How much does PAT testing cost in the UK?
A PAT testing costs £50 to £250 in the UK, typically around £90 per visit. What moves the price most is the number of appliances, 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.
PAT testing usually costs between £50 and £250 per visit in the UK, with most landlords and small businesses paying around £90. The price depends mainly on how many appliances you have, since most testers charge a minimum call-out fee plus a small rate per item.
PAT testing cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your PAT testing in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
PAT testing cost breakdown
Typical PAT testing costs, by option:
| Number of appliances | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Up to 10 items (small flat) | £45 to £80 |
| 10 to 40 items (furnished let or small office) | £70 to £150 |
| 40 to 100+ items (larger business or HMO) | £120 to £250 |
What's included in the price?
Typical PAT testing prices include:
- A visit from a competent PAT tester, often an electrician or a dedicated testing firm
- A visual inspection of each portable appliance, its plug, cable and casing for damage
- Electrical tests with a PAT machine, such as earth continuity, insulation resistance and lead polarity
- A pass or fail sticker on every item, dated and labelled
- A written test register listing every appliance and its result
- Minor fixes on the spot where quick, such as rewiring a plug or replacing a fuse
What changes the price?
The things that move PAT testing prices most:
The number of appliances, the single biggest factor, since most of the price is a per-item rate on top of a minimum charge
The minimum call-out fee, which sets a floor of roughly £45 to £75 even for just a few items
Your region, with London and the South East charging the most
How spread out the items are, as one room is quicker than appliances scattered across floors or several flats
Whether you need it urgently or out of hours, which costs more
The per-item rate itself, which usually falls as the quantity rises
How the price is built up
The price is built from a minimum call-out that covers the tester's time and travel, plus a per-item rate for each appliance checked. A small flat with a handful of items rarely moves past the minimum of roughly £45 to £75. As the count grows the per-item rate takes over, usually £1 to £3 each and falling on large jobs, so an office with 100 items lands around £150 to £250. Region, urgency and how spread out the items are nudge the final figure up or down. PAT testing is a service fee for the tester's time, equipment and the report, with almost no materials. The only extras are minor consumables such as a replacement plug or fuse if a fault is fixed on the spot, which are usually just a pound or two each.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Gather the appliances into as few rooms as possible so the tester is not walking between floors
- Get two or three quotes and check whether each is a flat price or a call-out fee plus a per-item rate
- Book a standard weekday slot rather than an urgent or out-of-hours one
- Bundle PAT testing with an EICR or gas safety check, or test several rental properties in one trip, to save a separate call-out charge
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, a PAT testing typically costs around £120 per visit, about 30% above the UK average of £90. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £85.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £50 | £90 | £250 |
| London | £65 | £120 | £330 |
| South East / South West | £55 | £100 | £290 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £45 | £85 | £230 |
Guide prices per visit, scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
PAT testing cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £45 | £75 | £210 |
| Birmingham | £50 | £90 | £250 |
| Bristol | £55 | £100 | £280 |
| Cardiff | £45 | £85 | £240 |
| Edinburgh | £50 | £90 | £250 |
| Glasgow | £45 | £80 | £230 |
| Leeds | £45 | £85 | £230 |
| Liverpool | £45 | £85 | £230 |
| London | £65 | £120 | £330 |
| Manchester | £50 | £85 | £240 |
| Newcastle | £45 | £80 | £230 |
| Sheffield | £45 | £85 | £230 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for PAT testing, not quotes.
Testers in London and the South East charge the most, often 15 to 30 per cent above the rest of the UK. The Midlands, the North, Wales and Scotland are typically cheaper.
Common questions
How much does PAT testing cost in 2026?
Most landlords and small businesses pay between £50 and £250 for a visit, with around £90 being typical. There is no fixed rate, so testers set their own fees. The usual structure is a minimum call-out of about £45 to £75, then a per-item rate of roughly £1 to £3 that falls as the quantity rises. A furnished flat with 10 to 15 items sits near £50 to £90, while an office with 100 items can reach £150 to £250.
Is PAT testing charged per appliance or per visit?
Both, in a sense. Most testers set a minimum call-out charge that covers the first batch of items, then add a per-item rate for larger numbers. Typical per-item rates run from about £1 to £3, dropping towards £1 or below on jobs of several hundred items. For a small landlord flat the minimum charge is really all you pay; for a business it is mostly the per-item rate. Always ask whether a quote is a flat price or a call-out plus per item so you can compare fairly.
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
PAT testing itself is not named in law. What the law does require, under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, is that employers and landlords keep electrical appliances in a safe condition. PAT testing is the common, accepted way to show you have done that. For most landlords it is not strictly compulsory, but many letting agents, insurers and HMO licences ask for it, so in practice it is often expected. There is no set legal interval either, so you test based on risk.
How often do I need PAT testing?
There is no legal fixed interval. The Health and Safety Executive recommends testing based on the type of equipment and how it is used. As a rough guide, a low-risk office might test portable items every two to four years, while tools on a building site or in a busy kitchen need checking far more often, sometimes yearly. Landlords commonly arrange PAT testing at each change of tenancy or every one to two years for furnished lets.
Can I do PAT testing myself?
You can carry out the visual checks yourself, and for simple items a competent person with a PAT machine is allowed to test, so you do not legally need a qualified electrician. In practice most people use a trained tester or electrician because you need the right equipment, know how to read the results and can produce a proper register. If you test in-house, make sure whoever does it is competent and the machine is calibrated.
How can I keep the cost down?
Gather the appliances into as few rooms as possible so the tester is not walking between floors. Get two or three quotes and check whether each is a flat price or a call-out fee plus a per-item rate. Book a standard weekday slot rather than an urgent one. If you own several rental properties, ask about testing them in one trip, and bundle PAT testing with an EICR or gas safety check to save a separate call-out charge.
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.