United Kingdom · costs in GBP
UK Energy Labels Explained
Washing machines, washer dryers, dishwashers, fridges, freezers, TVs, tumble dryers, ovens and cooker hoods sold in the UK must carry an energy label. The coloured scale shows how efficient the model is for its size. The kWh figure under it is the number your running cost comes from.
What the colours mean
Every UK energy label uses the same seven colours, from dark green for the most efficient class to red for the least efficient.
A to G. Used since March 2021 for washing machines, washer dryers, dishwashers, fridges, freezers and TVs, and now being introduced for tumble dryers. When the scale was reset, class A was deliberately left empty to leave room for better models. A model that was A+++ on the old label could become a C on the new one without using any more energy, because the test and the thresholds changed.
A+++ to D. The older scale, with the same seven colours. It is still used for ovens and cooker hoods, and for tumble dryers until 19 January 2027. These labels have a blue border. An A on this scale is not the same as an A on the new one.
The parts of the label
The layout is the same for every appliance on the A to G scale. This example is a washing machine.
Flag and QR code
Labels for Great Britain carry the UK flag. The QR code links to a website the supplier chooses, with the model’s product information. Labels for Northern Ireland carry the EU flag, and the QR code links to EPREL, the EU product database. Old-scale labels have no QR code.Supplier and model
Check it matches the exact model you are buying.The A to G scale
A, dark green, is the most efficient; G, red, the least. The class compares the model with a standard model of the same size, so it rates efficiency, not total use.The model’s class
The black arrow points to the band the model is in.The energy figure
How much electricity it uses: per 100 cycles for washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers, per year for fridges and freezers, and per 1,000 hours for TVs. This is the figure that sets your running cost.The symbols
Capacity, water, programme time, noise and other ratings. They differ by appliance; see what each one means.Regulation number
The law the label follows, printed sideways in the corner.
What the symbols mean, by appliance
Choose an appliance to see its label symbols, its main figure and how to turn that figure into a yearly one.
A to G scale
Main figure: kWh per 100 cycles
Energy for 100 washes on the eco 40-60 programme, averaged across full, half and quarter loads.
Capacity
The most laundry the eco 40-60 programme takes, in kg.
Programme time
How long the eco 40-60 programme runs at full load, in hours and minutes.
Water
Litres per cycle on the eco 40-60 programme.
Spin-drying class
A to G, by how much water is left in the clothes after the spin. A leaves under 45%; G leaves 90% or more. Drier clothes take less energy to tumble dry.
Noise
Loudness in decibels, with a class from A (quietest) to D. For this appliance A is under 73 dB, B 73 to 76, C 77 to 80 and D 81 or more.
Turning it into a year. At 4 washes a week (208 a year), a label figure of 55 kWh is 55 × 208 ÷ 100 = 114 kWh a year.
A to G scale
Main figure: kWh per 100 cycles, twice
The label has two A to G scales side by side. The left one is for a full wash-and-dry cycle, the right one for washing only. Each side has its own class, kWh per 100 cycles, capacity, water and programme time.
Capacity
In kg, shown separately for wash-and-dry and for washing only. The drying capacity is usually lower.
Programme time
For each of the two cycles.
Water
Litres per cycle, for each of the two cycles.
Spin-drying class
One class for the machine, A to G.
Noise
One figure and class for the machine, A to D.
Turning it into a year. Use the left figure for loads you wash and dry, and the right figure for loads you only wash.
A to G scale
Main figure: kWh per 100 cycles
Energy for 100 runs of the eco programme.
Place settings
How many place settings the eco programme is rated for.
Water
Litres per cycle on the eco programme.
Programme time
How long the eco programme runs, in hours and minutes.
Noise
Loudness in decibels, with a class from A (quietest) to D. For this appliance A is under 39 dB, B 39 to 44, C 45 to 50 and D 51 or more.
Turning it into a year. At 5 runs a week (260 a year), a label figure of 75 kWh is 75 × 260 ÷ 100 = 195 kWh a year.
A to G scale
Main figure: kWh per annum
Electricity for a year, since a fridge or freezer runs all the time. This one is already a yearly figure.
Freezer space
Total volume of the frozen compartments, in litres. Left off if there are none.
Fridge space
Total volume of the fresh-food and chill compartments, in litres. Left off if there are none.
Noise
Loudness in decibels, with a class from A (quietest) to D. For this appliance A is under 30 dB, B 30 to 35, C 36 to 41 and D 42 or more.
Turning it into a year. No conversion needed: kWh a year × your price per kWh is the yearly cost.
Work it out with your own use · Compare UK fridges and freezers
A to G scale
Main figure: kWh per 1,000 hours
Electricity for 1,000 hours of watching standard (SDR) content.
HDR class and figure
A second class and kWh per 1,000 hours for high dynamic range content. Only shown if the TV supports HDR. HDR usually uses more.
Screen size and resolution
The diagonal in centimetres and inches, and the resolution in pixels.
Turning it into a year. At 4 hours a day (1,460 hours a year), a label figure of 80 kWh is 80 × 1,460 ÷ 1,000 = 117 kWh a year.
A to G (new) or A+++ to D (older)
Main figure: kWh per 100 cycles (new label)
The new label shows energy for 100 eco programme cycles. The older A+++ to D label shows kWh a year, based on 160 drying cycles.
Great Britain is moving tumble dryers to the new A to G label. The old A+++ to D label stays legal until 19 January 2027, when the new label becomes the only one allowed, so you will see both in shops until then. Northern Ireland moved on 1 July 2025.
Capacity
The most laundry the eco programme dries, in kg.
Programme time
How long the eco programme runs at full load.
Condensation class
Condenser dryers only: how much of the moisture it collects rather than lets into the room, A to D with a percentage. A is 94% or more; D is under 82%.
Repairability class
New on the GB label: how easy the dryer is to repair, from A (easiest) to E.
Noise
Loudness in decibels, with a class from A (quietest) to D. For this appliance A is 60 dB or less, B 61 to 64, C 65 to 68 and D over 68.
Turning it into a year. New label: at 3 loads a week (156 a year), 110 kWh is 110 × 156 ÷ 100 = 172 kWh a year. Old label: the yearly figure assumes 160 cycles, so scale it by your own loads ÷ 160.
Older A+++ to D scale
Main figure: kWh per cycle
Ovens still use the older A+++ to D scale. Each cavity has its own class, and the label gives the energy for one standard cooking cycle.
Cavity volume and conventional heating
Usable volume in litres, and kWh per cycle with conventional (top and bottom) heat.
Fan heating
kWh per cycle using the fan. Usually lower than conventional.
Turning it into a year. Multiply the kWh per cycle by how many times a week you use the oven, then by 52.
Older A+++ to D scale
Main figure: kWh per annum
Cooker hoods use the older A+++ to D scale. The yearly figure assumes the fan runs 60 minutes and the lights 120 minutes a day.
Fan efficiency
How efficiently the fan moves air (fluid dynamic efficiency), A to G.
Lighting efficiency
A to G. Only shown if the hood has lights.
Grease filtering
How much grease the filter catches, A to G.
Noise
Loudness in decibels. Hoods have no noise class.
Turning it into a year. Already a yearly figure. If you use the hood for more or less than an hour a day, scale it to match.
The noise rating
Noise is given in decibels (dB) next to a loudspeaker symbol. Most appliances also get a noise class from A to D, printed in black rather than colour, with the model’s class in bold. A is the quietest. The limits for each class differ by appliance:
- Fridges and freezersA under 30 dBB 30–35 dBC 36–41 dBD 42+ dB
- DishwashersA under 39 dBB 39–44 dBC 45–50 dBD 51+ dB
- Tumble dryers (new label)A 60 or less dBB 61–64 dBC 65–68 dBD over 68 dB
- Washing machines (spin)A under 73 dBB 73–76 dBC 77–80 dBD 81+ dB
Cooker hoods show decibels only, with no class.
Three things the label does not tell you
The class is for the size
A class compares a model with others of its size, so a large A-rated fridge can use more electricity than a small C-rated one, and a bigger TV uses more whatever its class. To compare different sizes, compare the kWh figure.
Two scales are in use
An A+++ oven and an A washing machine are on different scales. Only compare classes between appliances of the same type on the same label.
Your use is not the test
Figures per 100 cycles or per 1,000 hours only become a cost once you add how often you use the appliance. The calculators do this with your own habits and price.
Sources: GOV.UK energy labelling guidance, the energy labelling regulations for each product on legislation.gov.uk, and the EU energy label pages. The drawings are simplified.
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