = variable-speed ECM / communicating; E = multi-speed ECM; S = multi-speed PSC | C (variable-speed) |
| Heating input | 060 | Thousands of BTU/h: 040, 060, 080, 100, 120 | 60,000 BTU/h |
| Maximum airflow | 3 | 2 = 800 CFM; 3 = 1,200 CFM; 4 = 1,600 CFM; 5 = 2,000 CFM | 1,200 CFM (about 3 tons) |
| Cabinet width | B | B = 17.5 in.; C = 21 in.; D = 24.5 in. | 17.5 in. wide |
| NOx | N | N = low NOx (40 ng/J) | N |
| Revision | A | Major / minor design revision letters | A |
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Common Daikin Furnace Families
The first few characters identify the family, and the family tells you the tier, staging and blower before you read a single digit of capacity.
| Model prefix | Family | Stages | Blower | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DM97MC | Modulating 97 | Modulating | Variable-speed | 97-98% AFUE |
| DM96VC / DC96VC | Two-stage 96 | Two-stage | Variable-speed | 96% AFUE |
| DM96SE / DC96SE | Single-stage 96 | Single-stage | Multi-speed ECM | 96% AFUE |
| DM92SS / DC92SS | Single-stage 92 | Single-stage | PSC / ECM | 92% AFUE |
| DM80VC / DM80SS | 80% families | Two- / single-stage | Varies | 80% AFUE |
Daikin AC and Heat Pump Model Numbers
Outdoor units use a different string. A typical Daikin air conditioner model number looks like: DX16SA0361AA.
| Position | Characters | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | D | D = Daikin | D |
| Type | X | X = air conditioner (R-410A); Z = heat pump (R-410A) | X (AC) |
| SEER | 16 | 14, 16, 18, 20 = nominal SEER | 16 SEER |
| Compressor | S | S = single-stage; T = two-stage; V = variable-speed inverter | S |
| Feature set | A | A = base; C = ComfortNet 4-wire ready; D = deluxe; N = nominal | A |
| Cooling capacity | 036 | 018 = 1.5 t; 024 = 2 t; 030 / 031 = 2.5 t; 036 / 037 = 3 t; 042 / 043 = 3.5 t; 048 = 4 t; 060 / 061 = 5 t | 36,000 BTU/h = 3 tons |
| Voltage | 1 | 1 = 208/230 V single-phase 60 Hz | 208/230-1 |
| Revision | AA | Major and minor engineering revisions | AA |
Daikin Tonnage by Model Number
Every Daikin outdoor unit carries its cooling capacity as a two- or three-digit BTU code. Divide by 12 to get tons (1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h). Furnace numbers carry the gas input instead, so a "080" on a furnace means 80,000 BTU/h of heating, not 80,000 BTU/h of cooling.
| Model code | Size | Cooling capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 018 | 1.5 ton | 18,000 BTU/h |
| 024 | 2 ton | 24,000 BTU/h |
| 030 | 2.5 ton | 30,000 BTU/h |
| 036 | 3 ton | 36,000 BTU/h |
| 042 | 3.5 ton | 42,000 BTU/h |
| 048 | 4 ton | 48,000 BTU/h |
| 060 | 5 ton | 60,000 BTU/h |
Common Daikin outdoor families and where they sit:
| Model prefix | Family | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| DX14SA / DX16SA | Single-stage 14 / 16 | 14-16 SEER |
| DX16TC / DX18TC | Two-stage 16 / 18 | 16-18 SEER |
| DX20VC | Inverter variable-speed | Up to 24.5 SEER |
| DZ14SA / DZ16SA / DZ18TC / DZ20VC | Heat pumps by tier | 14-21 SEER |
What the Daikin Model Number Does Not Tell You
The model number says nothing about the unit's age. That is in the serial number, and Daikin has changed its serial date format more than once. Use the Daikin serial number lookup to turn a serial into a manufacture date, or the HVAC serial number decoder hub for any other brand. The model number also does not tell you whether the unit was installed and charged correctly, which matters as much as the SEER digit for what it actually costs to run.
Decoded Your Daikin? Here Is What to Do With It
If the unit is under 10 years old and the model number shows a mid- or high-efficiency family, it is usually worth repairing. If the serial dates it past 12 to 15 years for an AC or 15 to 20 years for a furnace, the capacity and cabinet width you just decoded are exactly what you need to size a replacement. A new system at the same tonnage and input will drop straight into the same duct and gas connections.
Related: Goodman vs Daikin AC comparison · how to read any furnace data label · Goodman model number decoder.
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