02 May 2024

How much do electricians cost?

Our expert guide to the average cost of some common electrical jobs, from installing a new light to rewiring a house

Which?Editorial team

Electricians doing work on a plug 476867

In this article

Costs for electricians to work on light fittings
Costs for sockets, cables and appliances
Costs for rewiring and electrical inspections
Find trusted electricians near you
How to save money when hiring electricians

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.

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Costs for electricians to work on light fittings

Job	Details	Price	Time to do job
Replace light fitting	Remove standard fitting and replace with new one supplied by customer.	£77	0.5-1 hour
Install dimmer switch	Replace standard light switch with a dimmer.	£80	0.5-1 hour
Install a light in loft	Supply and fit light in loft with switch outside loft hatch; assumes no light already exists.	£193	2-3 hours
Install downlighters	Replace old strip lighting in kitchen with LED downlighters. Price per downlight.	£65	5-8 hours
Install an external security light	Supply and fit an external security light – movement sensitive.	£170	1-3 hours*

*Dependent on how close the light is to the electrical supply and the length of cable required.

Unsure where to start when looking for new lighting? Read our guide on how to buy the best light bulbs

Costs for sockets, cables and appliances

Job	Details	Price	Time to do job
Install two extra double sockets**	Supply and fit two double sockets (white) in the lounge.	£188	2–4 hours
Install an outdoor power socket	Fit a double socket on an external wall.	£150	1-3 hours
Repair power cable	Fix damaged cable on vacuum cleaner or similar appliance	£77	0.5-1 hour
Fit an electric cooker	Fit a single fan electric oven, where power is already in place and customer supplies oven.	£82	1 hour
Install electric shower***	Supply and fit an 8.5kw electric shower.	£450	0.5-1 day

**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.

From ovens and dishwashers to washing machines, discover the best large appliance brands, based on our extensive survey of thousands of customers

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.

Job	Details	Price	Time to do job
Completely rewire average two-bedroom terraced house	Remove old wires and fittings and install new wiring and fittings in six rooms, including kitchen and bathroom.	£4,500	5–8 days
Completely rewire average three-bedroom semi-detached house	Remove old wires and fittings and install new wiring and fittings in eight rooms including kitchen and bathroom.	£5,300	6–10 days
Completely rewire average four-bedroom detached house	Remove old wires and fittings and install new wiring and fittings in 10 rooms including kitchen and two bathrooms.	£7,250	10–15 days
Replace fuse box	Supply and fit a new fuse box for a standard three-bedroom semi-detached house.	£750	0.5-1 day
Perform an electrical inspection report	Safety check on electrical wiring in standard three-bedroom semi detached house.	£240	4–8 hours

If you're carrying out lots of work like rewiring, consider improving your insulation at the same time. Our guide explains insulation costs for different types of homes

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.

Use the tool below to find trusted electricians near you.

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.

Check out our tips on how to find a reputable trader, to make sure you don't get ripped off or left with poor quality work

¹Costs were checked and updated in April 2024. All prices are an average of those quoted by 20 electricians endorsed by Which? Trusted Traders.