# EPC rating meaning: bands A to G explained (2026)

> What an EPC rating means: the bands from A (92 points and above) to G, how to find your certificate, how long it lasts and what the new EPC metrics change.

- Canonical URL: https://epccalculator.com/epc-rating-bands-explained/
- Source: [GOV.UK, Find an energy certificate](https://find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk/)
- Checked: 2026-10-25
- Structured data: https://epccalculator.com/data/epc-rating-bands-explained.json

This page includes a free interactive tool that runs in the browser and sends no data. The figures and rules it uses are the ones stated on this page, with their sources.

## The bands

| Band | Points |
|---|---|
| A | 92 and above |
| B | 81–91 |
| C | 69–80 |
| D | 55–68 |
| E | 39–54 |
| F | 21–38 |
| G | 1–20 |

The points are the energy efficiency rating, based on the estimated energy cost of running the home.

## Find your certificate

Every EPC is on the government register. Search by postcode on [Find an energy certificate](https://find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk/). An EPC is valid for 10 years. Step by step, with Scotland and Northern Ireland: [how to check your EPC rating](https://epccalculator.com/how-to-check-your-epc-rating/).

## Each band in detail

- [Band C](https://epccalculator.com/epc-rating-c/): the median in England and the planned 2030 target for rentals.
- [Band D](https://epccalculator.com/epc-rating-d/): 35% of English homes in 2024, about £6,000 on average to reach C.
- [Band E](https://epccalculator.com/epc-rating-e/): the lowest band a landlord can let without an exemption.
- [Bands F and G](https://epccalculator.com/epc-rating-f-and-g/): no private let without an exemption.
- [Running costs by band](https://epccalculator.com/epc-running-costs-by-band/): the official modelled yearly costs.

## The new certificate

The government plans new headline metrics, including fabric performance, heating system efficiency and smart readiness; for rentals, the 2030 standard tests fabric first ([GOV.UK response](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-2025-update/outcome/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-government-response-html)). The launch has moved from October 2026 to the second half of 2027 ([Housing Today](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/government-delays-epc-reforms-until-2027/5141221.article)).

## What the letter is used for

Buyers and tenants see the rating when a home is marketed, lenders increasingly look at it for green mortgages, and for landlords it decides whether a home may be let.

## Example

A rating of 62 is band D, 7 points short of C.

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