How Much Do Electricians Charge in the UK? (2026 Price Guide)

2026-08-19 · 9 min read

"How much do electricians charge?" is the first thing most UK homeowners type before they ring round for quotes — and it's the number every electrician needs to get right. Price too high and you lose the job; price too low and you work for nothing. This 2026 guide sets out the going rates across the UK, typical prices for the most common jobs, and how to present them so your quote wins.

All figures below are UK guide prices in pounds, excluding VAT unless stated. They're a starting point — your own rates depend on your region, your overheads, and the specific job. When you're ready to price a real job, our free electrician quote calculator does the maths for you and turns it into a branded quote.

Electrician hourly and day rates in the UK

Most UK electricians charge either by the hour or by the day. As a 2026 guide: an hourly rate typically lands between £40 and £60, and a day rate between £250 and £350 for a qualified electrician. London and the South East sit at the top of those ranges (often £350–£450 a day); the North, Scotland and Wales tend to sit lower. A first-hour or call-out rate of £60–£90 is common to cover travel and small jobs, with subsequent time billed at the standard rate.

Whatever your rate, the key is to cover the true cost of the van, tools, insurance, scheme membership (NICEIC or NAPIT) and non-billable time — not just the hour you're stood in the customer's kitchen.

Call-out fees

For emergencies and small jobs, a call-out fee protects you from spending an hour's driving on a five-minute fix. A typical UK electrician call-out is £60–£90 in normal hours, rising to £90–£150 for evenings, weekends and bank holidays. List it as its own line on the quote so it never gets absorbed or argued over.

Typical prices for common electrical jobs (2026)

Here are the jobs UK homeowners search for most, with realistic 2026 price ranges. Adjust to your area and the specifics of the property.

Extra double socket (spur off existing circuit): £100–£180. Fitting a new socket on a chase-in is more than a surface-mounted one. Fault finding / diagnosis: £80–£150 for the first hour, more for intermittent faults. Replacing a consumer unit (fuse board) with an 18th Edition board and RCBOs: £450–£700 including certification and notification. Full EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report): £120–£250 depending on property size — see our dedicated EICR cost guide. Fitting six LED downlights in a ceiling: £300–£500 depending on access and existing wiring. Outdoor socket or garden supply: £120–£250. Dedicated cooker or oven circuit: £200–£350. Full house rewire (3-bed): £3,500–£6,500 depending on size, access and finish, usually split into first fix, second fix and testing. EV charger installation (7kW home charge point): £800–£1,200 before any grant, including the unit, cabling and commissioning.

What affects the price

Three things move a quote up or down: labour time (access, chasing walls, and how much making-good is involved), materials (a like-for-like consumer unit versus a larger board with surge protection), and compliance (notifiable work under Part P needs certification and building-control notification, which costs money and belongs on the quote). Older properties, restricted access and "while you're here" extras are the usual reasons a job runs over — flag them before you start, not after.

Regional variation across the UK

Location matters. London and the South East command the highest rates in the country; the South West, Midlands and East sit in the middle; and the North, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are typically 15–25% below London for the same job. Don't benchmark yourself against a national average — benchmark against other qualified, insured, scheme-registered electricians in your own town.

How to present your prices so you win the job

The electrician who wins usually isn't the cheapest — it's the one whose quote is clearest. Itemise labour and materials on separate lines, show certification and notification explicitly, put VAT as its own line if you're registered, and add a short scope so the customer knows exactly what's included. A branded PDF that lands on the customer's phone within the hour beats a scribbled figure every time.

A note on VAT

If you're VAT registered, quotes should show the net figure, the VAT at 20%, and the gross total. Most domestic electrical work is standard-rated, though some energy-saving installations and work in certain qualifying properties can attract a reduced rate — check the current HMRC guidance for your specific job, as the rules change.

Quote your next electrical job in under 2 minutes

Once you know your rates, the slow part is writing the quote. instanttradequote gives you an electrician job library with UK guide prices, certification lines built in, and a branded PDF you can send by WhatsApp or email from the van. Try the free electrician quote calculator to price a job now, or start free and send your first quote in minutes — no card needed.