TL;DR — PAT Testing Cost At A Glance
- PAT testing costs £1–£3 per item, with a minimum call-out of £50–£90 for small jobs, rising to £70–£140 in London.
- A small batch of appliances (up to around 20 items) typically costs £60–£120 outside London.
- Price is driven by the number of items, the travel/minimum charge and your location — larger batches cost less per item.
- PAT testing is not a strict legal requirement, but it is the standard way landlords and businesses show electrical appliances are safe.
- The fee usually includes labelling, a pass/fail check and a test report; faulty items are flagged, not repaired.
- Booking in bulk and combining with an EICR is the cheapest way to keep appliances certified.
Get a fixed price for PAT testing — check prices and book online or call to arrange testing for a home, rental or business.
How Much Does PAT Testing Cost In 2026?
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) costs £1–£3 per item in the UK, but nearly every provider applies a minimum call-out charge of £50–£90 to cover travel and setup, rising to £70–£140 in London and the South East. For most homes and small offices, a small batch of up to around 20 items costs £60–£120 outside London.
Because the per-item rate is low, the price of a small job is dominated by the minimum charge, not the number of appliances. That is why testing 5 items and 15 items often costs much the same — you are paying for the electrician's visit. Once you get into larger batches, the per-item price falls and can drop below £1 per item for hundreds of appliances.
A test itself combines a visual inspection — checking the plug, lead, casing and fuse for damage — with electronic tests using a PAT tester, covering earth continuity, insulation resistance and correct polarity. Earthed appliances (Class 1, such as kettles and toasters) get the full set of tests; double-insulated items (Class 2, such as many chargers and hairdryers) are tested slightly differently. Each item passes or fails, gets a dated label, and is logged on the report.
| How you book | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum call-out (small job) | £50–£90 | £70–£140 |
| Small batch (up to ~20 items) | £60–£120 | £90–£150 |
| Per item (large batches) | £1–£3 | £2–£4 |
Figures include VAT where applicable and reflect 2026 market rates. Your exact price depends on the number of items and your postcode — get a fixed quote here.
PAT Testing Cost By Number Of Items
The number of appliances is the clearest way to estimate a PAT testing bill. These are typical all-in prices:
| Number of items | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 items | £50–£90 | £70–£120 |
| 10–20 items | £60–£110 | £90–£140 |
| 20–50 items | £80–£150 | £120–£200 |
| 50–100 items | £100–£250 | £150–£300 |
| 100+ items | from £1–£2 per item | from £2–£3 per item |
An "item" is any single plug-in appliance — kettles, toasters, computers, chargers, lamps, extension leads, power tools and similar. Extension leads and multi-way adaptors each count as one item and are among the most common to fail. Fixed wiring is not covered by PAT testing; that is assessed by an EICR instead.
What Affects The Cost Of PAT Testing?
1. The Number Of Items
The main driver, but not in a straight line. Small jobs are dominated by the minimum charge, while large batches benefit from a lower per-item rate. Counting appliances accurately before booking helps get an accurate quote.
2. The Minimum Call-Out Charge
Almost every job carries a minimum fee of £50–£90 (more in London) to cover travel and setup. For a handful of items, this is effectively the whole price.
3. 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.
4. Type And Accessibility Of Appliances
Hard-wired or awkwardly placed equipment, IT gear that must be shut down, and appliances spread across multiple floors or sites all add time. Grouping items in one accessible area speeds up testing.
5. Reporting Requirements
A basic pass/fail labelling service costs less than a detailed asset register with individual readings, which some businesses and insurers require.
6. Frequency And Contract
One-off visits cost more per item than a regular testing contract. Landlords and businesses that book annually often secure a better rate.
What's Included — And What's Not
| Typically included in PAT testing | Usually charged separately |
|---|---|
| A visual inspection of each appliance, plug and lead | Repair or replacement of any failed appliances |
| Electronic testing with a PAT tester (earth continuity, insulation, polarity) | Rewiring plugs or replacing damaged leads beyond a simple fix |
| A pass or fail label on each item with the test date | An EICR for the property's fixed wiring |
| A test report or asset log for your records | A detailed asset register where a basic pass/fail is not enough |
Can You Do It Yourself?
For a low-risk visual check, anyone can look over plugs and leads for damage, scorching or loose connections — and unplugging anything that looks unsafe is sensible. But a full PAT test needs a calibrated PAT tester and someone competent to interpret the readings and issue a report.
For landlords, workplaces and public settings, a professional test is the practical standard. The equipment cost and the need for a credible, documented result mean that paying a qualified electrician is usually more sensible than buying a tester for a one-off job.
How To Save Money On PAT Testing
- Test in bulk — the per-item rate drops sharply on larger batches, so time visits when there are more items to check.
- Group appliances in one accessible area so the electrician works through them quickly.
- Combine with an EICR or other electrical work in a single visit to spread the call-out charge.
- Set a sensible schedule — over-testing low-risk items wastes money; follow a risk-based interval.
- Book an annual contract if you are a landlord or business for a better per-item rate.
- Get 2–3 quotes and check whether the minimum charge and reporting are included.
How To Hire A Good Electrician For PAT Testing
Confirm the tester is competent and uses calibrated equipment, and ask whether they are registered with a recognised scheme (such as NICEIC or NAPIT). Check that a report or asset register is included, ask for reviews or references, and get a clear price that states the minimum charge and per-item rate.
With Fantastic Services, you get vetted, insured electricians, transparent pricing and online booking — book PAT testing for a home, rental or workplace and receive a clear report.
Book Your PAT Testing Today
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does PAT Testing Cost Per Item?
PAT testing costs around £1–£3 per item, but most jobs carry a minimum call-out of £50–£90 (more in London). Small jobs are priced by the minimum charge, while large batches attract a lower per-item rate.
Is PAT Testing A Legal Requirement?
There is no law that specifically mandates PAT testing. However, landlords, employers and public venues have a legal duty to keep electrical equipment safe, and PAT testing is the recognised way to demonstrate that duty has been met.
How Often Should Appliances Be PAT Tested?
It depends on risk. Frequently used or portable equipment in a workplace may be tested annually or more often, while low-risk items can go longer. Landlords commonly test portable appliances they supply at the start of each tenancy or annually.
What Items Need To Be PAT Tested?
Any appliance that plugs into a socket — kettles, microwaves, computers, chargers, lamps, extension leads and power tools. Fixed wiring is not part of PAT testing and is checked by an EICR instead.
Do New Appliances Need PAT Testing?
New items are generally sold in a safe condition and do not need testing straight away, though many organisations log them and add them to the next scheduled test. A quick visual check on arrival is still good practice.
How Long Does PAT Testing Take?
A small batch of around 10–20 items usually takes under an hour. Larger jobs of 100 or more appliances can take several hours or a full day, depending on access and layout.
What Happens If An Appliance Fails A PAT Test?
A failed item is labelled and should be taken out of use until repaired or replaced. Simple issues, such as a wrong fuse or a damaged plug, can often be fixed cheaply on the spot; more serious faults usually mean the appliance is retired. The repair or replacement is not part of the testing fee, and fixed wiring is covered separately by an EICR rather than a PAT test.
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.
