The average electrician price (UK) is currently about £40 to £75 per hour. These can vary and we have seen quotes on a wider range than this. Sometimes costs are done on a daily charge and these can vary from £200 to £600. Factors that influence the charge include the complexity of the job and the skill level required to do the work but also other factors like how in demand electricians are in your area, the likelihood of there being problems in the planned task and even how much the electrician wants the specific job.
How to get the right electrician price in UK.
Calling an electrician out without being first quoted an estimate of fixed price will normally result in the job being charged at an hourly rate + parts, this can sometimes work in your favour if it’s a quick fix or small job but can also escalate quickly if it’s not straightforward.
If you’re anticipating any electrical work it’s always better to plan ahead and get a fixed quote or estimate. This of course is not always possible, especially in emergency situations, and is also when you’re most vulnerable to being overcharged. With that in mind we’ve laid out below what you can realistically expect to pay an electrician in these situations.
Call-out fee
Call out fee is usually applied to urgent out of hours work or unplanned work where your electrician has to set aside what they are doing to help. If the job can wait then it’s usually just hourly rate.
It’s common for the call-out fee to double the hourly rate, and often covers the first hour of work, but not always so do check.
Minimum charge
Many companies will quote that there’s no call-out charge and just set a minimum charge of 1 hour, so in reality that’s there call-out fee, whatever you want to call it it’s wrapped up in the first minimum hour, always remember to check whether VAT is included or not (it’s generally not included).
It’s reasonable to pay a minimum fee considering electricians have a large number of overheads including buying tools, running a van, certifications and insuring themselves amongst others.
Hourly rate
This is how much you would expect to pay an electrician irrespective of the job involved per hour, on top of the first minimum hour. The price per hour will vary depending on location in the country and demand of electrician’s services. Being called out of hours as an emergency service will demand a higher hourly rate than normal.
Generally most electricians will charge a minimum first hour then charge for every half hour on top of that, which is fair.
Typical prices
| Job type | Cost + VAT |
|---|---|
| Call-out fee | £100 – £150 |
| Hourly rate | £40 – £75 |
| Day rate | £200 – £600 |
| Emergency call-out | £100 – £150 |
| Emergency hourly rate | £100 – £200 |
Cost of Complete Electrical Jobs
Below is an overview of the typical costs for common electrician jobs across the UK, based on estimates provided by independent electricians:
Fuse Box Replacement
Fuse boxes, also known as consumer units, manage the electrical distribution in your home. Upgrading to a new consumer unit may be necessary, especially when extending or renovating older properties. Prices exclude VAT.
10-way dual RCD consumer unit (supply & install):
Average: £420
Range: £270 – £650
15-way dual RCD consumer unit (supply & install):
Average: £520
Range: £330 – £750
Larger homes with more circuits often require a bigger fuse box. Older houses might need additional wiring work to comply with current Building Regulations. Our Page Consumer Unit Replacement Cost gives more detail.
House Rewiring
For properties over 30 years old, a full rewire may be needed to meet modern safety standards. This is a major project, so the costs are generally higher than for other electrical jobs.
2-Bedroom House:
Average: £3,300
Range: £2,900 – £3,850
3-Bedroom House:
Average: £3,700
Range: £3,100 – £4,500
4-Bedroom House:
Average: £4,500
Range: £4,000 – £5,200
As a rough guide, expect to budget between £600 and £1,000 per bedroom. Costs can vary depending on the quality of materials used and whether the property is occupied during the work. Our page How Much Does it Cost to Rewire a House? gives more detail.
PAT Testing
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) ensures that electrical devices and appliances are safe for use.
10 appliances: £75
30 appliances: £150
50 appliances: £185
70 appliances: £205
100 appliances: £250
Typically, there is a minimum fee of £50 to £100, covering up to 30-50 items, with an additional charge of £1 to £2.50 per item beyond that. Our page EICR Report Cost gives more detail.
Electrical Safety Certificate
An electrical safety certificate verifies that your home’s electrical system, including sockets, wiring, and light switches, meets current safety standards. Prices include VAT.
- 1-Bedroom House: £158
- 2-Bedroom House: £184
- 3-Bedroom House: £212
- 4-Bedroom House: £264
- 5-Bedroom House: £304
The time required for inspection usually depends on the number of electrical outlets, which corresponds to the size of the property. The above link in PAT testing covers this topic.
Earth Bonding
Earth bonding for water and gas pipes usually takes around 3-8 hours, with costs ranging from £150 to £350. Our page Earth Bonding Cost again gives more detail.
Many other electrical job pricing information can be found via our electrical installation page.
Electrician Qualifications
It goes without saying that price is not the only consideration when considering an electrician cost. The quality of any electrical work is critical, and qualifications must be considered and reviewed before accepting workers into your property. Here are some such qualifications accepted in the UK:
- National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC)
- ELECSA
- NAPIT
- Blue Flame Certification
Summary of UK Electrical Pricing
Hopefully the evidenced-based summary of electrical pricing in the UK will give you an idea of what costs you are likely to face for any electrical work you are considering in your home.
Please consider supporting us by completing the form below with any work you have had done so we update our page accordingly.
User submitted electrician charges
Below you can see what other WhatPrice users have paid, or been quoted for call-outs and hourly rates.
| Job type | Description | Price | Units | Region | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly rates and call out fees | lights were not working downstairs, electrician came out repaired faulty light, replace breaker in consumer unit. Fees were £60 first hour then £40 per hour after. | £100 | Total price | East Midlands | 2023 |
| Hourly rates and call out fees | 1AM Call out, could smell burning from light fitting. | £135 | Total price | South East | 2023 |
| Hourly rates and call out fees | Sunday call out to replace a faulty lighting sensor in a commercial property. | £132 | Total price | North East | 2023 |
| Hourly rates and call out fees | broken ceiling light, take down and replace with pendant. 30 minutes on premises. £60 call out fee, £5 for new pendant. no further charge required | £65 | Hourly rate | South West | 2023 |
| Hourly rates and call out fees | Tripping RCD. Caused by a loose connection in the back of a socket. Repair carried out in just under 1 hour. | £125 | Total price | North East | 2023 |
| Hourly rates and call out fees | no sockets working fault found to be main switch rcd (what ever that is) in fuse box switch replaced and tested, only charged callout + switch 1830 on a friday. | £90 | Hourly rate | London | 2023 |
| Hourly rates and call out fees | Called out at electrician 9 at night, quick response 30 mins. Lights tripping upstairs. Engineer David spend an hour in the loft after finding a cable severed by stuff in the loft. New cable replaced. Only charged £75 which included repair. Courteous mature and polite. | £75 | Hourly rate | South East | 2023 |
