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How much does it cost? < Previous Issue 1 ... Issue 5

We contacted Which? Local-recommended traders to find out how Issue 6 Issue 7 Issue 8 Issue 9

much standard jobs should cost and how quickly they should be ... Issue 14 Next >
completed. Armed with this information, you’ll feel confident about
hiring traders and be better equipped to spot when things aren't
right.

More information about this feature

Issue 7 - Electricians: how much should you pay?

20 July 2012

We surveyed recommended electricians to find out how much you should spend on 15 common jobs and
how long they should take to complete.
We asked Which? Local-recommended electricians to complete a survey about the cost and completion time for 15
standard domestic electrical jobs.

Armed with this information, you'll know what questions to ask, roughly what price you can expect to pay and how
long jobs should take when hiring an electrician.

Electrician prices and completion times

All of our prices include labour and materials but exclude VAT.

Job Details Typical Price Typical time to complete job

price range
quoted

Replace light fitting Remove standard rose and replace with new £37 £30- 0.5-1 hour
light fitting supplied by customer. £50

Perform an electrical inspection Safety check on electrical wiring in standard £150 £120- 4–8 hours
report three-bed semi detached house. £180

Replace consumer unit Supply and fit a new consumer unit for standard £350 £300- 0.5-1 day
three-bed semi-detached house. £433

Install electric shower Supply and fit an 8.5kw electric shower. £300 £240- 0.5-1 day
£380

Install a light in loft Supply and fit light in loft with switch outside loft £95 £70- 2–3 hours
hatch. Assuming no light already exists. £140

Replace old strip lighting in n/a £330 £250- 5–8 hours

kitchen with LED downlighters £400

Install an outdoor power socket Fit a double socket on an external wall. £100 £79- 1-3 hours
£125

Install two extra double sockets in Supply and fit two double sockets (white). £120 £100- 2–4 hours
lounge £160

Replace standard light switch with n/a £50 £35- 0.5-1 hour
a dimmer switch £60

Fit an electric cooker Fit a single fan electric oven. Assuming all power £45 £35- 1 hour
is already in place. Customer supplying oven. £60

Repair a damaged power cable on n/a £40 £30- 0.5-1 hour

vacuum cleaner or other similar £50
appliance

Install an external security light Supply and fit an external security light – £100 £79- 1–3 hours (dependent on how close
movement sensitive. £130 light is to electrical supply and length
of cable required)

Completely rewire average two- Remove old wires and fittings, install new wiring £2,500 £2,183- 5–8 days
bed terraced house and fittings – six rooms including kitchen and £3,000
bathroom.

Completely rewire average three- Remove old wires and fittings, install new wiring £3,200 £2,838- 6–10 days
bed semi-detached house and fittings - eight rooms including kitchen and £4,000
bathroom.
 Completely rewire average four- Remove old wires and fittings, install new wiring £4,000 £3,400- 10–15 days
bed detached house and fittings - 10 rooms including kitchen and two £5,000
bathrooms.

Survey conducted in July 2012

Electrcial jobs: trader tips

In addition to the pricing and completion time information, the recommended electricians who particpated
in our survey also shared some helpful advice.

General

Most job prices include testing and certification.

Jobs are more straightforward in new houses where existing wiring and fittings already meet regulations. In older
houses, work may be more costly and time-consuming.

Job: replace light tting

Many electricians will have a minimum charge (often the rate for one hour) for small jobs like this. It could work out
more cost effective to get them to do several jobs at once.

Some electricians will charge a call-out fee for small jobs.

Job: perform an electrical inspection report

Time taken will usually include an inspection of the property plus one or two hours in the office to write up the
report.

Job: replace consumer unit

A good trader will usually include full testing with all installations.

If any faults are found during testing it could take extra time to diagnose problems and fix them.

Job: install electric shower

Fitting an electric shower requires electrical and plumbing skills. Some electricians are qualified to do plumbing
work so have included this in their costs. Others are only qualified to do the electrical installation so you would
need to employ a plumber separately.

Job: install a light in loft

This job is made easier if the loft is not boarded out as wiring can be accessed more easily.

Job: install two extra double sockets in lounge

Expect to pay at the higher end of the range if you want wires 'chased' into walls (hidden). Bear in mind that this will
take longer and may require plastering afterwards. Surface trunking is quicker and cheaper but won’t look as good.

Job: replace standard light switch with dimmer switch

Minimum charges may apply to a small job such as this. It would work out more cost effective to have several small
jobs done at once.

Job: repair a damaged power cable on vacuum cleaner or other similar appliance

Not all electricians undertake appliance repairs so you may need to find a specialist appliance repairer. Call-out fees
may apply as this is a small job.

Job: rewiring

It will take much longer to rewire an occupied house than an empty one.
Rewiring usually takes at least two people. If more staff are used, it may be done more quickly but costs (total man
hours) are likely to be the same.

Research methodology

In July 2012 we sent a survey to all Which? Local traders in the Electricians category with a rating of three stars or
more and an email address.

110 electricians responded to the survey. Using their experience and expertise, they answered questions about the
cost of popular domestic electrical jobs, and how long they should take to complete.

Read more about the methodology

Why not...
 Find a recommended electrician in your area

Found 14 How much does it cost? items in: Electricians

< 1 2 >

How much does it cost?, Issue 14 - Boilers and heating: how much should you pay?
We surveyed recommended boiler and central heating engineers to find out how much you
should spend on repairs and maintenance. Read more »
In Central heating, boilers & gas | Plumbers | House & home

How much does it cost?, Issue 13 - Roofers: how much should you pay?
We surveyed recommended roofers to find out how much you should spend on 12 common jobs
and how long they should take to complete. Read more »
In Roofers

How much does it cost?, Issue 12 - Plumbers: how much should you pay?
We surveyed recommended plumbers to find out how much you should spend on 12 common
jobs and how long they should take to complete. Read more »
In Plumbers | House & home

How much does it cost?, Issue 11 - Domestic appliance repairs: how much should you pay?
We surveyed appliance repair engineers to find out how much you should spend on 12 common
jobs and how long they should take. Read more »
In Domestic appliances | House & home

How much does it cost?, Issue 10 - Computer repairs: how much should you pay?
We surveyed recommended computer repair professionals to find out how much you should
spend on PC repairs. Read more »
In Computer shops | Technology

How much does it cost?, Issue 9 - Home maintenance and handyman jobs: how much
should you pay?
We surveyed recommended handymen to find out how much you should spend on 12 common
jobs. Read more »
In Maintenance & handy man | House & home | Painters & decorators
 How much does it cost?, Issue 8 - Gardeners and landscape designers: how much should
you pay?
We surveyed recommended gardeners and landscape designers to find out how much you
should spend on 12 common jobs. Read more »
In Gardeners & landscaping | Garden centres | Garden

How much does it cost?, Issue 7 - Electricians: how much should you pay?
We surveyed recommended electricians to find out how much you should spend on 15 common
jobs and how long they should take to complete. Read more »
In Electricians | House & home

How much does it cost?, Issue 6 - Plasterers: how much should you pay?
We surveyed recommended plasterers to find out how much you should spend on 12 common
jobs and how long they should take to complete. Read more »
In Plasterers | House & home

How much does it cost?, Issue 5 - Painters and decorators: how much should you pay?
We surveyed recommended painters and decorators to find out how much you should spend on
10 common jobs and how long they should take to complete. Read more »
In Painters & decorators | Maintenance & handy man | House & home

< 1 2 >

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