How to read an EnergyGuide label when you shop for appliance deals

A lower sticker price on a refrigerator or washer can be eaten up by higher energy bills. The FTC's Energy Labeling Rule exists so you can compare operating cost and efficiency on a standard label before you buy.

What the rule is for

16 CFR 305.1, scope of the Energy Labeling Rule says the rule establishes requirements for consumer appliance products in commerce, as "commerce" is defined in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, 42 U.S.C. 6291, with respect to labeling or marking products with information indicating their operating cost (or a different useful measure of energy consumption) and related information, disclosing their water use rate and related information, or stating compliance with applicable standards under section 325 of that Act, 42 U.S.C. 6295. It also covers information in point-of-sale printed matter and catalogs, additional information shipped with the product, and certain energy or water representations in advertising.

Which products get the familiar appliance label

16 CFR 305.3, description of appliances and consumer electronics describes appliances and consumer electronics covered by the definitions in the part, including electric refrigerators and electric refrigerator-freezers. An electric refrigerator, as defined there, is a cabinet designed for the refrigerated storage of food, capable of achieving storage temperatures above 32 °F (0 °C) and below 39 °F (3.9 °C), and having a source of refrigeration requiring single-phase, alternating-current electric energy input only.

The label-format section, 16 CFR 305.13, layout, format, and placement of labels, applies to labels for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers, water heaters, room air conditioners, portable air conditioners, and pool heaters. Other products, including some lighting products and heating and cooling equipment, are described in nearby sections of part 305 and may have their own labeling requirements.

Do not strip the label

Under 16 CFR 305.7, prohibited acts(a), it is unlawful and subject to the enforcement penalties of section 333 of the Act, as adjusted for inflation, for each unit of any new covered product: for any manufacturer or private labeler knowingly to distribute in commerce any new covered product unless it is marked or labeled in accordance with part 305; for any manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or private labeler knowingly to remove or render illegible any marking or label required to be provided with the product; and for a manufacturer or private labeler to distribute a new covered product without the additional required energy information on the label, attached to the product, or shipped with it.

How to use the label on a deal

When you compare two "sale" refrigerators or washers, read the estimated yearly operating cost or energy use on the required label, not just the shelf price. A cheaper machine with a much higher yearly energy cost can cost more over the life of the appliance. Leave the label on until you have decided; retailers are not supposed to remove or deface it. This is a summary of the federal rule, not legal advice.

Published November 13, 2026. We do not use affiliate links on this page; see our Affiliate Disclosure.

Related guides

Your Eyeglass Prescription Is Yours: How the FTC Eyeglass Rule Lets You Shop Anywhere

After a refractive eye exam, the FTC's Eyeglass Rule says your eye doctor must hand you a copy of your prescription, free and without asking, befor…

Read article →Contact Lens Prescription Rights: Get Your Copy, Shop Around and Know the 8-Hour Verification Rule

The FTC Contact Lens Rule requires your prescriber to give you a copy of your contact lens prescription after a fitting, without extra fees. Seller…

Read article →Car Loan Mistakes to Avoid Before You Shop

Avoid costly vehicle financing traps. Learn key mistakes borrowers make with credit reports, loan shopping windows, co-signers, and trade-in values.

Read article →

All guides →