We’ve surveyed Which? Trusted Traders¹ to find out how much you might need to pay for a variety of electrical jobs around your home.
Our figures are only a guide to average costs, and there are several factors that can affect how much you’ll be charged, including:
- where you live
- the age and condition of your property
- how long the job takes
- whether the electrician is disposing of old appliances for you
- whether wires need to be hidden in walls (chased).
Ask electricians to break down the quotes they provide, so you know what you’re being charged for. Get at least three quotes to get a better idea of the going rate for your particular requirements.
Find trusted electricians near you. Only electricians who have passed an assessment by our trading standards professionals, and who follow our Code of Conduct, can become Trusted Traders.
Costs for electricians to work on light fittings
Unless otherwise specified, prices include labour and materials but exclude VAT.
|
Job
|
Details
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Price range
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Time to do
job
|
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Replace light fitting
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Remove standard fitting and replace with new one supplied by customer.
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£35-£55
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0.5-1 hour
|
|
Install dimmer switch
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Replace standard light switch with a dimmer.
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£35-£65
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0.5-1 hour
|
|
Install a light in loft
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Supply and fit light in loft with switch outside loft hatch; assumes no light already exists.
|
£75-£150
|
2-3 hours
|
|
Install downlighters
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Replace old strip lighting in kitchen with LED downlighters.
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£275-£440
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5-8 hours
|
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Install an external security light
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Supply and fit an external security light – movement sensitive.
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£85-£140
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1-3 hours*
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*Dependent on how close the light is to the electrical supply and the length of cable required.
Costs for sockets, cables and appliances
Unless otherwise specified, prices include labour and materials but exclude VAT.
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Job
|
Details
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Price range
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Time to do
job
|
|
Install two extra double sockets**
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Supply and fit two double sockets (white) in the lounge.
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£110-£165
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2–4 hours
|
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Install an outdoor power socket
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Fit a double socket on an external wall.
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£85-£135
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1-3 hours
|
|
Repair power cable
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Fix damaged cable on vacuum cleaner or similar appliance
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£35-£55
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0.5-1 hour
|
|
Fit an electric cooker
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Fit a single fan electric oven, where power is already in place and customer supplies oven.
|
£35-£65
|
1 hour
|
|
Install electric shower***
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Supply and fit an 8.5kw electric shower.
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£265-£415
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0.5-1 day
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**The price can increase if you want wires hidden (chased) in walls, as this takes longer and may require replastering. Surface wiring is cheaper and quicker, but doesn’t look as neat.
***You may also need to employ a plumber to complete the installation.
Costs for rewiring and electrical inspections
Bear in mind that it will take longer to rewire an occupied house than an empty one, which can affect the cost.
Rewiring often takes at least two people. It may be done more quickly with more staff, but costs (total man hours) are likely to be the same.
Unless otherwise specified, prices include labour and materials but exclude VAT.
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Job
|
Details
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Price range
|
Time to do
job
|
|
Completely rewire average two-bedroom terraced house
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Remove old wires and fittings and install new wiring and fittings in six rooms, including kitchen and bathroom.
|
£2,400-£3,500
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5–8 days
|
|
Completely rewire average three-bedroom semi-detached house
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Remove old wires and fittings and install new wiring and fittings in eight rooms including kitchen and bathroom.
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£3,000-£4,500
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6–10 days
|
|
Completely rewire average four-bedroom detached house
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Remove old wires and fittings and install new wiring and fittings in 10 rooms including kitchen and two bathrooms.
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£3,750-£5,500
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10–15 days
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Replace fuse box
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Supply and fit a new fuse box for a standard three-bedroom semi-detached house.
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£450-£550
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0.5-1 day
|
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Perform an electrical inspection report
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Safety check on electrical wiring in standard three-bedroom semi detached house.
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£150-£300
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4–8 hours
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How to save money when hiring electricians
Many electricians will charge per hour or per day, rather than having a set rate for certain types of jobs.
You may be able to reduce costs by cutting the time they need to spend preparing for the work, for example by moving furniture out of the way before a rewiring job.
Some smaller jobs, such as replacing a light switch, might only take a few minutes. So if you’re paying an hourly rate, grouping a few small jobs together could mean you get better value from your electrician’s visit.
More on this
¹Costs were checked and updated in 2018.
