Electrician Prices UK: Hourly Rates & Call Out Fees
In the UK, the average electrician price is between £40 and £75 per hour, although some quotes may fall outside this range. For larger projects, you might be quoted a daily rate of £200 to £600.
Hiring an electrician is an essential part of maintaining your home safely, but prices can vary widely depending on the type of work, your location, and whether the job is planned or an emergency. This page provides real examples of electrician prices submitted by WhatPrice users, as well as tips on how to find the right electrician for your job.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Hourly rates and call out fees | 1AM Call out, could smell burning from light fitting. | £135 | Total price | South East |
| Hourly rates and call out fees | Sunday call out to replace a faulty lighting sensor in a commercial property. | £132 | Total price | North East |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
What affects the cost of an electrician?
Several factors influence how much you’ll pay for an electrician, including:
- Complexity of the job. As you’d expect, simple repairs cost less than full property rewires.
- Skill level required. Specialist work that requires more experience or more than one electrician may be priced higher.
- Location Jobs in London and other major cities tend to be more expensive.
- Demand in your area. Prices rise when electricians are in short supply.
- Risk of complications. Jobs with potential problems or safety risks may be priced higher.
- Electrician preference. Sometimes the cost depends on how much they want the work.
How to get the right electrician price
If you call out an electrician without getting a quote first, you’ll usually be charged at an hourly rate plus parts. This can work out cheaper for a quick fix but may become expensive if the job is more complex than expected.
Whenever possible, plan ahead, and request a fixed quote or written estimate before work begins. This isn’t always possible in emergency situations—when you’re most at risk of overpaying, but it can help you avoid surprises.
Understanding call out fees
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.
Why minimum charges are common
Electricians usually have overheads such as tools, vehicles, insurance, and certifications. To cover these, it’s reasonable for them to apply a minimum one-hour fee, even if the job itself takes less time. After that, most electricians bill in half-hour increments.
Hourly rates explained
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 additional half hour.
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 |
Get an Electrical Quote
Find Reviewed Electricians Ready to Quote for Your Job
- Compare free no-obligation quotes from multiple trades!
- Save time & cut costs on your electrical job
- In association with Checkatrade
- Checkatrade Guarantee up to £1,000
Cost of common 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)
- NAPIT
- Blue Flame Certification
Summary of UK electrical pricing
In summary, what should you expect to pay an electrician?
- Hourly rate: £40 to £75
- Day rate: £200 to £600
- Call-out fee: £100 to £150
- Emergency hourly rate: £100 to £200
- Consumer unit replacement: £270 to £750
- Full rewire: £3,000 to £5,000+ depending on property size
Always ask for written quotes, confirm whether VAT is included, and check your electrician’s credentials before hiring.
These ensure the electrician is trained, tested, and certified to work safely 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.
