Energy label A to G
The Dutch energy label scale runs from A++++ for the most efficient homes down to G for the least efficient. Below you can see at a glance what each letter says, and click through to the class of your own home.
Contents
What do the letters mean?
The energy label expresses how much primary fossil energy a home uses per square metre per year. The lower that figure, the better the letter. The scale is a ranking: each step up means a home that needs less energy for heating, hot water and ventilation.
The letter describes the building, not the occupant. Two identical homes with the same label can have very different energy bills.
| Label | In short | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| A and above | Very efficient | New build and fully upgraded homes |
| B | Efficient | Recent build or thoroughly renovated |
| C | Average | 1980s and 1990s, partly insulated |
| D | Below average | Partly insulated, usually still a gas boiler |
| E | Worth improving | 1970s, limited insulation |
| F | Much to gain | Pre-1975, little insulation |
| G | The biggest step to take | Uninsulated, often pre-war |
Why are there plusses after the A?
Above label A sit A+, A++, A+++ and A++++. Those classes exist because new build has become so efficient that a single letter A could no longer tell them apart. A home with solar panels that generates more than it uses ends up in the highest classes.
Which step delivers the most?
Whatever your current letter, the order is almost always the same: first the way you heat, then your own generation, then whichever part of the building envelope has not been dealt with, and glazing last. The page for your own label explains what that means in practice.
Want to know how the calculation works? Read how an energy label is calculated.
The scale in numbers
| Number of classes | 11: A++++, A+++, A++, A+, A, B, C, D, E, F and G |
| What is measured | Primary fossil energy use in kWh per m² per year |
| Calculation method | NTA 8800, mandatory since 1 January 2021 |
| Validity | 10 years |
| Minimum label for homes | No statutory minimum |
| Minimum label for offices | Label C from 100 m², mandatory since 1 January 2023 |
Frequently asked questions
Which energy label is good?
Label A and above counts as very efficient, B and C as good to average. There is no statutory minimum for homes: any label is allowed, as long as a valid one exists when selling or letting.
Why are there plusses after the A?
Because new build became so efficient that a single letter A could no longer tell homes apart. Classes A+ through A++++ were added for homes that need even less, up to homes that generate more than they use.
Can my energy label go down?
A new assessment can land on a different class than a label from before 2021, because NTA 8800 calculates differently and demands more evidence. If nothing changes about the home, two NTA 8800 assessments give the same outcome.
How many classes will insulation gain me?
That depends on the starting point. At label F or G one well-chosen measure often moves the label two steps. At B or C a change to the heating system is usually needed for a single step.
Sources
The rules and definitions on this page come from the official sources below. Last checked on 12 September 2026.
Want to know where you stand?
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