EU legal guarantee period calculator by country

Legal guarantee period in the EU

Directive (EU) 2019/771 sets a minimum of two years of legal guarantee of conformity for goods a store sells to a consumer, but each country may give more. Spain, Portugal and Sweden give three years for new products. In Ireland, the Netherlands and Finland there is no number of years: the seller is liable for as long as the product can reasonably be expected to last. What counts is the buyer’s country, not the store’s.

Second-hand products

The directive lets each country allow, for second-hand goods, a shorter period agreed with the buyer, which can never go below one year. Not every country uses this option, and where it is allowed it must be agreed expressly: if nothing is said, the period is the same as for a new product. The calculator tells you country by country.

Legal guarantee and commercial guarantee

The legal guarantee comes from the law and the store cannot remove or shorten it. A commercial guarantee is voluntary (the manufacturer’s, or an extension from the store) and always adds to the legal one; it never replaces it.

How to show the period in your store

Since 27 September 2026 stores must show the EU harmonised guarantee notice before purchase. You can create it by hand with our legal guarantee notice generator or, if you sell on Shopify, make it automatic: see our guide to the guarantee notice and the GARAN label on Shopify.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the legal guarantee in Ireland?

There is no fixed number of years: the seller is liable for as long as the product can reasonably be expected to last, and the consumer can bring a claim for up to six years.

Which period applies if I sell from one EU country to a customer in another?

The one the consumer’s own country gives them, when it is more favourable: that is why it makes sense to show each customer their country’s period.

Is the data official?

We took it from each country’s legislation and link the law and the official source. When a figure is not confirmed in the official text, we say so. Check with your adviser if in doubt.