Electrician Cost Per Hour & Common Job Prices

Most UK electricians currently charge around £40 to £60 an hour, or roughly £250 to £450 for a full day, with rates towards the top of that range across the South East, including Reading, and higher still in London. For small jobs you will usually be quoted a fixed price or a minimum charge rather than a strict hourly rate, so the real cost depends on the job, not just the clock.

Electrical work is one of the few home jobs where the cheapest option is rarely the right one. This guide covers what electricians typically charge, what common jobs cost, which work has to be certified under Building Regulations, and how to get quotes you can compare fairly.

How electricians charge

Electricians price work in three main ways, and it helps to know which one you are being quoted.

Hourly rate

An hourly rate is most common for fault-finding, small repairs and jobs where the electrician cannot see the full scope until they start. Typical UK rates sit around £40 to £60 an hour. In the South East and Home Counties, expect something closer to £50 to £75, and in central London £75 or more is common.

Day rate

For longer jobs, such as adding several circuits or working through a renovation, many electricians charge a day rate. A typical range is roughly £250 to £450 a day across most of the UK, rising towards £400 to £600 in London. A day rate usually covers labour only, with materials added on top.

Fixed price per job

For well-defined work, such as fitting a new socket, swapping a light fitting or replacing a consumer unit, most electricians will give a fixed price. This is usually the easiest way to compare quotes, because it removes the guesswork about how long the job will take.

Minimum charges and call-outs

Many electricians have a minimum charge for small jobs, often equivalent to the first hour, or a call-out fee of roughly £60 to £120 during normal working hours. Out-of-hours and emergency work costs more: rates of around £90 to £150 an hour, sometimes with a separate call-out charge, are typical. If you have a few small jobs, it is usually cheaper to group them into one visit.

Typical prices for common electrical jobs

The figures below are typical UK ranges for labour and standard materials. They vary by property, access, the condition of your existing wiring and where you live, so treat them as a guide rather than a quote.

Job

Typical UK range

Notes

Hourly rate

£40 – £60 per hour

Higher in the South East and London

Day rate

£250 – £450 per day

Labour only in most cases

Add a new socket (spur from existing circuit)

£60 – £180

Cheaper if fitted alongside other work

Replace a socket or switch like for like

£50 – £100

Often covered by a minimum charge

Replace a ceiling light fitting

£60 – £150

More for heavy or complex fittings

Install new downlights

£50 – £100 per light

Depends on ceiling access and number fitted

Consumer unit (fuse box) replacement

£450 – £1,000

Extra if faults are found during testing

Home EV charger installation

£800 – £1,500

Usually including a standard smart charger

EICR (electrical safety report)

£125 – £350

Rises with the size of the property

Full house rewire

£3,500 – £10,000+

Depends on size, access and finishes

Want a firm price rather than a range? Tell us about the job and we will match you with up to 3 local electricians.

What affects the price

Your existing wiring

Older installations are the biggest variable. If your wiring is decades old, has no RCD protection or shows signs of wear, an electrician may need to do extra testing or remedial work before they can safely add anything new. That can turn a simple job into a bigger one.

Access and making good

Running a new cable through finished walls and ceilings takes longer than working in an open loft or under floorboards. Most electricians will chase walls and lift boards, but they do not usually include replastering or redecorating, so ask what “making good” covers.

Materials and fittings

A basic white socket and a designer brushed-metal one cost very different amounts. The same goes for light fittings, downlights and EV chargers. If you are supplying your own fittings, tell the electrician up front.

Location

Rates broadly follow local living costs. Reading and the wider Thames Valley tend to sit in the upper half of national ranges, below London but above much of the Midlands and the North. You can find out more about the area on our Reading area page.

Certification and testing

Notifiable work has to be tested and certified, and that time is built into the price. A quote that seems much cheaper than others may have left this out, which is a warning sign rather than a saving.

The main jobs explained

Adding a socket

The cost to add a socket depends mostly on whether it can be taken as a spur from an existing circuit or needs a new circuit back to the consumer unit. A spur near an existing socket is a quick job. A socket in a new extension, an outbuilding or a kitchen worktop run is more involved. Adding a socket in a bathroom or other special location has its own rules, so always use a qualified electrician.

Replacing a consumer unit

The consumer unit, often still called the fuse box, controls and protects every circuit in your home. Replacement is usually recommended if yours has old rewireable fuses, no RCD protection, or a plastic casing on an older unit. Typical consumer unit replacement costs run from around £450 to £1,000. Before fitting a new unit, the electrician will test your existing circuits, and any faults found (such as poor insulation or missing earthing) will need fixing before the new unit can be certified. That is where costs can rise, so ask how they price remedial work.

Installing an EV charger

A home EV charger installation usually runs from around £800 to £1,500 including a standard smart charger, depending on the charger model, the cable run from your consumer unit to the parking space, and whether your supply needs any upgrades. The installer should check your incoming supply and may need to notify your electricity network operator. Make sure they are approved by the charger manufacturer so your warranty is valid.

Getting an EICR

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is an inspection of your whole installation. It is required for most privately rented homes in England at least every five years, and it is a sensible check when you buy an older property or before major work. Prices usually range from around £125 for a small flat to £350 or more for a large house. The report may list observations coded by urgency, and any remedial work is quoted separately.

Rewiring

A full rewire is the biggest electrical job most homeowners face. If you think your home may need one, it is worth getting an EICR first so the electrician can tell you whether a full or partial rewire is needed.

What is notifiable under Part P

In England, electrical work in homes is covered by Part P of the Building Regulations. Not all work is notifiable, but the main jobs that are include:

installing a new circuit

replacing a consumer unit

adding to or altering a circuit in a special location, such as a room with a bath or shower

Notifiable work must be reported to your local building control body. The simplest route is to use an electrician registered with a competent person scheme, such as NICEIC or NAPIT. They can self-certify their work and notify building control for you. You should then receive an Electrical Installation Certificate from the electrician, and a Building Regulations compliance certificate, usually through the scheme.

Smaller jobs, such as replacing a socket, switch or light fitting like for like, are usually not notifiable, but they should still be tested and you should be given a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate.

Keep all of these certificates safe. Your buyer’s solicitor is likely to ask for them when you sell, and missing paperwork can cause delays.

Rules differ slightly in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so if you live outside England, check with your local building control.

Safety first: don’t DIY electrics

Electrical work can cause fires and serious injury if it goes wrong, and faults are not always obvious until much later. Unless you are simply changing a bulb or resetting a tripped switch, call a registered electrician. If you smell burning, see scorch marks around a socket or hear crackling, switch off at the consumer unit if it is safe to do so and get professional help.

How to check an electrician

Before you hire anyone:

check they are registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT, using the scheme’s online search

ask whether they will provide an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate for your job

confirm they have public liability insurance

ask for a written quote that sets out what is and is not included

look for reviews from real customers who have had similar work done

You can browse vetted electricians near you and see reviews from genuine, invoiced jobs.

Getting quotes

To get quotes that you can compare properly, give each electrician the same brief:

Describe the job clearly: what you want, where it is in the house, and any fittings you have chosen.

Mention the age of your wiring and consumer unit if you know it, or send a photo of the consumer unit.

Ask what is included: testing, certification, building control notification, materials, and making good.

Ask how they price extras: if they find a fault during testing, how will they charge to fix it?

Check timescales: when they can start and how long the work will take.

Getting three quotes gives you a realistic view of the going rate and helps you spot a quote that is missing something important. The cheapest quote is not always the best value, especially if it leaves out certification.

Get up to 3 quotes from vetted local electricians. Tell us about the job and your postcode, and we’ll match you with trades whose reviews come from real, invoiced jobs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average electrician hourly rate in the UK?

Most electricians charge around £40 to £60 an hour, with rates in the South East usually a little higher and London rates often £75 or more. Many quote a fixed price for small jobs instead.

How much does it cost to add a socket?

Adding a socket as a spur from an existing circuit typically costs around £60 to £180. It costs more if a new circuit is needed, if the cable run is long, or if the socket is in a bathroom or outbuilding.

What is the consumer unit replacement cost?

Replacing a consumer unit typically costs around £450 to £1,000, including testing and certification. Costs can rise if the electrician finds faults in your existing circuits that must be fixed first.

Do electricians charge a call-out fee?

Many do, especially for small jobs and emergencies. A daytime call-out or minimum charge of around £60 to £120 is common, and out-of-hours work costs more.

Is a day rate cheaper than paying by the hour?

For longer jobs it usually is. A day rate of £250 to £450 typically works out cheaper than paying an hourly rate for eight hours, but check whether materials are included.

What certificate should I get after electrical work?

For notifiable work, you should receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and a Building Regulations compliance certificate. For small jobs, such as replacing a socket or light fitting, you should receive a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate.