Typical UK cost breakdown
Indicative UK ranges including labour, materials, testing and certification, but excluding making good unless stated. Prices vary by region and property condition.
Indicative figures · reviewed August 2026
Published UK electrical trade-rate ranges plus Estimo modelling for property sizes. Figures are indicative guidance, not a quotation, and actual quotes from tradespeople vary by job, access and specification.
| Cost element | Typical range | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat, full rewire | £2,800 – £4,500 | Fewer circuits and shorter cable runs, but access and floor coverings still drive labour. |
| 2–3 bed terrace or semi, full rewire | £4,000 – £7,000 | The most common job. Usually 6–10 working days for a two-person team. |
| 4 bed detached, full rewire | £7,000 – £11,000 | More circuits, longer runs, often two consumer units or a garage supply. |
| Partial rewire (kitchen, bathroom or one floor) | £1,200 – £3,000 | Priced per circuit; only worth it when the existing wiring tests sound. |
| Consumer unit (fuse board) replacement only | £450 – £900 | Includes RCBO protection and a full test and certification of existing circuits. |
| Making good — plaster, decoration, flooring | £800 – £3,500 | Frequently quoted separately, or excluded entirely. Always ask. |
| EICR (condition report) before you commit | £150 – £300 | Tells you whether you actually need a full rewire or just remedial work. |
Do you actually need a full rewire?
- Wiring older than about 30 years is usually near the end of its service life, but age alone is not proof it must be replaced.
- Rubber, fabric or lead-sheathed cable and old rewireable fuse boxes are strong signs a full rewire is due.
- Get an EICR first. A £150–£300 condition report tells you whether you need a rewire, a partial rewire, or just a few remedial fixes — and gives you a document to hold quotes against.
What makes the price move
Whether the house is empty
An unoccupied property can be rewired 20–30% cheaper. Working around furniture, carpets and a family in residence slows every circuit down.
Property age and construction
Solid walls, lath and plaster, and concrete floors mean chasing and surface trunking instead of easy joist runs. Pre-1960s houses almost always cost more.
How many sockets and points you want
Modern specs use far more double sockets, USB points, outside lights and network cabling than the original wiring did. Each extra point adds cable, labour and testing.
Consumer unit and earthing upgrades
Older installations often need a new main earth, bonding to gas and water, and sometimes a supply upgrade from the DNO — a separate charge outside the electrician's quote.
Region
London and the South East typically run 15–25% above the national average day rate; the North East and Wales sit below it.
Hidden costs people miss
- Making good: plastering, redecoration and refitting carpets are often excluded from the headline rewire price.
- Skip hire and waste removal, especially where old rubber or lead-sheathed cable is being stripped out.
- Temporary accommodation if the power will be off for several days.
- Building control notification — a Part P registered electrician should include this, but confirm it in writing.
- Fitting the light fittings themselves; most quotes price for pendants only, not your chosen fixtures.
How to check a quote for this job
- Is the electrician registered with a Part P scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT or ELECSA)? Ask for the registration number.
- Does the price list the number of circuits, sockets and light points, not just "rewire house"?
- Is a new consumer unit included, and does it use RCBOs rather than a shared RCD?
- Are the EIC certificate and Building Control notification included in the price?
- Is making good — plaster, decoration, flooring — inside or outside the quote?
- Is VAT shown separately, and is the deposit no more than a reasonable materials contribution?
- How many working days is quoted, and what happens to the price if the job overruns?
Not sure if your quote is fair?
Upload the quote or describe the job in plain English. Estimo gives you an indicative price range, flags missing line items and explains what's driving the total.
Estimo gives indicative, AI-generated guidance. Prices vary by region, specification and date — always confirm with a qualified trade before committing.
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