TL;DR — Electrician Cost At A Glance
- Most electricians charge £40–£60 per hour outside London, rising to £55–£75 per hour in London and the South East.
- A full day (7–8 hours) typically runs £220–£400, or £300–£450 in London.
- Expect a call-out fee of £60–£120 (often including the first hour); emergency call-outs cost £120–£350.
- Prices depend on the job type, location, access, materials and whether the work is notifiable under Part P.
- Most home electrical work must be done by a registered, certified electrician — cheap unregistered labour can cost far more to put right.
- Bundling several jobs into one visit and booking off-peak are the simplest ways to lower the total bill.
Get a fixed price for an electrician — check prices and book online or call to talk through a call-out, a single job or a full day of work.
How Much Does An Electrician Cost In 2026?
Hiring an electrician in the UK costs £40–£60 per hour on average, climbing to £55–£75 per hour in London and the South East. Book a full day and you will usually pay a day rate of £220–£400 (£300–£450 in the capital), covering roughly 7–8 hours of labour plus standard tools and testing equipment.
Most electricians also charge a call-out fee of £60–£120, which normally includes the first hour on site. For out-of-hours or same-day emergencies — a total power loss, burning smell or exposed live wiring — expect £120–£350, as evening, weekend and bank-holiday rates run well above standard hours.
The single biggest thing that moves the price is the type of job. Swapping a socket is a quick, low-cost visit; installing a consumer unit or running new circuits takes hours, involves notifiable work and requires certification. Here is what to expect for general electrical labour across the UK:
| How you book | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour | £40–£60 | £55–£75 |
| Half day (approx. 3–4 hrs) | £120–£220 | £180–£280 |
| Full day (approx. 7–8 hrs) | £220–£400 | £300–£450 |
| Call-out (incl. first hour) | £60–£120 | £90–£150 |
| Emergency / out-of-hours call-out | £120–£350 | £180–£400 |
Figures include VAT where applicable and reflect 2026 market rates. Your exact price depends on the job and your postcode — get a fixed quote here.
How Much Does An Electrician Cost By Job?
Many electricians give a fixed price for a defined job rather than charging purely by the hour. These are typical price ranges for common tasks — each links to a dedicated cost guide with a full breakdown:
| Job | Typical price (rest of UK) | Typical price (London) |
|---|---|---|
| EICR / safety certificate | £120–£350 | £250–£400 |
| PAT testing (small batch) | £50–£120 | £70–£140 |
| Fuse box / consumer unit replacement | £450–£750 | £700–£1,200 |
| Light fitting installation (per fitting) | £50–£150 | £80–£200 |
| Socket or switch replacement (per socket) | £50–£120 | £80–£220 |
| Full house rewire (3-bed) | £5,500–£8,000 | £6,500–£10,000 |
| Carbon monoxide alarm (supply & fit) | £50–£180 | £70–£200 |
What Affects The Cost Of Hiring An Electrician?
Several factors decide where a job lands in the ranges above.
1. The Type And Complexity Of The Work
A quick socket swap or light fitting sits at the low end. Work that involves new circuits, a consumer unit, or testing and certification takes far longer and needs specialist equipment, so it costs more. Fault-finding is also priced by time, because tracing an intermittent problem can take an hour or a full day.
2. Your Location
London and the South East run roughly 15–30% higher than the North of England, Wales and Scotland, reflecting higher labour and travel costs. A £45/hr electrician in the Midlands is often £60–£70/hr for equivalent work in the capital.
3. Whether The Work Is Notifiable Under Part P
In England and Wales, certain jobs — new circuits, consumer unit changes, and work in bathrooms or outdoors — are notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. These must be carried out by an electrician registered with a Competent Person Scheme (such as NICEIC or NAPIT) or signed off by Building Control, which adds cost but protects safety and resale value.
4. Access And Property Age
Older homes with buried cabling, plaster walls or no loft access take longer to work in. Difficult access — high ceilings, boarded floors, tight cupboards — slows a job and pushes up the hours charged.
5. Materials And Parts
Quotes are often for labour only. Consumer units, cabling, sockets, fittings and specialist parts are added on top. Premium or smart fittings cost considerably more than standard equivalents.
6. Timing And Urgency
Standard weekday appointments are cheapest. Same-day, evening, weekend and bank-holiday call-outs carry a premium, sometimes up to double the standard hourly rate plus a call-out fee.
What's Included — And What's Not
| Typically included in an electrician's rate: | Usually charged separately: |
|---|---|
| Labour for the agreed hours or job | Consumer units, cabling, sockets, switches and light fittings |
| Use of standard tools and test instruments | An EICR or certification where the job requires it |
| Minor consumables (connectors, cable clips, terminal blocks) | Making good — plastering, decorating or filling chases after cabling |
| A safe, tidy finish and basic testing of the work done | Scaffold or access equipment for high or awkward work |
Always get a written quote that spells out what is included, so the final bill matches the estimate.
Can You Do It Yourself?
Some minor jobs are legal for a competent DIYer in England and Wales — replacing a like-for-like socket front, swapping a light fitting on an existing circuit, or changing a switch. These are non-notifiable, but they still carry real risk if done wrong.
Most other work should go to a professional. New circuits, consumer unit changes, and any work in a bathroom or outdoors are notifiable under Part P and must be certified. Beyond the legal position, faulty DIY wiring is a leading cause of house fires and electric shock, and uncertified work can invalidate home insurance and complicate a future sale. When in doubt, call a registered electrician — the cost of doing it once, correctly, is almost always lower than fixing a botched job.
How To Save Money On An Electrician
- Bundle jobs into a single visit — several sockets, lights and small repairs in one appointment spreads the call-out fee across more work.
- Book standard hours and avoid emergency slots where the job can safely wait.
- Supply your own fittings where the electrician is happy to fit customer-provided parts (check first — some prefer to source their own for warranty reasons).
- Prepare the space — clear access, move furniture and empty cupboards so paid time goes on the work, not setup.
- Get 2–3 quotes and compare what is included, not just the headline rate.
- Book an EICR before problems escalate — catching faults early is cheaper than emergency repairs.
How To Hire A Good Electrician
Whoever you choose, confirm they are registered with a Competent Person Scheme (NICEIC or NAPIT), that they carry public liability insurance, and that they will issue the correct certificate for the work (an Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate). Ask for reviews or references, get a written quote that lists materials and labour separately, and confirm how notifiable work will be certified.
With Fantastic Services, you get vetted, insured and qualified electricians, transparent pricing and online booking — describe the job and get a price up front.
Fantastic Services Electrician Costs
| Monday – Friday | Weekend | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments | 08:00 - 18:00 | Before/After Working Hours | 08:00 - 17:30 | Before/After Working Hours |
| First half hour* | £61 | £87 | £77 | £87 |
| Subsequent half hours | £49 | £75 | £65 | £75 |
| Full day (8 hours) | £569 | --- | --- | --- |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does An Electrician Cost Per Hour In The UK?
In 2026, electricians charge around £40–£60 per hour across most of the UK, rising to £55–£75 per hour in London and the South East. The exact rate depends on the job, experience and how urgent the work is.
What Is A Typical Electrician Day Rate?
A full day of electrical work (7–8 hours) usually costs £220–£400 outside London and £300–£450 in London. Day rates cover labour and standard tools but not materials such as consumer units, cabling or fittings.
How Much Is An Electrician Call-Out Charge?
A standard call-out costs £60–£120 and often includes the first hour of labour. Emergency, evening and weekend call-outs cost £120–£350 because out-of-hours rates are higher.
Does Electrical Work Need To Be Done By A Registered Electrician?
Most home electrical work should be. In England and Wales, notifiable work under Part P — new circuits, consumer unit changes, and work in bathrooms or outdoors — must be carried out by an electrician registered with a Competent Person Scheme or signed off by Building Control.
How Much Does An Emergency Electrician Cost?
Emergency and out-of-hours call-outs typically run £120–£350, made up of a higher call-out fee plus a premium hourly rate. Costs rise on evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Is It Cheaper To Pay By The Hour Or For A Fixed Job Price?
For small, well-defined tasks a fixed job price is often better value and removes surprises. For fault-finding or several unrelated jobs, an hourly rate or a half-day booking can work out cheaper — bundling tasks into one visit usually gives the best value.
Sources (market research, 2026): Checkatrade, MyBuilder, MyJobQuote, Housekeep and regional electrical providers. All prices are indicative market ranges and should be verified against Fantastic Services' live pricing before publication.
