EPC Ratings Explained: Every Band from A to G
What does your EPC rating mean? Costs, how to improve, what each band means for grants, and landlord rules. Updated April 2026.
Energy Performance Certificates
Your EPC rating is the single biggest factor in which energy grants your home qualifies for. If you're rated D or below, you're eligible for schemes that can fund thousands of pounds of upgrades, from free insulation under ECO4 to £7,500 off a heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
An Energy Performance Certificate rates your home from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It's produced by an accredited assessor who visits the property and scores the walls, roof, windows, heating system and hot water.
You can look up any property's certificate for free on the GOV.UK EPC Register. Certificates last 10 years. If yours has expired or you've never had one, expect to pay £60 to £120 for a new assessment.
Band D. That's where about 35% of UK homes sit, according to the English Housing Survey. And it's the threshold that opens the door to the biggest grant schemes.
ECO4 targets homes rated D to G. If your household receives qualifying benefits like Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Child Tax Credit, your energy supplier is obligated to fund improvements, including insulation, heating upgrades and sometimes solar panels. The work is fully funded.
Warm Homes Local Grant also focuses on D and below, delivered through local authorities. The scheme varies by council area but typically covers insulation and low-carbon heating for lower-income households.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is different. It has no EPC requirement at all as of April 2026. Any homeowner replacing a fossil fuel boiler with a heat pump can apply for up to £7,500, regardless of their band. If your only reason for getting an EPC is curiosity, save the £80. But if you think you might qualify for ECO4 or Warm Homes, it's the best £80 you'll spend.
The scoring system isn't perfect, but it's what the government uses to decide who gets help. A low rating feels like bad news until you realise it makes you eligible for the most generous funding.
Band A (92-100): Exceptional, usually new-builds with heat pumps and triple glazing. Band B (81-91): Very efficient, well-insulated with modern heating. Band C (69-80): The government's target for all homes by 2035.
Band D (55-68): The most common rating and the grant eligibility threshold. Band E (39-54): Below average, strong grant eligibility. Band F (21-38): Poor efficiency, high energy bills. Band G (1-20): The worst rating but the best grant eligibility. That's the trade.
Want the full breakdown? Read our complete guide to EPC ratings for what each band costs to run and how assessors calculate your score.
Essential reading
Start here. These four guides cover everything from what your rating means to how to improve it.
What does your EPC rating mean? Costs, how to improve, what each band means for grants, and landlord rules. Updated April 2026.
Loft insulation costs £300 to £600 and jumps you one EPC band. We rank every upgrade by cost per SAP point gained.
Recently published
EPC assessments cost £35 to £120 in 2026, depending on property size and location. See what affects the price and how to find a cheap accredited assessor.
EPC rating E? You qualify for major grants in 2026. See which schemes fund free upgrades and how much you could save. Check eligibility in 2 minutes.
By band
Each band has different grant eligibility, running costs and improvement options. Find yours.
Common questions
Check what your home qualifies for. Two minutes, a few questions about your property. We cross-reference every active scheme and show you exactly what funding is available.
Most homes can jump one full band for under £1,000. Loft insulation to 270mm, draught-proofing and LED lighting are the cheapest wins. The Energy Saving Trust recommends starting with insulation before upgrading your heating system.
We cover the specifics in our guide to improving your EPC rating, including which upgrades give you the biggest score jump per pound spent.
The complete guide. What each band means, how assessors score your home, and exactly which grants each rating qualifies you for.
Read the full guideEPC rating D? You qualify for grants worth up to £7,500. See which schemes apply and the cheapest upgrades to improve your band. Check in 2 mins.
EPC rating C? You still qualify for £7,500+ in grants. See which schemes are open in 2026 and how to claim. Check eligibility in 2 minutes.