The new EU energy label for tumble dryers looks familiar at first glance: a coloured A–G scale, one prominent letter and a row of pictograms. The useful decision is not simply which appliance carries the “better-looking” letter. Between two similar machines, energy use per 100 cycles, drum capacity, eco-programme duration, noise and condensation efficiency together reveal which model fits the rhythm of a household.
The new label has had to be displayed in shops and online since 1 July 2025. It replaces the former A+++–D scale, so an old A+++ rating should not be compared letter for letter with a new A. The revised ecodesign rules also began applying on that date: household tumble dryers newly placed on the EU market must use the most efficient heat-pump technology. Other technologies can still appear on the second-hand market or in stock that was placed on the market earlier.
1. The letter ranks; the kWh figure can be calculated
The label shows weighted average energy consumption for 100 drying cycles on the eco programme, in kilowatt-hours. This is far more actionable than a class letter on its own.
For a personal estimate, divide the label figure by 100, then multiply it by your annual number of cycles and by the price you actually pay for one kilowatt-hour:
estimated annual cost = (kWh / 100 cycles) × annual cycles × your electricity price
If you dry three loads a week, for example, you can use roughly 156 cycles per year. The result is not a promised bill: other programmes, partial loads, textile types and the moisture left after the washer's spin cycle all change real consumption. It does, however, provide a consistent basis for comparison.
2. Match capacity to the washer and your habits
The rated capacity in kilograms applies to a full load on the eco programme. A larger drum is not automatically better. If the washer regularly produces more laundry than the dryer accepts, one wash becomes two drying cycles. If you mostly run small loads in an oversized machine, you rarely benefit from its headline capacity.
Do not read the kilogram figure in isolation. Compare it with the washer's capacity, the number of weekly loads, the size of bedding and whether you air-dry some items. The best size matches the typical load, not the exceptional one.
3. A longer eco programme is not necessarily wasteful
The label gives the full-load eco-programme duration in hours and minutes. Heat-pump drying works at lower temperatures and often takes longer, so a shorter cycle is not the same thing as lower energy use.
Treat duration mainly as a planning figure. It matters if several loads must follow each other in one evening. If you plan to run the dryer overnight or while away, also check the manufacturer's safety instructions and timer functions; the label does not replace them.
4. For noise, read the class and decibels together
The new label adds an airborne-noise class beside the decibel value. This matters in an open-plan kitchen and living room, near a bedroom or in a small flat. The decibel scale is not linear, so even a few dB can make a perceptible difference.
The label reflects a standard measurement during the eco programme. In real use, flooring, distance from walls, levelling, zips and buttons also affect the sound. Ask what vibration control and installation clearances the manufacturer specifies.
5. Condensation efficiency matters for the room too
Condensation efficiency indicates how effectively the appliance turns moisture removed from textiles into collected water. A better class means less moisture escapes into the surroundings under the standard test.
It does not make ventilation unnecessary, but it deserves separate comparison in a small utility room, bathroom or dressing room. Also check whether the machine collects water in a tank or can be connected directly to a drain.
6. Use the QR code as a verification point
The label's QR code leads to the public product sheet in EPREL, the European product database for energy labelling. There you can verify the exact model identifier and product information sheet. A photographed shop label is useful only if the model behind the QR code matches the appliance rating plate and the model on your order.
The EPREL sheet does not replace the manual. The number of filters to clean, heat-exchanger maintenance, drainage, reversible door, installation clearances and service support remain separate questions.
A five-minute shop checklist
- Read the kWh per 100 cycles, not only the letter.
- Calculate with your annual cycle count and actual electricity price.
- Match the capacity to the washer and your typical load.
- Compare eco time, dB, noise class and condensation class.
- Open the QR code and verify the exact model identifier.
- Ask about filter cleaning, drainage, spare parts and warranty service.
The right dryer is not necessarily the one with the highest class letter. It is the one that delivers predictable cost, workable timing and acceptable noise for your real loads. The new label creates a common baseline; the household's actual routine completes the decision.
European Commission · Tumble Dryers
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