EPC bands
EPC bands A to G explained
An Energy Performance Certificate gives a home a score from 1 to 100, grouped into bands from G at the lowest to A at the highest. The score reflects a standardised assessment methodology using the details recorded by the assessor. It is a modelled comparison measure, not a guarantee of what any household will pay for energy.
Certificates usually show two figures: a current score and a potential score. The potential score models what the assessment method predicts if the recommended measures on that certificate were carried out. Both are estimates.
The full band scale
- Band A, scores 92 to 100Very high modelled efficiency. Rare in existing housing stock.
- Band B, scores 81 to 91High modelled efficiency, common in recent new build homes.
- Band C, scores 69 to 80Above the typical range for older homes across England and Wales.
- Band D, scores 55 to 68The most common band for existing homes in the analysed data.
- Band E, scores 39 to 54Below typical modelled performance, often solid wall or older heating.
- Band F, scores 21 to 38Low modelled performance recorded in the assessment.
- Band G, scores 1 to 20Lowest modelled performance on the EPC scale.
Each band is labelled with its letter and score range in text, so the information does not rely on colour alone.
Band guides
- Scores 69–80EPC rating C: what it meansPlain-English context for band C homes and sensible next checks.
- Scores 55–68EPC rating D: what it meansPlain-English context for band D homes and sensible next checks.
- Scores 39–54EPC rating E: what it meansPlain-English context for band E homes and sensible next checks.
What an EPC does and does not tell you
It does
- Record the property attributes the assessor observed, such as walls and glazing.
- Give a standardised score so different homes can be compared on the same basis.
- List improvement measures the methodology identified, in a recorded order.
It does not
- Predict your actual bills, which depend on how a household lives.
- Replace a survey, a heat-loss assessment or professional design advice.
- Stay accurate forever: work done after the assessment is not reflected.
Where to find your official certificate
Official domestic certificates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland are published on the UK government’s EPC register, and Scotland maintains its own register. You can normally look up a property there using its address and postcode, and download the certificate along with its full recommendation report.
EPC Benchmark does not connect to those registers in this release and cannot retrieve, confirm or amend a certificate. Always treat the official register as the authoritative source for a specific property.
Read the data notes for this demonstrationSee the bands applied to a real comparison
The example home sits in band D at 60, with a recorded potential of band B at 81.
Compare the example home