A Simple Guide to Comparing Appliances Before You Buy
Energy labels are designed to help you compare appliances.
At first glance, the coloured scale and large letter make them look simple. However, the letter is only part of the information.
Depending on the product, a label can also tell you about:
- Energy use
- Capacity
- Water use
- Noise
- Programme performance
- Other product-specific features
Therefore, when comparing appliances, do not stop at the large letter.
Don’t buy the letter. Read the label.
What Is an Energy Label?
Energy labels provide standard information about the energy performance of certain products.
They allow similar products to be compared using the same type of information.
In the UK, energy labelling rules cover a wide range of products, including refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, televisions and other energy-related products. Retailers must display the relevant label when selling covered products, including through online sales.
The exact information shown depends on the type of product.
However, you will normally see an energy-efficiency class together with information about how the product performs.
Understanding the A to G Scale
Many familiar household products now use an energy-efficiency scale running from:
A to G
In simple terms:
A represents the more energy-efficient end of the scale.
G represents the less energy-efficient end.
The scale also uses colours, moving from green towards red.
However, not every product category uses the same calculation to determine its rating.
Therefore, compare similar products with each other rather than assuming an A-rated television can somehow be compared directly with an A-rated fridge.
The rating tells you how efficiently that particular type of product performs under the relevant test.
What Happened to A+, A++ and A+++?
You may remember appliances carrying ratings such as:
- A+
- A++
- A+++
Over time, improvements in appliance efficiency meant many products became concentrated towards the top of the old scale.
As a result, the ratings became less useful for distinguishing between products.
A rescaled A to G system was introduced for several product groups from March 2021, with light sources following later that year.
This created more room within the scale for future improvements.
So, an appliance carrying a B or C rating under a rescaled system should not automatically be considered inefficient simply because you remember older products carrying A+ or A++ labels.
The old and rescaled letters should not be compared directly.
Not Every Energy Label Is Yet A to G
This is an important point.
Although many common products now use the rescaled A–G system, energy labelling has not changed in exactly the same way for every product category.
The UK Government describes energy labels as being gradually rescaled, rather than suggesting every covered product already uses the same A–G format.
Therefore, if you encounter a different-looking energy label, check what scale applies to that particular product.
The information on the label still matters more than simply looking for an A.
The Letter Does Not Tell You the Running Cost
This is perhaps the most important thing to understand.
An energy-efficiency rating is not the same as an electricity bill.
Two appliances can have different ratings while also being different sizes, capacities or designs.
For example, imagine two fridge-freezers:
Fridge A
- Smaller capacity
- Energy rating C
- 150 kWh annual energy use
Fridge B
- Much larger capacity
- Energy rating B
- 190 kWh annual energy use
Fridge B has the better efficiency class.
However, in this example, it uses more electricity overall.
Why?
Because it is a larger appliance doing a bigger job.
Therefore:
A better energy rating does not always mean lower total energy use.
That is why you should look at the kWh figure as well.
What Does kWh Mean?
Electricity consumption is measured in kilowatt-hours, usually shortened to kWh.
This is the same unit you will see on your electricity bill.
Some appliance labels show estimated annual energy consumption, while others show energy use over a specified number of operating cycles or hours.
The measurement depends on the type of product.
For example, the UK energy label specification for light sources uses kWh per 1,000 hours. Other product categories use measurements suited to how those products are normally used.
Therefore, always check what the kWh figure actually represents.
Turn kWh Into Pounds
The kWh figure becomes much more useful when you convert it into money.
The basic calculation is:
Energy use × electricity unit rate = estimated energy cost
For example, suppose an appliance uses:
200 kWh per year
and your electricity unit rate is:
25p per kWh
The calculation is:
200 × £0.25 = £50
So, the estimated electricity cost would be:
£50 per year
If another similar appliance uses 150 kWh:
150 × £0.25 = £37.50
The difference would therefore be:
£12.50 per year
Now you have something useful to compare.
Compare the Saving With the Purchase Price
Suppose the appliance using less electricity costs £150 more to buy.
If it saves £12.50 each year in electricity, you can consider whether the extra purchase price makes sense for you.
However, energy cost is not the only factor.
The more expensive appliance may also offer:
- Better capacity
- Better features
- Lower water use
- Quieter operation
- A longer guarantee
Therefore, think about the complete product rather than energy use alone.
Annual Energy Consumption
Fridges and freezers operate throughout the year, so annual electricity use can be particularly useful when comparing them.
For products where annual consumption is shown, the figure is expressed in kWh per year.
This makes comparison relatively straightforward.
For example:
Appliance A: 120 kWh per year
Appliance B: 180 kWh per year
Difference:
60 kWh per year
If electricity costs 25p per kWh:
60 × £0.25 = £15 per year
You can then decide whether the difference matters enough to influence your purchase.
Some Labels Use Cycles Instead
Not every appliance runs continuously throughout the year.
Washing machines and dishwashers, for example, are used in cycles.
Therefore, their labels use information designed around typical programme use rather than simply treating them like a fridge.
When comparing these appliances, pay attention to what the energy figure refers to.
Then think about how often you are likely to use the appliance.
Someone running a washing machine almost every day will have a different yearly cost from someone using it twice a week.
So, the label provides a useful comparison, but your own habits determine the eventual bill.
Capacity Matters
Energy labels can also show information about capacity.
This matters because appliances need to suit the household using them.
For example, buying a huge fridge-freezer for one person may mean paying to cool space that is rarely needed.
Likewise, buying a washing machine much larger than your normal washing requirements may not provide much benefit.
However, going too small can also be inefficient if it means running an appliance more frequently.
Therefore:
Choose the capacity that fits how you actually live.
Water Consumption
Some appliances use both electricity and water.
Dishwashers and washing machines are obvious examples.
Therefore, their performance cannot always be judged on electricity use alone.
Where water consumption is shown, use it as another comparison.
An appliance that uses slightly less electricity but substantially more water may not necessarily be the best choice for every household.
Again, look at the whole label.
Noise Levels
Energy labels for relevant products can also provide noise information.
This is particularly useful for appliances such as:
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- Fridges
- Freezers
Noise may not change your electricity bill, but it can make a big difference to everyday life.
For example, a quiet dishwasher may matter more in an open-plan kitchen and living room than in a separate utility room.
Therefore, the best appliance is not always simply the one with the lowest energy figure.
What Does dB Mean?
Noise is normally shown in decibels, abbreviated to:
dB
A lower number generally means a quieter appliance.
However, the decibel scale does not behave like a simple percentage scale.
So, rather than trying to calculate the difference yourself, use the figures mainly to compare similar appliances.
If noise is important to you, look at it alongside energy use, capacity and price.
Look at the Symbols
Modern energy labels use symbols to provide additional information.
The exact symbols depend on the product.
They may represent things such as:
- Capacity
- Water consumption
- Noise
- Programme duration
- Screen size
- Storage volume
UK rules require labels to include product-specific information in a standard format, including relevant pictograms.
Therefore, do not assume every energy label contains the same information.
Read the figures that matter for the appliance you are buying.
What Is the QR Code For?
You may notice a QR code near the top of newer energy labels.
For products placed on the Great Britain market, a QR code is included where applicable and links to required model information on a publicly accessible website. In Northern Ireland, applicable QR codes link to model information in the European Product Database for Energy Labelling, known as EPREL.
Scanning the code with your phone can therefore provide access to more information about the particular model.
This can be useful when comparing products in a shop.
However, you do not need to scan the QR code simply to understand the basic label.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland Labels
There are some differences between energy labels used for products placed on the market in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
For example, applicable Great Britain labels include the UK flag, while Northern Ireland follows the relevant EU labelling requirements and uses EPREL for applicable QR-code product information.
For most consumers, the important point remains the same:
Use the label to compare similar products using the information provided.
Don’t Compare Different Appliance Types
Energy classes are useful when comparing similar products.
However, they are not designed to tell you whether a washing machine is more efficient than a television or whether a fridge is better than an oven.
Each product has a different purpose.
Therefore, compare:
Fridge with fridge
Washing machine with washing machine
Dishwasher with dishwasher
Television with television
Even within a category, try to compare products of a similar size and capacity.
That gives you a much more meaningful comparison.
Bigger Can Still Mean More Energy
Imagine two televisions.
One is relatively small, while the other has a very large screen.
The larger television may be highly efficient for its size. However, it still has a much larger display to power.
The same principle applies to refrigerators and many other products.
Therefore:
Efficiency tells you how well energy is being used.
Consumption tells you how much energy is actually being used.
Understanding the difference makes energy labels much more useful.
Don’t Assume A Is Always the Best Buy
An A-rated appliance may be very efficient.
However, you still need to consider:
- Purchase price
- Energy use
- Size
- Capacity
- Features
- Water use
- Noise
- Warranty
- Expected lifespan
For example, paying hundreds of pounds more to achieve a very small yearly electricity saving may not make financial sense.
On the other hand, a more efficient appliance that will be heavily used for many years may justify a higher purchase price.
There is no single answer.
The right choice depends on the appliance and how you will use it.
Energy Labels Use Standard Tests
Energy labels allow products to be compared under defined testing conditions.
This is important because every household uses appliances differently.
Your actual electricity consumption may therefore differ from the figure shown on the label.
For example, actual use may depend on:
- How often you run the appliance
- Which programmes you choose
- Temperature settings
- Load size
- Room conditions
- How the appliance is maintained
So, think of the label as a comparison tool, not a guarantee of your exact future electricity bill.
Your Habits Still Matter
Buying an efficient appliance does not remove the need to use it sensibly.
For example, an efficient washing machine used unnecessarily every day may consume more electricity over the year than a less efficient machine used only when needed.
Likewise, a large efficient television left running for hours in an empty room is still using electricity.
Therefore:
Efficient equipment works best with efficient habits.
Learn more about Energy Efficient Appliances →
Don’t Replace Working Appliances Just for a Better Letter
Suppose your current fridge works properly.
A new model may have a better energy rating and use less electricity.
However, buying that new fridge still costs money.
Therefore, calculate the likely saving before replacing a working appliance purely for energy reasons.
If your current fridge costs £60 a year to run and a new one costs £40, the saving is:
£20 per year
If the replacement costs £600, energy savings alone would take many years to recover that purchase price.
However, if your fridge has already failed and needs replacing, comparing energy labels makes much more sense.
The decision is different because you need to buy an appliance anyway.
A Simple Way to Compare Appliances
When looking at two similar products, use this order.
1. Check the size and capacity
Make sure you are comparing appliances that meet your needs.
2. Look at the energy class
This gives you a quick indication of efficiency.
3. Check the kWh figure
Find out how much electricity each model is expected to use under the label’s test basis.
4. Convert the difference into pounds
Multiply the kWh difference by your electricity unit rate.
5. Check other information
Look at water use, noise, programme information and other relevant features.
6. Compare purchase prices
Work out whether paying more is worthwhile.
7. Consider how long you expect to own it
Small yearly savings become more important when an appliance will be used for many years.
An Example Comparison
Imagine you are choosing between two similar fridge-freezers.
Appliance A
Purchase price: £450
Energy use: 180 kWh per year
Appliance B
Purchase price: £550
Energy use: 140 kWh per year
The difference in electricity use is:
180 – 140 = 40 kWh per year
At 25p per kWh:
40 × £0.25 = £10 per year
Appliance B therefore saves around £10 a year in electricity using these example figures.
However, it costs £100 more to buy.
That does not automatically make either appliance the better choice.
You may still prefer Appliance B because of its features, warranty, noise level or expected lifespan.
The important thing is that you now understand what the energy saving is actually worth.
Use Your Own Electricity Price
When calculating running costs, use your own electricity unit rate where possible.
You can find this on your energy bill or supplier account.
Do not include the standing charge in an individual appliance calculation.
You pay the standing charge for having the electricity supply available, regardless of whether one particular appliance is running.
For appliance calculations, the unit rate per kWh is the figure you need.
What Energy Labels Cannot Tell You
Energy labels are useful, but they cannot make the buying decision for you.
They do not know:
- How often you will use the appliance
- How long you will keep it
- Whether you need its extra features
- How reliable it will be in your home
- Whether it can be repaired economically
- What your future electricity price will be
Therefore, use the label as one part of the decision.
It provides information.
You decide what matters.
Before You Buy
When comparing appliances, ask:
- Is it the right size?
- What is its energy class?
- How many kWh does it use?
- What will that energy cost me?
- How much water does it use?
- How noisy is it?
- What features do I actually need?
- What guarantee is included?
- Is the more expensive model worth the difference?
This takes a little longer than simply choosing the appliance with the best-looking letter.
However, it can lead to a much better decision.
In Short
Energy labels make it easier to compare appliances.
However, the large efficiency letter is only the beginning.
Look at the actual energy consumption as well as the rating. Then consider capacity, water use, noise, purchase price and how you will use the appliance.
Most importantly, remember the difference between efficiency and consumption.
A larger appliance can be more efficient while still using more electricity overall.
So:
Don’t buy the letter. Read the label.
Then turn the energy figures into something that means more to you:
kWh × your electricity unit rate = estimated cost
Once you can do that, energy labels become much more useful.
Learn more about How Much Electricity Appliances Use →
Energility
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