How Much Does an Electrician Cost?
Indicative UK prices for rewiring, consumer units, condition reports, sockets, lighting and EV chargers – plus electricians' day rates and what pushes the price up or down.
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There is no fixed price list for electrical work. Every electrician prices the job in front of them, and two rewires of similar houses can cost very different amounts if one is empty with suspended floors and the other is occupied, with solid floors and a long list of extra sockets.
The figures below are broad, indicative ranges for the UK. Use them to sense-check the quotes you receive and to budget – not as a promise of what your job will cost. For an accurate price, describe your job and compare written quotes from local electricians.
House rewiring costs
Typical prices for the electrical work in a full or partial rewire, including a new consumer unit for full rewires. Plastering and making good are often extra.
| Job | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Full rewire, one or two-bedroom flat | £3,000–£5,000 |
| Full rewire, two-bedroom terraced house | £4,000–£6,500 |
| Full rewire, three-bedroom semi | £5,000–£9,000 |
| Full rewire, four-bedroom detached house | £7,000–£12,000 |
| Partial rewire (e.g. kitchen or one floor) | £1,000–£3,000 |
Indicative UK prices, including VAT where the electrician is VAT-registered. They're a guide to help you sense-check quotes, not a price list – always get written quotes for your own property.
More on what's involved in signs your house needs rewiring and the rewiring section of our electricians guide.
Consumer unit and fuse box costs
The price depends on the number of circuits, the type of protection and how much remedial work testing uncovers.
| Job | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Consumer unit replacement (standard) | £450–£900 |
| Consumer unit with RCBO protection on every circuit | £650–£1,200 |
| Old fuse box replaced, with typical remedial work | £650–£1,300 |
Indicative UK prices, including VAT where the electrician is VAT-registered. They're a guide to help you sense-check quotes, not a price list – always get written quotes for your own property.
Testing, alarms and repair costs
Condition reports are priced by the size of the property and the number of circuits. Repairs vary with the fault and how long it takes to find.
| Job | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| EICR, one or two-bedroom flat | £120–£220 |
| EICR, three-bedroom house | £180–£320 |
| EICR, larger house or HMO | £250–£500 |
| Mains-wired smoke or heat alarm, each | £80–£160 |
| Fault finding, call-out and first hour | £60–£130 |
Indicative UK prices, including VAT where the electrician is VAT-registered. They're a guide to help you sense-check quotes, not a price list – always get written quotes for your own property.
Socket, switch and lighting costs
Small jobs often carry a minimum charge, so several tasks in one visit are usually better value.
| Job | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Replace a socket like for like | £50–£100 |
| Add a double socket on an existing circuit | £100–£220 |
| Outdoor weatherproof socket | £120–£280 |
| Replace a light switch or fit a dimmer | £40–£110 |
| Replace a ceiling light fitting | £50–£120 |
| New downlight, each (several in one visit) | £50–£110 |
| Outdoor wall or security light | £100–£250 |
Indicative UK prices, including VAT where the electrician is VAT-registered. They're a guide to help you sense-check quotes, not a price list – always get written quotes for your own property.
More in our sockets, switches and fittings guide.
EV charger installation costs
Prices depend on the charger model, the distance from the consumer unit and whether a board or earthing upgrade is needed.
| Job | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Standard 7kW home EV charger, supplied and fitted | £800–£1,200 |
| EV charger with a longer cable run or groundwork | £1,100–£1,700 |
| Replacing an existing EV charger | £600–£1,000 |
Indicative UK prices, including VAT where the electrician is VAT-registered. They're a guide to help you sense-check quotes, not a price list – always get written quotes for your own property.
More in our EV charger installation guide.
Electrician hourly and day rates
Rates help with small jobs and with understanding a quote, but most electricians give a fixed price for a clearly defined job such as a rewire or consumer unit.
| Job | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Electrician, hourly rate (most of the UK) | £40–£70 per hour |
| Electrician, day rate (most of the UK) | £250–£400 per day |
| Electrician, day rate (London and South East) | £300–£500 per day |
| Emergency or out-of-hours call-out | £90–£200 first hour |
Indicative UK prices, including VAT where the electrician is VAT-registered. They're a guide to help you sense-check quotes, not a price list – always get written quotes for your own property.
What affects the cost of electrical work
- Size of the property
- More rooms mean more circuits, cable and accessories, and longer testing.
- Number of points
- Every socket, switch and light adds labour and materials.
- Condition of the installation
- Faults found during testing must be fixed before new work can be signed off.
- Wall and floor construction
- Solid walls, concrete floors and stone take longer than stud walls and suspended floors.
- Occupied or empty
- Working around furniture and residents slows big jobs such as rewires.
- Making good
- Some quotes include plastering after chasing; many don't.
- Materials chosen
- Consumer unit protection, charger models and designer accessories affect the price.
- Location and timing
- London and the South East cost more, and emergency work carries a premium.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Group small jobs into one visit to avoid several minimum charges.
- Rewire before plastering and flooring so walls and floors only come up once.
- Get an EICR first so quotes are based on the real condition of the installation.
- Provide clear photos of your consumer unit and the areas involved.
- Compare two or three itemised written quotes.
- Ask whether making good is included before comparing prices.
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Electrician prices: FAQs
How much does an electrician charge per day?
As a rough guide, many electricians charge somewhere around £250–£400 per day across most of the UK, and more in London and the South East. Most give a fixed price for clearly defined jobs.
How much does it cost to rewire a house?
A full rewire of a three-bedroom semi often costs somewhere around £5,000–£9,000, depending on the number of points, the property's construction and whether making good is included.
How much is an EICR?
An EICR for a typical three-bedroom house often costs around £180–£320. Larger properties and HMOs cost more because they take longer to test.
How much does a new consumer unit cost?
A standard consumer unit replacement often costs around £450–£900. Boards with RCBOs on every circuit, and any remedial work, add to that.
Why do electrician quotes vary so much?
Quotes can differ in materials, how cables are routed, whether making good is included and how much testing and remedial work is allowed for. Ask each electrician to itemise their quote.
Should I pay a deposit?
A deposit for materials on larger jobs is common, with the balance on completion. Avoid paying the full amount up front, and agree payment terms in writing.
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