Energy label explained · Ovens
How to read the energy label on an oven
An oven label rates one cavity: it shows the energy class, the energy needed to heat a standard load once in conventional and in fan-forced mode, and the usable volume in litres. A double oven therefore carries two labels.
What is on the oven label
Delegated Regulation (EU) No 65/2014, which has applied since 1 January 2015, prescribes the same set of items for every cavity of a domestic electric or gas oven.
| Item | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Supplier and model identifier | The model the label belongs to. |
| Energy source | Pictogram for electricity or gas. |
| Energy class, A+++ to D | Efficiency of this cavity compared with a standard cavity of the same volume. |
| Energy per cycle, conventional | Energy to heat the standard load once with top and bottom heat, in kWh (gas ovens: MJ and kWh). |
| Energy per cycle, fan-forced | The same with the fan circulating hot air. Only shown if the cavity has a fan mode. |
| Volume | Usable volume of the cavity in litres, rounded to whole litres. |
How the energy per cycle is measured
The laboratory heats a standardised load soaked with water inside the cavity and records the energy used for that one cycle, once in conventional mode and once in fan-forced mode if the oven has it.
The cavity has to reach the temperature set on the thermostat or display within the test cycle, so an oven cannot score well by underheating. Results are rounded to two decimals.
How the class is derived
The class compares the energy of the better of the two modes with a standard consumption for a cavity of the same volume; the result is the energy efficiency index in per cent.
The standard consumption rises with volume, so a large cavity is allowed more energy than a small one for the same class. The thresholds are: A+++ below 45, A++ 45 to under 62, A+ 62 to under 82, A 82 to under 107, B 107 to under 132, C 132 to under 159, D 159 and above.
A+++: 0% · A++: 6% · A+: 29% · A: 65% · B: 1% · C: 0% · D: 0%
The class reflects only the more economical mode. If you mostly bake with top and bottom heat, compare the conventional figure, not the class.
Gas ovens
Gas ovens carry the same label, but the energy per cycle is stated in megajoules of gas, with the equivalent in kWh alongside (1 kWh = 3.6 MJ).
Their class uses a separate standard consumption for gas cavities on the same A+++ to D scale. The kWh on a gas oven label are gas, not electricity, so we show the declared values but do not convert them into an electricity cost.
From one cycle to a year
The label gives no yearly figure; multiply the energy per cycle by the number of times you bake. At 0.70 kWh per cycle and 100 uses a year, that is 70 kWh.
Our oven pages start from 100 uses a year in fan mode, which you can change, and the most efficient ovens are ranked on the fan-forced figure.
What the label leaves out
The label covers one standard heating cycle per cavity and nothing else the appliance does.
- Other functions. Grill, steam, pyrolytic self-cleaning and keeping warm are not rated.
- Standby and the hob. Neither appears on the oven label, including on a cooker.
- Products outside the scope. Ovens with a microwave function, ovens heated mainly by steam, small and portable ovens, and ovens for propane or butane only have no label.
- Real cooking. Preheating habits, door opening and how full the oven is change the energy per meal.
How the older A+++ scale relates to the A to G labels on other appliances is covered in the general label guide; the oven buying guide covers size and features.
Questions
Why does my double oven have two energy labels?
The regulation rates each cavity separately, because each has its own volume, heating elements and consumption. A double oven therefore has one label per cavity, and the two classes can differ.
Does fan-forced mode always use less energy?
Usually, and the label shows both values so you can check. The class is based on whichever mode is more economical, so a good class can hide a weaker conventional mode.
Is a larger oven worse for the energy class?
No. The standard consumption grows with cavity volume, so a large cavity can reach the same class as a small one. In absolute terms it still usually needs more energy per cycle.
Why do microwave combination ovens have no energy label?
Ovens that offer a microwave heating function are excluded from Regulation (EU) No 65/2014, as are ovens heated mainly by steam and small and portable ovens. Their consumption is therefore not rated on an EU label.