Programme duration (h:min)

How long the eco programme that every other figure on the label refers to takes, from start to finish. Eco programmes save energy partly by running longer, so this is often well over three hours.

What it looks like on the label: A clock beside a time written as hours and minutes, for example 3:28.
Printed on: Washing machine; Dishwasher; Tumble dryer
Unit: h:min, to the nearest minute
Regulation: Regulation (EU) 2019/2014, Annex III; Regulation (EU) 2019/2017, Annex III; Regulation (EU) 2023/2534, Annex III

Where the regulations differ

The time is for a different programme in each group: eco 40-60 at rated capacity on a washing machine, eco on a dishwasher, eco at full load on a tumble dryer. A washer-dryer prints two times, one for the complete cycle and one for washing only.

Label by label

On a washing machine label

What the number measures: Duration of the eco 40-60 programme.
Unit: h:min, to the nearest minute
Test condition: eco 40-60 at rated capacity.

Regulation (EU) 2019/2014, Annex III, part A, point 1.2 (IX); washer-dryer: part B, point 1.2 (X): duration of the eco 40-60 programme at rated capacity in h:min rounded to the nearest minute; Checked 2026-09-25.

On a dishwasher label

What the number measures: Duration of the eco programme.
Unit: h:min, to the nearest minute
Test condition: eco programme at rated capacity.

Regulation (EU) 2019/2017, Annex III, point 1 (IX): duration of the eco programme in h:min rounded to the nearest minute; Checked 2026-09-25.

On a tumble dryer label

What the number measures: Duration of the eco drying programme at full load.
Unit: h:min, to the nearest minute
Test condition: eco programme at full load.

Regulation (EU) 2023/2534, Annex III, part A, point 1.1 (X): duration of the eco programme at full load in hours and minutes [h:min] rounded to the nearest minute; Checked 2026-09-25.

Other icons on the washing machine label

QR code (top left of the label)On 8 product labels Energy efficiency class arrow (A to G)On 7 product labels kWh per 100 cyclesWashing machine, Dishwasher, Tumble dryer Rated capacity in kgWashing machine, Tumble dryer Water per cycle in litresWashing machine, Dishwasher Spin-drying efficiency classWashing machine Noise in dB(A) with class A–D (appliances)On 4 product labels Washer-dryer: two columns (wash and dry / wash only)Washing machine

Sources

Regulation (EU) 2019/2014 — Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2014 of 11 March 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 with regard to energy labelling of household washing machines and household washer-dryers. Label content: Annex III. Article 11: “It shall apply from 1 March 2021.” Amended by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/340 (label sizes, test notes and verification tolerances); the label points quoted here are unchanged by it. Checked 2026-09-25.
Regulation (EU) 2019/2017 — Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2017 of 11 March 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 with regard to energy labelling of household dishwashers. Label content: Annex III. Article 11: “It shall apply from 1 March 2021.” Amended by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/340 (label sizes, test notes and verification tolerances); the label points quoted here are unchanged by it. Checked 2026-09-25.
Regulation (EU) 2023/2534 — Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2534 of 13 July 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 with regard to energy labelling of household tumble dryers. Label content: Annex III. Article 10: “It shall apply from 1 July 2025.” Checked 2026-09-25.

Read in the Official Journal text on the date shown. Our drawing is not the official pictogram; the regulation’s own label figure is the authority.