Electrician Cost UK (2026 Guide)
UK electricians typically charge £40 to £60 per hour, more in London, though many quote a fixed price per job rather than by the hour. A standard call-out is usually £40 to £100, often including the first 30 to 60 minutes. Bigger jobs have their own typical prices: an EICR safety certificate is usually £150 to £300, a fuse box upgrade £350 to £600, and a full house rewire £4,000 to £7,000. The figures here are typical 2026 UK ranges to help you budget — the only way to know your exact price is to compare quotes from a few registered local electricians.
That’s because we’re an independent directory, not an electrical contractor. We don’t carry out electrical work or push one electrician — instead, we compare your options and route you to multiple vetted, registered electricians so you can choose the right one for the job.
Electrician cost at a glance (2026)
| Job | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | £40 – £60 | More in London; many jobs quoted as a fixed price instead |
| Call-out fee | £40 – £100 | Often includes the first 30–60 minutes |
| EICR (electrical safety certificate) | £150 – £300 | Depends on property size and number of circuits |
| Fuse box / consumer unit upgrade | £350 – £600 | Fitted, including testing |
| Full house rewire (3-bed) | £4,000 – £7,000 | Depends on size, access and finish |
Typical 2026 UK ranges. Prices are guide figures, not guaranteed quotes — get a free quote for your job.
So, the practical takeaway: small, well-defined jobs (an extra socket, a new light fitting) are usually priced as a flat fee, while bigger jobs like an EICR, fuse box upgrade or rewire have their own typical price bands, shown above. To turn these figures into a firm number, compare quotes from registered electricians near you.
Electrician cost by job type
Hourly rate and call-out fee
Most electricians charge £40 to £60 per hour, with London and the South East at the higher end. A standard call-out is usually £40 to £100, often including the first 30 to 60 minutes of work, with higher rates out of hours. Always confirm what the call-out covers before you book.
EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)
An EICR — the standard electrical safety check, often needed when selling a home, letting a property, or as routine peace of mind — generally costs £150 to £300, depending on the size of the property and the number of circuits being tested.
Fuse box / consumer unit upgrade
Upgrading an old fuse box to a modern consumer unit with RCD protection typically costs £350 to £600 fitted, including testing. This is one of the more common safety upgrades in older properties.
Full house rewire
Rewiring a typical three-bedroom UK house usually costs £4,000 to £7,000, depending on the size of the property, how accessible the wiring is, and the finish (socket faceplates, fittings). Larger, listed or particularly hard-to-access properties can cost more — always get a site visit and written quote rather than estimating from a table.
Sockets, lighting and small jobs
Adding a socket, fitting a new light, or similar small jobs are usually priced as a fixed fee per job rather than hourly, since the scope is well defined. This makes it easy to compare quotes directly. Get a quote for the exact job you need.
What affects electrician cost
Indeed, two similar-sounding jobs can carry very different quotes. The main cost drivers are:
- Job type and complexity — a socket swap is quick; a rewire or fuse box upgrade takes a full day or more.
- Property size and access — more circuits, more rooms and harder access all add time.
- Age of the property — older wiring can throw up surprises (no earth, out-of-date cable) that add to the job once work starts.
- Timing — evenings, weekends and emergency call-outs carry a premium over standard hours.
- Region — London and the South East sit at the higher end of the national range.
- Qualifications required — notifiable work (such as a full rewire or new circuit) must be certified, either by a Part P registered electrician (for example via NICEIC or NAPIT) or signed off through building control.
How to save on electrician costs
A few sensible moves keep your electrician cost down without cutting corners:
- Bundle small jobs — asking an electrician to do several things in one visit shares the call-out cost across all of them.
- Ask for a fixed price on defined work — for straightforward jobs, a flat fee is easier to compare than an hourly estimate.
- Get an EICR before you need one — knowing your electrical condition ahead of a sale or let avoids a rushed, urgent job later.
- Avoid emergency call-outs where safe — non-urgent work booked in standard hours skips the out-of-hours premium.
- Compare 3 or more quotes — prices for the same job vary between electricians, so always compare at least three.
Ultimately, we don’t carry out electrical work ourselves, so we have no reason to steer you toward the most expensive option — our job is to help you compare and choose.
How to get free electrician quotes
The figures in this guide are typical 2026 ranges to help you plan. For a price you can rely on, you need quotes for your specific job from vetted, registered electricians.
Here’s how to compare well:
- Get at least three quotes so you can spot a fair price and an outlier.
- Check the electrician is Part P registered (for example via NICEIC or NAPIT) for any notifiable work.
- Confirm whether the price is hourly or fixed, and what the call-out fee includes.
- Ask for an EICR if you don’t have a recent one — it’s the clearest picture of your electrical safety.
- Get the scope in writing, including materials, testing and certification.
Through Trusted Tradesmen Quotes, you can request free, no-obligation quotes from registered local electricians near you in minutes. Because we’re independent, we connect you with multiple vetted electricians — not a single company.
If the problem can’t wait — no power, a burning smell, sparking — see our emergency electrician page for urgent, out-of-hours cover.
Get free quotes from registered electricians near you and compare your electrician cost today.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an electrician cost per hour in the UK?
UK electricians typically charge £40 to £60 per hour, more in London and the South East, though many jobs are quoted as a fixed price rather than hourly. Comparing a few local quotes is the best way to confirm a fair rate for your job.
How much does it cost to rewire a house?
Rewiring a typical three-bedroom UK house usually costs £4,000 to £7,000, depending on size, access and finish. Because prices vary widely on a job this size, always compare several written quotes rather than accepting the first.
How much does an EICR (electrical safety certificate) cost?
An EICR generally costs £150 to £300, depending on the size of the property and the number of circuits tested. It’s the standard check used when selling, letting, or simply confirming a home’s electrical condition.
How much does a fuse box upgrade cost?
Upgrading a fuse box, or consumer unit, typically costs £350 to £600 fitted, including testing. This is a common safety upgrade in homes with older wiring or no RCD protection.
Do I need a registered electrician for every job?
Notifiable electrical work — such as a full rewire, a new circuit, or work in a kitchen or bathroom — must be certified, either by a Part P registered electrician or signed off through building control. For smaller, non-notifiable jobs, it’s still worth using a registered, insured electrician for safety and accountability.