If you compared tumble dryers a few years ago, you probably remember A++, A+++ and long debates about which machine was the “most efficient”. In 2026 the picture is different: since 1 July 2025, household tumble dryers in the EU use a rescaled energy label from A to G.
This is not simply a renaming of the old classes. The scale has been redesigned, and several figures on the label can be more useful than the large letter at the top.
The key rule is simple: do not treat old A+++ and new A, B or C ratings as directly equivalent. If two machines carry labels from different generations, first establish which labelling system applies.
What changed on 1 July 2025
The new EU ecodesign and energy-labelling requirements for household tumble dryers began to apply on 1 July 2025. The new label uses the familiar A–G scale, restoring room for future efficiency improvements instead of clustering most efficient products around A++ and A+++.
The European Commission also highlights another important change: new tumble dryers placed on the EU market under the new requirements use the more efficient heat-pump technology. Older stock may still exist under transitional provisions, so always check the label and official product information for the exact model rather than relying only on a retailer’s marketing description.
Start with kWh per 100 cycles
The large efficiency letter is convenient, but when comparing two models, the weighted energy consumption per 100 drying cycles is especially useful. It lets you see the difference in the same unit.
For example, if one dryer is labelled 95 kWh/100 cycles and another 125 kWh/100 cycles, the difference is 30 kWh per 100 standard cycles. Turning that into money requires your actual electricity price and your approximate annual number of cycles.
That is more useful than universal claims that a dryer will save exactly a certain number of euros per year, because real savings depend on how you use it.
Do not ignore capacity
The label also shows the rated capacity in kilograms for the Eco programme at full load. Bigger is not automatically better. If your washing machine is 8 kg and you usually dry one normal load at a time, an oversized dryer may offer little practical benefit. Conversely, regular loads of bedding, towels or large family washes may make a small drum inconvenient.
Match capacity to your actual laundry routine rather than treating it as a stand-alone quality score.
Eco programme duration matters too
The new label includes the duration of the Eco programme at full load. Heat-pump dryers often achieve lower energy use through a longer, gentler drying process. If you run several consecutive loads or mostly use the dryer in the evening, programme duration may matter more than it first appears.
Two dryers with similar energy efficiency can therefore offer different practical value in the home.
What condensation efficiency means
The label also reports condensation efficiency — how effectively moisture removed from clothes is collected as water rather than released into the room air.
This can be particularly relevant in a small utility room, hallway, kitchen or another space where extra humidity is undesirable. Do not confuse it with the energy class: an efficient machine can still differ from another model in how well it manages moisture.
Noise is more than a dB number
The new label includes an airborne acoustic noise emission class together with a decibel value for the Eco programme. Noise may be secondary in a separate utility room, but it can matter considerably near a bedroom, living room or workspace.
Compare noise under equivalent conditions, and do not assume that lower energy consumption automatically means quieter operation.
Why new dryers are now dominated by heat pumps
A heat-pump dryer recovers and reuses part of the heat in the drying process rather than continuously heating and exhausting air in the older way. The European Commission identifies the move toward heat-pump technology as a major reason for the reduction in tumble-dryer electricity consumption.
That is why, in 2026, “heat pump or conventional condenser?” is a less useful question when choosing a newly marketed EU model. In practice, it is often more useful to compare different heat-pump dryers with one another.
The QR code is useful
The new label includes a QR code linking to the official EU EPREL product database for the specific model. This is valuable when an online shop provides incomplete or inconsistent specifications. Instead of relying only on advertising copy, you can check the officially registered product information.
For two closely related models, EPREL can help you compare exact parameters rather than just a series name.
Do not mix the old and new labels
During the transition, you may still encounter older documentation, an A+++ image or remaining stock of a model placed on the market before the new rules. That does not automatically make old A+++ “better” or “worse” than a new B or C. The scales and methodologies are not directly interchangeable.
When comparing products from different label generations, use official product information and measurable figures rather than the letter alone.
A practical five-step check
When comparing two tumble dryers in 2026:
1. Make sure you are looking at the new A–G label. 2. Compare kWh/100 cycles, not just the letter class. 3. Check capacity and Eco programme duration against your laundry routine. 4. Check condensation efficiency and noise if the installation location makes them important. 5. Scan the QR code and check EPREL when retailer data is unclear.
Estimating annual energy use
A simple personal estimate is:
annual energy ≈ (kWh/100 cycles ÷ 100) × your annual number of cycles
Then multiply the result by your electricity price. This is more meaningful than a universal “saves X euros” claim because it reflects how you will actually use the machine.
The short version
In 2026, do not choose a tumble dryer only by the large letter on its label. Look at kWh/100 cycles, capacity, programme duration, condensation efficiency and noise, and verify the exact model through the QR code and EPREL.
The new label is most useful when you read it as a set of measurable indicators rather than a single A-to-G score.
