How much does an electrician cost in the UK?
An Electrical work costs £40 to £80 in the UK, typically around £50 per hour. What moves the price most is whether you are charged by the hour, so a simpler job sits near the bottom of that range and a larger or higher-spec one near the top. Prices reviewed June 2026.
Electricians in the UK usually charge £40 to £80 an hour, with around £50 typical, or roughly £250 to £400 for a full day. Most also add a call-out fee of £60 to £100, and common jobs like adding a socket run £100 to £200.
Electrician cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your Electrical work in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Electrician cost breakdown
Typical Electrical work costs, by option:
| Type of electrician | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Local electrician, standard hours | £40 to £55 |
| Busy city firm | £50 to £65 |
| London or emergency call-out | £60 to £80 |
What's included in the price?
Typical Electrical work prices include:
- The electrician's time on site, charged by the hour or as a half-day or full-day rate
- A call-out or minimum charge that usually covers the first 30 to 60 minutes
- Small materials on minor jobs, such as cable, connectors, back boxes and fixings
- Testing the work and, where needed, a minor works or installation certificate
- Travel to and from the job within a local area
- Notifying any notifiable work to Building Control under Part P where it applies
What changes the price?
The things that move Electrical work prices most:
Whether you are charged by the hour, the half-day or the full day
The call-out fee and any minimum charge
Your region, with London and the South East the most expensive
The time of day, since evenings, weekends and emergencies cost more
The electrician's qualifications and scheme registration, such as NICEIC or NAPIT
How much material the job needs and whether you supply the fittings
How the price is built up
A quote is built from the call-out or minimum charge, then the electrician's time by the hour, half-day or full day, plus any materials and the testing or certification the job needs. Emergencies, evening and weekend work, London postcodes and hard-to-reach wiring all push the rate up. For bigger installs most electricians give a fixed price rather than charging by the hour. Almost all of an electrician's bill is labour, since their time is the product. On small jobs the materials, such as cable, sockets, back boxes and fixings, are often only a few pounds and included in the price. On bigger jobs like adding circuits or fitting downlights, parts are listed separately, and you can sometimes cut the bill by supplying the fittings yourself.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Get two or three quotes from local registered electricians and compare hourly against day rates
- Batch several small jobs into one visit so you pay a single call-out charge
- Book a standard weekday slot rather than an evening, weekend or emergency call-out
- Buy your own light fittings and accessories where the electrician is happy to fit supplied parts
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, an Electrical work typically costs around £65 per hour, about 30% above the UK average of £50. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £45.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £40 | £50 | £80 |
| London | £50 | £65 | £100 |
| South East / South West | £45 | £55 | £90 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £35 | £45 | £75 |
Guide prices per hour, scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Electrician cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £35 | £45 | £70 |
| Birmingham | £40 | £50 | £80 |
| Bristol | £45 | £55 | £90 |
| Cardiff | £40 | £45 | £75 |
| Edinburgh | £40 | £50 | £80 |
| Glasgow | £35 | £45 | £70 |
| Leeds | £35 | £45 | £75 |
| Liverpool | £35 | £45 | £75 |
| London | £50 | £65 | £100 |
| Manchester | £40 | £50 | £75 |
| Newcastle | £35 | £45 | £70 |
| Sheffield | £35 | £45 | £75 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for Electrical work, not quotes.
London and the South East charge the most, often £60 to £80 an hour against £40 to £55 in the Midlands, the North, Wales and Scotland. Day rates and call-out fees follow the same pattern.
Common questions
How much does an electrician charge per hour in 2026?
Most electricians charge £40 to £80 an hour, with around £50 typical for standard weekday work. London and the South East run higher, often £60 to £80. If you need a few hours or a full day, a day rate of roughly £250 to £400 usually works out cheaper per hour than booking by the hour.
How much is an electrician call-out fee?
A standard call-out or minimum charge is usually £60 to £100, and it often covers the first 30 to 60 minutes of work. Emergencies, evenings and weekends cost more, commonly £90 to £150 or higher for out-of-hours cover. Always ask whether the first hour is included so you can compare quotes fairly.
What changes an electrician's price?
The main drivers are your region, the time of day and whether you pay by the hour or the day. A weekday daytime job with a local sole trader is cheapest. Emergency, evening or weekend work, London postcodes, awkward access and jobs needing a lot of material or extra certification all push the price up.
Is it cheaper to pay a day rate or an hourly rate?
For one quick job, paying by the hour is usually cheaper. If you have several small jobs or one task that runs most of the day, a day rate of around £250 to £400 normally beats the hourly rate and avoids repeat call-out charges. Line up all your jobs for a single visit and ask for a day-rate price.
Can I do electrical work myself?
You can do minor non-notifiable work yourself, such as replacing a like-for-like socket, switch or light fitting on an existing circuit. Notifiable work, including new circuits, a consumer unit change, or most work in a kitchen or bathroom, must be done by a registered electrician or signed off by Building Control under Part P. Getting it wrong can void your insurance and a future sale.
How much do common electrical jobs cost?
As a rough guide: replacing a socket or switch is £60 to £120, adding a new socket £100 to £200, fitting a light fitting £80 to £150, and downlights around £60 to £100 each. Larger jobs are priced separately: an EICR is £100 to £300, a new consumer unit £450 to £900, and a full rewire £3,000 upwards.
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.