Ceiling Cassette vs Wall Mount vs Floor Console: Which Indoor Unit Style Is Right?

The 5 Indoor Unit Styles

When most people think of a ductless heat pump, they picture a white rectangular box on the wall. That is the wall-mounted head — and it accounts for about 70% of residential installations. But there are actually five distinct indoor unit styles, each designed for different room types, aesthetic preferences, and installation constraints. Choosing the right style for each room can dramatically improve both comfort and appearance.

Every style connects to the same outdoor compressor via refrigerant lines. The heating and cooling performance is identical regardless of indoor unit type — the difference is in how and where conditioned air enters the room, how visible the unit is, and what installation requirements exist.

Head-to-Head Comparison

The following comparison evaluates all five indoor unit styles across the factors that matter most to homeowners. Each factor is rated from the perspective of a typical residential installation.

Wall Mount: The Workhorse

The wall-mounted indoor head is the default choice for a reason. It is the least expensive to purchase and install, delivers the highest efficiency (the direct path from evaporator to room air eliminates duct losses), produces the lowest noise levels (some models as quiet as 19 dB — quieter than a whisper), and has the simplest maintenance. You pop open the front panel, pull out the filter, wash it, and slide it back in. The entire process takes two minutes.

Wall-mounted units are typically installed 7-8 feet above the floor on an exterior wall. The refrigerant lines pass through a 3-inch hole directly behind the unit to the outdoor compressor. Installation takes 4-6 hours for a single zone. The unit projects about 9 inches from the wall and spans approximately 32 inches wide — roughly the size of a small window.

Placement Tips for Wall Mounts

Ceiling Cassette: The Hidden Hero

A ceiling cassette is recessed into the ceiling so that only a slim grille panel (typically 24" x 24") is visible from below. The unit itself sits in the ceiling cavity above, requiring approximately 10 inches of clearance between the finished ceiling and the structure above (attic, floor joists, or roof deck). The result is a nearly invisible installation that delivers conditioned air through 4-way louvers, distributing airflow in all directions simultaneously.

Ceiling cassettes excel in open-concept living areas, kitchens, and rooms where wall space is limited or where aesthetic concerns rule out a visible wall unit. They are especially popular in renovations where homeowners want the performance of a ductless system without the visual presence of wall-mounted heads. The 4-way airflow pattern is also superior to a wall mount's one-directional output for large, open rooms — conditioned air reaches every corner more evenly.

The trade-offs are cost and maintenance. Ceiling cassettes cost $1,000-$2,500 more per zone than wall mounts due to the unit cost and the ceiling cut-out work. Filter access requires removing the grille panel and reaching into the ceiling — not difficult, but less convenient than a wall mount where you can simply flip open the front panel at eye level. Some models include motorized self-cleaning filters that reduce the maintenance frequency.

Floor Console: The Forgotten Option

The floor console is the least-discussed indoor unit style, but it solves specific problems that no other style can. A floor console sits on the floor against an exterior wall, similar to a baseboard heater but more compact (approximately 27 inches wide, 24 inches tall, and 8 inches deep). It delivers conditioned air both upward and outward, creating a natural convection pattern that heats rooms efficiently.

Floor consoles are the ideal choice in three scenarios. First, rooms with knee walls or sloped ceilings (Cape Cod upstairs bedrooms, attic rooms) where there is no full-height wall space for a wall mount and no ceiling cavity for a cassette. The floor console tucks against the knee wall and delivers warm air upward into the living space. Second, rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows or glass walls where wall mounting is impossible. Third, older bedrooms where the homeowner dislikes the appearance of a wall mount directly above the bed — the floor console sits near the window and out of the direct line of sight.

Floor consoles also have the easiest filter access of any style. The filter slides out from the front at floor level — no reaching overhead, no stepladder needed, no ceiling panel removal. For elderly homeowners or anyone with mobility limitations, this is a significant practical advantage.

Slim Duct: The Compromise

A slim duct unit (also called a concealed duct or ducted mini-split) hides the indoor unit entirely inside a closet, soffit, or ceiling cavity. Short duct runs (typically 6-12 feet) connect the concealed unit to one or two supply grilles in the room. The only visible elements are a small supply grille and a return-air grille — both can be painted to match the ceiling or wall.

This style is the best solution for homeowners who want absolutely zero visible indoor equipment. It is particularly popular in historic homes where both wall-mounted heads and ceiling cassettes are considered visually inappropriate. The unit can be tucked into an unused closet, built into a soffit above kitchen cabinets, or concealed in a dropped-ceiling section above a hallway.

The trade-offs are cost, noise, and efficiency. Slim duct units cost $4,500-$6,500 per zone installed (comparable to ceiling cassettes), and the short duct runs add 3-5% efficiency loss compared to a direct-expansion wall mount. Noise levels are slightly higher because the unit uses a blower fan to push air through the duct. Maintenance requires accessing the concealed unit to clean or replace filters — if installed in a tight closet, this can be awkward. Design the installation with a service access panel from the start.

Room-by-Room Recommendations

The best indoor unit style depends on the specific room. Here are our recommendations based on thousands of installations across New England.

Cost Comparison by Style

The following table shows the fully installed cost per zone for each indoor unit style in 2026. Prices include the indoor unit, refrigerant line set (up to 25 feet), electrical connection, mounting hardware, and labor. They do not include the outdoor compressor (which is shared across zones in multi-zone systems) or any state rebates. The federal 25C tax credit is expired and provides $0 in 2026.

The cost premium for cassette and slim duct units comes from two sources: the equipment itself is more expensive (more complex manufacturing, additional components like drain pumps and grille panels), and the installation labor is significantly more involved. A wall mount installation takes 4-6 hours. A ceiling cassette requires ceiling cut-out, structural verification, drain routing, and precise leveling — typically 8-12 hours of labor per unit. For a 4-zone system, choosing all cassettes over all wall mounts adds $6,000-$10,000 to the project total.

Installation Considerations

Each indoor unit style has specific installation requirements that may determine whether it is even possible in your home. Here is what each style needs.

Common Mistakes When Choosing Indoor Unit Styles

Choosing the right indoor unit style for each room is one of the most impactful decisions in your heat pump project. A thoughtful room-by-room approach — wall mounts where practical, cassettes where aesthetics demand it, floor consoles where geometry requires it, and slim ducts where invisibility matters most — delivers the best combination of comfort, appearance, and cost.

The most common regret we hear from homeowners is paying premium prices for ceiling cassettes in rooms where a wall mount would have been perfectly fine. The second most common regret is not knowing about floor consoles for Cape Cod attic rooms. An experienced installer who offers all five styles (not just wall mounts) will help you make the right choice for each room.