Earth Bonding Cost
How much does it cost to install water and gas earth bonding?
The typical cost of installing water and gas earth bonding falls between £200 and £500, according to prices submitted by WhatPrice users. Here you will find real-life examples of the cost of completed water and gas bonding work, as well as more information about the process and why it matters.
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User submitted bonding prices
Below are typical prices received by WhatPrice users for bonding gas and water.
| Job type | Description | Price | Units | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earth bonding | 10mm earth cable to electric box | £270 | Total price | Cymru Wales |
| Earth bonding | earth bonding on gas metre | £200 | Total price | South East |
| Earth bonding | Upgrade earth bonding to gas and water, Fit new consumer unit and issue test certificate. | £480 | Total price | South East |
| Earth bonding | Install protective bond conductor to water / gas / other services or metalwork to BS7671 regs. Test and certificate. | £210 | Total price | Cymru Wales |
| Earth bonding | Installing and upgrading earth bonding to gas and water to the current regulation, including certificate | £255 | Total price | North West |
| Earth bonding | Upgrade earth bonding to gas and water, sleeve earths in existing lights, change circuit breaker in consumer unit to meet regulations and issue test certificate | £500 | Total price | North East |
| Earth bonding | Earthing to gas and water – surface trunking used | £280 | Total price | South West |
| Earth bonding | Earth Bonding to Gas and Water utilities and upgrade main earth to consumer unit. | £220 | Total price | South East |
| Earth bonding | had pipes under sink bonded up to main earth in fuse board,was about 2 hours work | £75 | Total price | London |
| Earth bonding | 10mm earth to gas and water, bathroom and ensuite with electric shower. | £467 | Total price | North West |
| Earth bonding | Earthing provides protection against electric shock. You should have a connection adjacent to the Gas & Water services and inter-connections between all exposed pipes, radiators and electrical circuits in a bathroom bearing in mind you may need to hide cables under floorboards, ask for an Installation Certificate. | £450 | Total price | East Midlands |
What is earth bonding?
The earth bonding system helps prevent the risk of electric shock and ensures that, in the event of a fault (such as a live wire coming into contact with a metal surface), the current flows to the earth rather than posing a danger to occupants.
Earth bonding (also called protective equipotential bonding) is a way of reducing the risk of electric shock. It involves running a thick green-and-yellow cable from your home’s main earthing point to metallic parts of your plumbing and gas installation – typically:
- The gas pipe where it enters your property
- The water pipe where it enters your property
This ensures that if a fault occurs (e.g., a live wire touches metalwork), the electricity has a low-resistance path to earth, tripping the breaker quickly and keeping you safe.
Why is earth bonding needed?
It’s important for earth bonding to comply with the regulations outlined in the British Standard BS7671, which sets the standards for electrical installations in the UK. The regulations are in place to safeguard people and property from electrical hazards.
Under current wiring regulations (BS 7671), most homes with metal incoming services must have main bonding in place. If your property is newer or has been rewired recently, you’re probably fine. But older properties (especially those last rewired before the mid-90s) might have bonding that’s undersized, corroded, or missing entirely.
Signs your bonding might be outdated include:
- Green/yellow bonding cable is thinner than 10 mm²
- The cable is missing entirely from your gas or water entry points
- The bonding clamp is loose, corroded, or attached to a painted surface (reducing contact)
- No label indicating “Safety Electrical Connection: Do Not Remove”
If you’re unsure, a qualified electrician can check in minutes.
How much does earth bonding cost in the UK?
The price you pay will vary depending on the complexity and accessibility of the job. For example, a single gas or water bond could be as little as £50, but complex installations that require the lifting of floorboards can be £600 or more. On average you can expect to pay £200 to £300 for a standard job.
There are some factors that will increase the cost of the job such as:
- If cables can be run directly and neatly, the job is quick. If they need to go under floors or behind walls, it costs more.
- Bonding cables must be continuous, so a longer route equals higher labour and material costs.
- A proper job should come with documentation showing compliance with regulations.
- Prices are generally higher in London and the South East.
If you’re having other electrical work done, ask your electrician to check your bonding at the same time, as it’s often cheaper to do it alongside other jobs. It’s also important to remember that the best way to ensure you’re paying a fair price is to compare at least 2 or 3 quotes from qualified electricians.
How long does earth bonding take?
Earth bonding is not a complex task, but prices will vary depending on how many bonds need to be made and location of pipes. A single bond for a gas meter should only take an hour or so which would cost approximately £50 (based on an a typical electricians hourly rate. If however, they are working on all the gas and water pipes it may involve lifting floorboards which could take a day or longer.
Who should do the work?
Earth bonding should only be installed by a qualified electrician familiar with UK wiring regulations. Look for someone registered with NICEIC, NAPIT, or another recognised body. They’ll ensure:
- Correct cable size (usually 10 mm² copper)
- Proper clamping and labelling
- Compliance with BS 7671
- Issuing a minor works certificate
If your gas and water pipes aren’t properly bonded, it’s more than a box-ticking exercise; it’s a genuine safety issue. For the cost of a decent night out, you can bring your home up to modern safety standards and protect your family from potentially lethal faults.
