Note: All exchange-correlation functionals in this section can be invoked using the $rem variable METHOD. For backwards compatibility, all of the exchange-correlation functionals except for the ones marked with an asterisk can be used with the $rem variable EXCHANGE. Popular and/or recommended functionals within each class are listed first and indicated in bold. The rest are in alphabetical order.
Local Spin-Density Approximation (LSDA)
SPW92*: Slater LSDA exchange + PW92 LSDA correlation
LDA: Slater LSDA exchange + VWN5 LSDA correlation
SVWN5*: Slater LSDA exchange + VWN5 LSDA correlation
Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA)
B97-D3(0): B97-D with a fitted DFT-D3(0) tail instead of the original DFT-D2 tail392
B97-D: 9-parameter dispersion-corrected (DFT-D2) functional by Grimme399
PBE*: PBE GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation
BLYP*: B88 GGA exchange + LYP GGA correlation
revPBE*: revPBE GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation
BEEF-vdW: 31-parameter semi-empirical exchange functional developed via a Bayesian error estimation framework paired with PBE correlation and vdW-DF-10 NLC1196
BOP: B88 GGA exchange + BOP “one-parameter progressive” GGA correlation1138
BP86*: B88 GGA exchange + P86 GGA correlation
BP86VWN*: B88 GGA exchange + P86VWN5 GGA correlation
BPBE*: B88 GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation
EDF1: Modification of BLYP to give good performance in the 6-31+G* basis set25
EDF2: Modification of B3LYP to give good performance in the cc-pVTZ basis set for frequencies690
GAM: 21-parameter non-separable gradient approximation functional by Truhlar and coworkers1264
HCTH93 (HCTH/93): 15-parameter functional trained on 93 systems by Handy and coworkers414
HCTH120 (HCTH/120): 15-parameter functional trained on 120 systems by Boese et al.116
HCTH147 (HCTH/147): 15-parameter functional trained on 147 systems by Boese et al.116
HCTH407 (HCTH/407): 15-parameter functional trained on 407 systems by Boese and Handy117
HLE16 – HCTH/407 exchange functional enhanced by a factor of 1.25 + HCTH/407 correlation functional enhanced by a factor of 0.51159
KT1: GGA functional designed specifically for shielding constant calculations555
KT2: GGA functional designed specifically for shielding constant calculations555
KT3: GGA functional with improved results for main-group nuclear magnetic resonance shielding constants556
mPW91*: mPW91 GGA exchange + PW91 GGA correlation
N12: 21-parameter non-separable gradient approximation functional by Peverati and Truhlar890
OLYP*: OPTX GGA exchange + LYP GGA correlation
PBEOP: PBE GGA exchange + PBEOP “one-parameter progressive” GGA correlation1138
PBEsol*: PBEsol GGA exchange + PBEsol GGA correlation
PW91*: PW91 GGA exchange + PW91 GGA correlation
RPBE*: RPBE GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation
rVV10*: rPW86 GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation + rVV10 non-local correlation985
SOGGA*: SOGGA GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation
SOGGA11: 20-parameter functional by Peverati, Zhao, and Truhlar893
VV10: rPW86 GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation + VV10 non-local correlation1172
Meta-Generalized Gradient Approximation (meta-GGA)
B97M-V: 12-parameter combinatorially-optimized, dispersion-corrected (VV10) functional by Mardirossian and Head-Gordon746
B97M-rV*: B97M-V density functional with the VV10 NLC functional replaced by the rVV10 NLC functional749
M06-L: 34-parameter functional by Zhao and Truhlar1282
TPSS*: TPSS meta-GGA exchange + TPSS meta-GGA correlation
revTPSS*: revTPSS meta-GGA exchange + revTPSS meta-GGA correlation
BLOC*: BLOC meta-GGA exchange + TPSSloc meta-GGA correlation
M11-L: 44-parameter dual-range functional by Peverati and Truhlar889
mBEEF: 64-parameter exchange functional paired with the PBEsol correlation functional1195
MGGA_MS0: MGGA_MS0 meta-GGA exchange + regTPSS GGA correlation1099
MGGA_MS1: MGGA_MS1 meta-GGA exchange + regTPSS GGA correlation1096
MGGA_MS2: MGGA_MS2 meta-GGA exchange + regTPSS GGA correlation1096
MGGA_MVS: MGGA_MVS meta-GGA exchange + regTPSS GGA correlation1097
MN12-L: 58-parameter meta-nonseparable gradient approximation functional by Peverati and Truhlar891
MN15-L: 58-parameter meta-nonseparable gradient approximation functional by Yu, He, and Truhlar1263
oTPSS*: oTPSS meta-GGA exchange + oTPSS meta-GGA correlation
PKZB*: PKZB meta-GGA exchange + PKZB meta-GGA correlation
revM06-L: 31-parameter revised M06-L functional1182
SCAN*: SCAN meta-GGA exchange + SCAN meta-GGA correlation
t-HCTH (-HCTH): 16-parameter functional by Boese and Handy118
TM*: TM meta-GGA exchange + TM meta-GGA correlation1111
VSXC: 21-parameter functional by Voorhis and Scuseria1152
Global Hybrid Generalized Gradient Approximation (GH GGA)
PBE0: 25% HF exchange + 75% PBE GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation19
revPBE0: 25% HF exchange + 75% revPBE GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation
B97: Becke’s original 10-parameter density functional with 19.43% HF exchange81
B1LYP: 25% HF exchange + 75% B88 GGA exchange + LYP GGA correlation17
B1PW91: 25% HF exchange + 75% B88 GGA exchange + PW91 GGA correlation17
B3P86: 20% HF exchange + 8% Slater LSDA exchange + 72% B88 GGA exchange+ 19% VWN1RPA LSDA correlation + 81% P86 GGA correlation
B1LYP: 25% HF exchange + 75% B88 GGA exchange + LYP GGA correlation17
B1PW91: 25% HF exchange + 75% B88 GGA exchange + PW91 GGA correlation17
B3P86: 20% HF exchange + 8% Slater LSDA exchange + 72% B88 GGA exchange+ 19% VWN1RPA LSDA correlation + 81% P86 GGA correlation
B3PW91: 20% HF exchange + 8% Slater LSDA exchange + 72% B88 GGA exchange+ 19% PW92 LSDA correlation + 81% PW91 GGA correlation78
B5050LYP: 50% HF exchange + 8% Slater LSDA exchange + 42% B88 GGA exchange + 19% VWN5 LSDA correlation + 81% LYP GGA correlation1022
B97-1: Self-consistent parameterization of Becke’s B97 density functional with 21% HF exchange414
B97-2: Re-parameterization of B97 by Tozer and coworkers with 21% HF exchange1223
B97-3: 16-parameter version of B97 by Keal and Tozer with 26.93% HF exchange557
B97-K: Re-parameterization of B97 for kinetics by Boese and Martin with 42% HF exchange119
BHHLYP: 50% HF exchange + 50% B88 GGA exchange + LYP GGA correlation
HFLYP*: 100% HF exchange + LYP GGA correlation
MPW1K: 42.8% HF exchange + 57.2% mPW91 GGA exchange + PW91 GGA correlation723
MPW1LYP: 25% HF exchange + 75% mPW91 GGA exchange + LYP GGA correlation18
MPW1PBE: 25% HF exchange + 75% mPW91 GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation18
MPW1PW91: 25% HF exchange + 75% mPW91 GGA exchange + PW91 GGA correlation18
O3LYP: 11.61% HF exchange + 7.1% Slater LSDA exchange + 81.33% OPTX GGA exchange + 19% VWN5 LSDA correlation + 81% LYP GGA correlation475
PBEh-3c: Low-cost composite scheme of Grimme and coworkers for use with the def2-mSVP basis set only393
PBE50: 50% HF exchange + 50% PBE GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation93
SOGGA11-X: 21-parameter functional with 40.15% HF exchange by Peverati and Truhlar887
WC04: Hybrid density functional optimized for the computation of C chemical shifts1216
WP04: Hybrid density functional optimized for the computation of H chemical shifts1216
X3LYP: 21.8% HF exchange + 7.3% Slater LSDA exchange + 54.24% B88 GGA exchange + 16.66% PW91 GGA exchange + 12.9% VWN1RPA LSDA correlation + 87.1% LYP GGA correlation1247
Global Hybrid Meta-Generalized Gradient Approximation (GH meta-GGA)
M06-2X: 29-parameter functional with 54% HF exchange by Zhao and Truhlar1286
M08-HX: 47-parameter functional with 52.23% HF exchange by Zhao and Truhlar1285
TPSSh: 10% HF exchange + 90% TPSS meta-GGA exchange + TPSS meta-GGA correlation1066
revTPSSh: 10% HF exchange + 90% revTPSS meta-GGA exchange + revTPSS meta-GGA correlation236
B1B95: 28% HF exchange + 72% B88 GGA exchange + B95 meta-GGA correlation80
BB1K: 42% HF exchange + 58% B88 GGA exchange + B95 meta-GGA correlation1277
BMK: Boese-Martin functional for kinetics with 42% HF exchange119
dlDF: Dispersion-less density functional (based on the M05-2X functional form) by Szalewicz and coworkers882
M05: 22-parameter functional with 28% HF exchange by Zhao, Schultz, and Truhlar1278
M05-2X: 19-parameter functional with 56% HF exchange by Zhao, Schultz, and Truhlar1279
M06: 33-parameter functional with 27% HF exchange by Zhao and Truhlar1286
M06-HF: 32-parameter functional with 100% HF exchange by Zhao and Truhlar1283
M08-SO: 44-parameter functional with 56.79% HF exchange by Zhao and Truhlar1285
MGGA_MS2h: 9% HF exchange + 91 % MGGA_MS2 meta-GGA exchange + regTPSS GGA correlation1096
MGGA_MVSh: 25% HF exchange + 75 % MGGA_MVS meta-GGA exchange + regTPSS GGA correlation1097
MN15: 59-parameter functional with 44% HF exchange by Truhlar and coworkers1262
MPW1B95: 31% HF exchange + 69% mPW91 GGA exchange + B95 meta-GGA correlation1280
MPWB1K: 44% HF exchange + 56% mPW91 GGA exchange + B95 meta-GGA correlation1280
PW6B95: 6-parameter combination of 28 % HF exchange, 72 % optimized PW91 GGA exchange, and re-optimized B95 meta-GGA correlation by Zhao and Truhlar1281
PWB6K: 6-parameter combination of 46 % HF exchange, 54 % optimized PW91 GGA exchange, and re-optimized B95 meta-GGA correlation by Zhao and Truhlar1281
revM06: 32-parameter functional with 40.41% HF exchange1183
SCAN0: 25% HF exchange + 75% SCAN meta-GGA exchange + SCAN meta-GGA correlation492
t-HCTHh (-HCTHh): 17-parameter functional with 15% HF exchange by Boese and Handy118
TPSS0: 25% HF exchange + 75% TPSS meta-GGA exchange + TPSS meta-GGA correlation397
Range-Separated Hybrid Generalized Gradient Approximation (RSH GGA)
wB97X-V (B97X-V): 10-parameter combinatorially-optimized, dispersion-corrected (VV10) functional with 16.7% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, and 745
wB97X-D3 (B97X-D3): 16-parameter dispersion-corrected (DFT-D3(0)) functional with 19.57% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, and 693
wB97X-D (B97X-D): 15-parameter dispersion-corrected (DFT-CHG) functional with 22.2% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, and 183
CAM-B3LYP: Coulomb-attenuating method functional by Handy and coworkers1249
CAM-QTP00: Re-parameterized CAM-B3LYP designed to satisfy the IP-theorem for all occupied orbitals of the water molecule1158
CAM-QTP01: Re-parameterized CAM-B3LYP optimized to satisfy the valence IPs of the water molecule, 34 excitation states, and G2-1 atomization energies526
LC-rVV10*: LC-VV10 density functional with the VV10 NLC functional replaced by the rVV10 NLC functional749
LC-VV10: 0% SR HF exchange + 100% LR HF exchange + PBE GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation + VV10 non-local correlation (=0.45)1172
LC-wPBE08 (LC-PBE08): 0% SR HF exchange + 100% LR HF exchange + PBE GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation (=0.45)1194
LRC-BOP (LRC-BOP): 0% SR HF exchange + 100% LR HF exchange + muB88 GGA exchange + BOP GGA correlation (=0.47)1058
LRC-wPBE (LRC-PBE): 0% SR HF exchange + 100% LR HF exchange + PBE GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation (=0.3)973
LRC-wPBEh (LRC-PBEh): 20% SR HF exchange + 100% LR HF exchange + 80% PBE GGA exchange + PBE GGA correlation (=0.2)974
N12-SX: 26-parameter non-separable GGA with 25% SR HF exchange, 0% LR HF exchange, and 892
rCAM-B3LYP: Re-fit CAM-B3LYP with the goal of minimizing many-electron self-interaction error216
wB97 (B97): 13-parameter functional with 0% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, and 182
wB97X (B97X): 14-parameter functional with 15.77% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, and 182
wB97X-rV* (B97X-rV): B97X-V density functional with the VV10 NLC functional replaced by the rVV10 NLC functional749
Range-Separated Hybrid Meta-Generalized Gradient Approximation (RSH meta-GGA)
wB97M-V (B97M-V): 12-parameter combinatorially-optimized, dispersion-corrected (VV10) functional with 15% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, and 747
M06-SX: local revM06-L functional with 33.5% SR HF exchange1184
M11: 40-parameter functional with 42.8% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, and 888
MN12-SX: 58-parameter non-separable meta-GGA with 25% SR HF exchange, 0% LR HF exchange, and 892
revM11: 22-parameter functional with 22.5% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, and 1160
wB97M-rV* (B97X-rV): B97M-V density functional with the VV10 NLC functional replaced by the rVV10 NLC functional749
wM05-D (M05-D): 21-parameter dispersion-corrected (DFT-CHG) functional with 36.96% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, and 694
wM06-D3 (M06-D3): 25-parameter dispersion-corrected [DFT-D3(0)] functional with 27.15% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, and 693
Double Hybrid Generalized Gradient Approximation (DH GGA)
Note: In order to use the resolution-of-the-identity approximation for the MP2 component, specify an auxiliary basis set with the $rem variable AUX_BASIS
DSD-PBEPBE-D3: 68% HF exchange + 32% PBE GGA exchange + 49% PBE GGA correlation + 13% SS MP2 correlation + 55% OS MP2 correlation with DFT-D3(BJ) tail590
wB97X-2(LP) (B97X-2(LP)): 13-parameter functional with 67.88% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, 58.16% SS MP2 correlation, 47.80% OS MP2 correlation, and 184
wB97X-2(TQZ) (B97X-2(TQZ)): 13-parameter functional with 63.62% SR HF exchange, 100% LR HF exchange, 52.93% SS MP2 correlation, 44.71% OS MP2 correlation, and 184
XYG3: 80.33% HF exchange - 1.4% Slater LSDA exchange + 21.07% B88 GGA exchange + 67.89% LYP GGA correlation + 32.11% MP2 correlation (evaluated with B3LYP orbitals)1275
XYGJ-OS: 77.31% HF exchange + 22.69% Slater LSDA exchange + 23.09% VWN1RPA LSDA correlation + 27.54% LYP GGA correlation + 43.64% OS MP2 correlation (evaluated with B3LYP orbitals)1268
B2PLYP: 53% HF exchange + 47% B88 GGA exchange + 73% LYP GGA correlation + 27% MP2 correlation398
B2GPPLYP: 65% HF exchange + 35% B88 GGA exchange + 64% LYP GGA correlation + 36% MP2 correlation552
DSD-PBEP86-D3: 69% HF exchange + 31% PBE GGA exchange + 44% P86 GGA correlation + 22% SS MP2 correlation + 52% OS MP2 correlation with DFT-D3(BJ) tail590
LS1DH-PBE: 75% HF exchange + 25% PBE GGA exchange + 57.8125% PBE GGA correlation + 42.1875% MP2 correlation1129
PBE-QIDH: 69.3361% HF exchange + 30.6639% PBE GGA exchange + 66.6667% PBE GGA correlation + 33.3333% MP2 correlation131
PBE0-2: 79.37% HF exchange + 20.63% PBE GGA exchange + 50% PBE GGA correlation + 50% MP2 correlation185
PBE0-DH: 50% HF exchange + 50% PBE GGA exchange + 87.5% PBE GGA correlation + 12.5% MP2 correlation130
Double Hybrid Meta-Generalized Gradient Approximation (DH MGGA)
wB97M(2): 14-parameter functional form by wB97M-V + MP2 correlation.748
PTPSS-D3: 50% HF exchange + 50% Re-Fit TPSS meta-GGA exchange + 62.5% Re-Fit TPSS meta-GGA correlation + 37.5% OS MP2 correlation with DFT-D3(0) tail378
DSD-PBEB95-D3: 66% HF exchange + 34% PBE GGA exchange + 55% B95 GGA correlation + 9% SS MP2 correlation + 46% OS MP2 correlation with DFT-D3(BJ) tail590
PWPB95-D3: 50% HF exchange + 50% Re-Fit PW91 GGA exchange + 73.1% Re-Fit B95 meta-GGA correlation + 26.9% OS MP2 correlation with DFT-D3(0) tail378