How much does it cost to replace a consumer unit in the UK?
A consumer unit replacement costs £600 on average in the UK. Most jobs fall between £450 and £900 fitted, including certificate. Board type: Standard dual-RCD board £450 to £650, Full RCBO board £600 to £850, Board plus remedial work £750 to £900. Prices reviewed June 2026.
Replacing a consumer unit usually costs between £450 and £900 in the UK, with most homes paying around £600. The price depends mainly on the type of board, how many circuits you have and whether any remedial work is needed to pass testing.
Consumer unit replacement cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your consumer unit replacement in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Consumer unit replacement cost breakdown
Typical consumer unit replacement costs, by option:
| Board type | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Standard dual-RCD board | £450 to £650 |
| Full RCBO board | £600 to £850 |
| Board plus remedial work | £750 to £900 |
What's included in the price?
Typical consumer unit replacement prices include:
- A visit from a registered electrician
- A modern board with RCD or RCBO protection to the latest wiring regs
- Disconnecting the old fuse box and fitting the new unit
- Testing every circuit and issuing an Electrical Installation Certificate
- Notifying the work to Building Control under Part P
What changes the price?
The things that move consumer unit replacement prices most:
The type of board (dual RCD vs full RCBO)
The number of circuits or ways
Whether faults are found that must be fixed to pass testing
Where the board sits and how easy it is to reach
Your region and the electrician's day rate
How the price is built up
The quote covers the new board, the electrician's time to swap it over, full testing of every circuit and the Electrical Installation Certificate, plus notifying the work to Building Control. More circuits, a full RCBO board or any faults found during testing push the price up. The board itself is usually £80 to £200, and a full RCBO unit costs more than a dual-RCD one. Most of the price is the electrician's labour for disconnecting, fitting, testing and certifying, which is around half a day to a day's work.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Bundle the replacement with an EICR or EV charger install so one visit covers both
- Get two or three quotes from local registered electricians rather than a national firm
- Ask whether a dual-RCD board meets your needs before paying for a full RCBO unit
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, a consumer unit replacement typically costs around £780 fitted, including certificate, about 30% above the UK average of £600. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £550.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £450 | £600 | £900 |
| London | £590 | £780 | £1,200 |
| South East / South West | £520 | £690 | £1,000 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £410 | £550 | £830 |
Guide prices fitted, including certificate, scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Consumer unit replacement cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £380 | £510 | £770 |
| Birmingham | £440 | £590 | £880 |
| Bristol | £500 | £660 | £990 |
| Cardiff | £420 | £560 | £850 |
| Edinburgh | £440 | £590 | £880 |
| Glasgow | £410 | £540 | £810 |
| Leeds | £420 | £560 | £840 |
| Liverpool | £410 | £550 | £830 |
| London | £590 | £780 | £1,200 |
| Manchester | £430 | £580 | £860 |
| Newcastle | £410 | £540 | £810 |
| Sheffield | £410 | £550 | £830 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for consumer unit replacement, not quotes.
Electricians in London and the South East charge the most, often £700 or more; the North, Wales and Scotland are typically £100 to £200 cheaper for the same job.
Common questions
How much does it cost to replace a consumer unit in 2026?
Most homes pay between £450 and £900 to have a consumer unit replaced, with around £600 being typical. A basic dual-RCD board in an easy-to-reach spot sits at the lower end, while a full RCBO board or a job needing remedial work costs more.
What makes a fuse box replacement cost more?
The board type is the biggest factor, as a full RCBO unit costs more than a dual-RCD one. Cost also rises with more circuits, awkward access, and any faults found during testing that must be fixed before the electrician can certify the installation.
Is it worth replacing an old fuse box?
Usually yes. Old boards with rewireable fuses or no RCD protection offer far less shock and fire protection. A modern unit trips faster on a fault, and many people replace it when getting an EICR, adding an EV charger or selling the property.
Can I replace a consumer unit myself?
No. Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations and must be done by a registered electrician or signed off by Building Control. Doing it yourself is unsafe and can invalidate your insurance and any future sale.
How long does it take to change a fuse box?
A straightforward replacement takes half a day to a full day, including testing and paperwork. If the electrician finds faults that must be put right before certifying, the work can extend into a second day.
How long does a consumer unit last?
A modern metal consumer unit installed to current standards is generally designed for 25 to 30 years, though what it really achieves depends on the quality of the installation and the conditions around it. The older plastic boards fitted before 2016 were expected to manage 15 to 20 years and are now treated as out of date whatever they look like, which is why a plastic board often gets replaced on age rather than on a fault. Two things are worth doing in the meantime and neither costs anything. Press the RCD test button, confirm the power drops out, then reset it: published advice on how often ranges from monthly to every six months, so pick one and keep to it, because an RCD that has stuck is a protective device no longer protecting anything. And have the installation inspected periodically, which for an owner-occupied home is usually put at every 10 years and is a legal requirement at least every 5 years for a landlord in England. At £450 to £900 fitted, the board is not the expensive part of electrical safety. Not knowing its condition is.
Is there a cheaper alternative to a new consumer unit?
If the existing board is sound, sometimes only a faulty RCD or individual breaker needs replacing, which is far cheaper. But if the board is old or lacks RCD protection, a full replacement is the safer long-term choice rather than patching it.
Check they are registered before they start
Most fixed electrical work in a home has to meet Part P of the building regulations. Work by someone unregistered can be difficult to insure, to sign off, or to sell a house through. Checking takes about a minute and it is free.
- Registered Competent Person Electrical Electrical Safety Roundtable · The register GOV.UK points householders to for electricians who can certify their own work under the building regulations
Official guidance and sources
The rules and schemes referenced on this page come from these official UK sources. The price figures are Costwise's own; see how we price.
- Building regulations: Approved Document P GOV.UK · Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations.
- Planning permission: electrics Planning Portal · It must be certified by a registered electrician or approved by building control.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.