The complete guide to the new energy label: the A-G scale from 2021, the numbers that really matter, and how to use the EPREL QR code to compare.
The energy label is the most useful and most misunderstood document on any household appliance. In just a few centimetres it contains everything you need to understand how much power an appliance consumes and to compare it with another one fairly. The problem is that almost no one reads it beyond the big coloured letter, so the part that really matters is lost: the numbers.
From 1 March 2021, the label changed fundamentally. The old A+, A++ and A+++ classes disappeared and a single scale from A to G returned, much stricter. If you bought an appliance before that date and look at a new one today, you are reading two different languages. This guide explains what each element means, how the scale changed and how to use the label to choose without being misled.
In brief: what you'll find in this guide
What changed in 2021
For years, classes had been crowded at the top. By adding more plus signs, almost all household appliances became A+++, and the scale lost its meaning: if everything is at the maximum, the maximum no longer distinguishes anything. The European Union therefore did a clean-up job called rescaling: it eliminated the classes with plus signs and returned to a simple scale, from A to G.
The difference is that the parameters were made much stricter. Initially, for many categories, class A remained practically empty: it was meant to leave room for future improvements. As a result, an appliance that was A+++ on the old label can now find itself in class C or D. It hasn't got worse: the yardstick has changed. This is the point that generates the most confusion and is the first thing to be clear about.
The A to G scale: why it's so strict
The coloured scale ranges from the green of A to the red of G. Each letter corresponds to an efficiency band calculated according to criteria common to all manufacturers, so that comparison is possible. Finding a product in class A today is rare precisely because the threshold is high: the high bands were left as a target. For this reason, when buying, it makes sense to think in relative terms (a B is excellent, a C is good) and always look at the consumption number under the letter, not just the colour.
The elements of the label, one by one
Beyond the differences between categories, every label has a recurring structure. Here's what to look for.
The class letter and the coloured scale
At the top, the arrow with the letter indicates the energy efficiency class of the appliance within the A-G scale. It's the eye-catching element, but it's just the beginning.
Energy consumption
It's the most important number. Depending on the product, it is expressed in kWh per 100 cycles (washing machines, dishwashers) or in kWh per year (fridges, freezers). It is the value that allows you to compare two models even with the same letter, because two appliances in class B can have different consumption.
Product-specific pictograms
The icons at the bottom vary from product to product and add concrete information: water per cycle, capacity, program duration, performance. They are the part that makes the label truly useful for everyday use.
Noise emission class
Noise levels are indicated both in decibels and with a class from A to D dedicated to noise. It is valuable data for those who have the washing machine near bedrooms or an open-plan kitchen.
The QR code
At the top right is a QR code that links to the product's official file in the European database. We'll talk about this in a moment, because it's a little-known and very useful tool.
What changes from one product to another
The logic is the same, but the data reported changes depending on the household appliance. Here are the main ones.
| Product | Consumption expressed in | Other key data on the label |
|---|---|---|
| Washing machine | kWh per 100 cycles (Eco 40-60) | water per cycle, capacity in kg, spin class, Eco duration, noise |
| Dishwasher | kWh per 100 cycles (Eco) | water per cycle, place settings, duration, drying class, noise |
| Fridge and freezer | kWh per year | useful volume in litres, climate class, noise |
| Dryer | kWh per 100 cycles | capacity, type (condensation or heat pump), duration, noise |
To understand how these numbers translate into actual spending, we've created a guide for each appliance: how much energy a washing machine uses, how much energy a dishwasher uses and how much energy a refrigerator uses in a year.
The QR code and the EPREL database
Every household appliance sold in the European Union must be registered in a public database called EPREL (European Product Registry for Energy Labelling). By scanning with your smartphone the QR code printed on the label, the official product sheet for that model opens, with technical data verified and unfiltered by marketing.
It's a useful tool for two reasons. First, it allows you to check that the data shown in the shop or in the online listing are the actual ones. Second, it allows you to compare multiple models with consistent parameters, without having to rely on commercial summaries. When a technical data is uncertain, EPREL is the source to return to.
How to compare two models the right way
The letter alone is not enough. The correct method is this:
Start with the letter for an initial screening, but don't stop there.
Compare the consumption number (kWh per 100 cycles or kWh per year): at the same class level, the one with the lowest value wins.
Relate the consumption to the capacity: a larger refrigerator consumes more in absolute terms, but may be more efficient per litre. The same applies to washing machine kilogrammes.
Look at the water and duration if you're interested in water bills and ease of use.
Check the noise class if the location is sensitive.
Only by putting all these elements together you understand which model is really worth it, beyond the appearance of the letter.
The most common mistakes
Comparing old and new labels. An A+++ from before 2021 is not comparable to an A or B today: the standard has changed.
Thinking that class A always guarantees the lowest spending. What matters is the absolute consumption relative to how much you use the appliance.
Ignoring the pictograms. Water, capacity and duration are often more decisive than the letter for everyday life.
Trusting only the shop label. The QR code and EPREL database exist precisely to verify.
Forgetting how you use the appliance. A high class used poorly consumes more than a medium class used well: the label indicates the potential, not your bill.
The Portos choice
The energy label is a good tool, provided you read it in full. The letter helps you get oriented, but the decision is made on the numbers: consumption, water, capacity, noise. And it should always be cross-checked with how you will use the appliance, because that's where the real cost is formed. Those who learn to read the label stop chasing the highest class at any cost and choose the right appliance for their home. It's exactly the kind of informed decision that, appliance after appliance, makes you save for real.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions about the new label, the A-G scale and the EPREL database can be found in the dedicated section at the bottom of the page.
Why two class A appliances don't consume the same: two washing machines of the same brand, same capacity and same letter on the label, declare 0.489 and 0.248 kWh per cycle. The complete comparison, with IEEW indices, is in the analysis of the Bosch Serie 6 WGG244ZRIT.
How much room is there within class A: six washing machines of the same brand, five of which in class A, declare from 25 to 49 kWh per hundred washes. The complete comparison, with IEEW indices and the actual temperature of the eco cycle, is in the analysis of the Bosch Serie 8 WGB24402IT.
Why the letter is not the consumption: six refrigerators of the same brand, five of which with the exact same efficiency index, declare from 93 to 239 kWh per year. The class thresholds of Regulation (EU) 2019/2016 and the complete comparison are in the analysis of the Bosch KGN36NLEA.
How classes are constructed: on seven Bosch dishwashers the declared indices are 31.9 / 37.9 / 49.9 / 55.9, each exactly one tenth below the lower class threshold set by Regulation (EU) 2019/2017. The complete comparison is between Bosch SMV4HVX03E and SMH6YCX02E.
A factor that the label doesn't show: in calculating the reference consumption of refrigeration appliances, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2016 applies a defrost factor of 1.00 for manual defrosting and 1.10 for automatic defrosting. What this means for the number printed on the label is explained in how often to defrost and clean the refrigerator.
When two identical numbers hide two different technologies: on two Bosch dishwashers from the same series, the drying efficiency index is 1.061 on both, even though one dries by opening the door at the end of the cycle and the other with zeolite. It's a good example of what the label measures and what it doesn't: we analyzed it in Bosch SMI6ECS00E or SMI6ZCS10E.
Sources
European Commission, new EU energy labels in effect from March 1, 2021 and EPREL European register.
ENEA, Department for Energy Efficiency, From March 1, 2021 the new EU energy labels.
EPREL database, European register of product energy labels (accessible from QR code on label).
Also read: ovens still use the A+++/D scale. How to read it in practice at the moment of purchase is explained in how to choose a built-in oven.
An exception to know: hob cookers don't have an energy label, because Regulation 65/2014 concerns only ovens and hoods. How to compare two hobs is explained in induction or gas hob.
Where the label doesn't reach: hob cookers don't have the A-G scale, but a declared consumption in watt-hours per kilogram. How to read it and how much it really matters is explained in how much does an induction hob consume.
Tumble dryers have changed scale: from July 1, 2025, they also use the A to G scale, and class A is still empty. What to really look for on the label is explained in how to choose a tumble dryer.
From label to bill: the energy class of a tumble dryer tells you how much one cycle consumes, not how much you spend in a year. How to go from one number to the other is explained step by step in how much does it cost to use a tumble dryer in a year.
