Appliance energy cost and payback (class A vs C)

Example: a class A washing machine (50 kWh/100 cycles, 4 washes a week) uses about 34 kWh a year less than a same-size class C one – saving 6.80 € a year, so a 150 € price difference pays back in 22.1 years.

The calculator shows whether the higher price of a home appliance with a better energy class pays back through lower electricity costs. You can compare washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, tumble dryers and TVs.

Where to find the consumption?

The new EU energy label (from 2021, for dryers from 2025) states the consumption: washing machines, dishwashers and dryers in kWh per 100 cycles (eco programme), fridges in kWh per year, TVs in kWh per 1000 hours. The QR code on the label opens the product sheet in the EU database EPREL.

How is it calculated?

Annual consumption = label figure × use: cycle appliances kWh/100 × uses per week × 52; TVs kWh/1000 h × hours per day × 365; fridges kWh per year directly.
Estimate from class: if the second appliance’s label is not available, we estimate its consumption from the ratio of the energy efficiency index (EEI) class limits – e.g. for washing machines the class A limit is 52 and class C 69, so a same-size class C machine uses about 69 ÷ 52 = 1.33 times more. The limits come from EU regulations (washing machines 2019/2014, dishwashers 2019/2017, fridges 2019/2016, dryers 2023/2534, displays 2019/2013). The estimate only applies to appliances of the same size.
Payback time = price difference ÷ annual electricity savings.

Water use (stated on washing machine and dishwasher labels in litres per cycle) is not included. Actual consumption depends on the programmes – hot washes use more than the eco programme on the label. Find your electricity costs with the electricity cost calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Does a class A washing machine or fridge pay for itself?

It depends on the price difference and use. A fridge runs around the clock, so the gap between classes per year is larger; for a washing machine the saving is often only a few euros a year, and a large price difference may take longer to pay back than the machine’s lifetime. Enter both prices and label figures to see whether the extra price pays off.

What do energy classes A to G mean?

The class is based on the energy efficiency index (EEI) – the appliance’s actual consumption compared to a standard appliance of the same size. In 2021 a new A–G scale without pluses was introduced, so a former A+++ is usually B–D on the new scale. The class limits are set in an EU regulation for each appliance type, e.g. washing machine A: EEI ≤ 52, C: 60–69.

Sources

Based on official sources · last reviewed 2026-11-06.