Electrician Hourly Rate 2026: UK Prices By Region
Electrical work is one job where you really should not cut corners. Faulty wiring can cause fires and shocks, and most electrical work in homes must meet Building Regulations. So it pays to hire a qualified electrician, and it helps to know what a fair price looks like before you call one.
On Checkatrade's latest figures, the average UK electrician charges about £55 an hour, with a typical range of £40 to £70. Day rates run from about £300 to £500. Emergency work costs more, at roughly £80 to £100 an hour, and many electricians charge a minimum call out fee.
This guide covers hourly rates, day rates, call out charges, prices for common jobs, and how rates vary around the UK.
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Hourly rates
| Type of work | Typical hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Standard daytime work | £40 to £70, average about £55 |
| Emergency or out of hours | £80 to £100 |
Checked October 2026: Checkatrade electrician cost guide and "How much do tradespeople cost" guide (updated October 2026).
Hourly rates are most common for small jobs and fault finding, where it is hard to know in advance how long the work will take. For bigger jobs, most electricians quote a fixed price.
Why rates vary
- Experience and qualifications. An approved electrician registered with a competent person scheme can self certify work, which saves you a separate Building Control application.
- Type of work. Fault finding, testing and certification can take skill and time.
- Location. City rates are higher.
- Time of day. Evenings, weekends and bank holidays cost more.
- Demand. Busy electricians may charge more or have longer waiting times.
Day rates
For longer jobs such as rewiring or a kitchen refit, electricians often work out the price from a day rate. Checkatrade puts electricians at about £300 to £500 a day.
An electrician may bring an apprentice or mate, especially for rewires where floorboards need lifting and cables pulling through walls. That adds to the daily cost but speeds up the job.
Electrician vs other trades
| Trade | Day rate |
|---|---|
| Electrician | £300 to £500 |
| Plumber | £320 to £480 |
| Builder | £300 |
| Plasterer | £300 |
| Labourer | £120 to £280 |
Checked October 2026: Checkatrade. For a wider comparison, see our UK tradesmen day rates index and our builder day rate guide.
Call out
Many electricians charge a minimum fee to visit, sometimes called a call out charge. It covers the time and cost of travelling to you, and often includes the first hour of work.
For emergency work, such as a total loss of power or a burning smell from a socket, expect higher rates of about £80 to £100 an hour, and often a higher minimum charge. If the problem can safely wait until normal hours, you will usually pay less.
Before you call
If the power goes off:
- Check whether your neighbours have power too. If not, it may be a power cut. Contact your network operator by calling 105, the free national power cut number.
- Check your consumer unit for a tripped switch.
- Try resetting it. If it trips again straight away, unplug appliances one by one to find the culprit.
- If it still will not reset, or if you smell burning, call an electrician.
Never take the cover off your consumer unit or try to repair wiring yourself.
Job prices
Most electrical jobs are priced as a whole. These guide prices come from our own cost guides.
| Job | Guide price | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Full rewire, 2 bedroom house | £2,000 to £3,000 | Rewiring a house |
| Full rewire, 3 bedroom house | £2,500 to £4,500 | Rewiring a house |
| Consumer unit replacement | about £400 | Fuse box replacement |
| Electric shower, supply and fit | £200 to £700 | Electric shower installation |
| Home EV charger, supply and fit | about £1,000 | EV charger installation |
Prices vary with the size of the property, access, and the condition of existing wiring.
Small jobs
Simple jobs such as replacing a light fitting, adding a socket or swapping a switch often take an hour or two. The cost is usually the hourly rate or minimum charge plus parts. Bundling several small jobs into one visit is usually the cheapest way to get them done, since you only pay the minimum charge once.
Testing and certificates
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) checks the safety of existing wiring. Landlords in England must have one at least every five years. Homeowners may want one when buying an older house or before a renovation. The price depends on the number of circuits and the size of the property.
When an electrician installs new circuits or replaces a consumer unit, they should give you an Electrical Installation Certificate. For notifiable work, you should also receive a Building Regulations compliance certificate. Keep these safe. You will need them when you sell.
By region
Electrician rates follow the same regional pattern as most trades. London and the South East are the most expensive, with the rest of the UK cheaper.
We have not found reliable published electrician rates by region for 2026, so we will not quote figures we cannot check. As an indication of the size of the gap in other trades:
- Checkatrade puts handymen at about £30 an hour nationally but about £50 an hour in London.
- Published plasterer day rates range from about £180 to £280 in the North East to about £380 to £550 in London.
So expect London electricians to sit at or above the top of the £40 to £70 range, and rates in lower cost regions to be nearer the bottom. Get at least three local quotes to find the going rate in your area.
Common reasons to call an electrician
Most domestic call outs fall into a handful of categories:
- Tripping circuits. A trip switch that keeps going off usually points to a faulty appliance, damp in an outside light, or a wiring fault.
- Dead sockets or lights. Often a loose connection or a failed fitting.
- Flickering lights. Can be a bulb or dimmer problem, but persistent flickering should be checked.
- Extra sockets. Many older homes do not have enough sockets for modern life, and extension leads are a fire risk when overloaded.
- New lighting. Downlights, outside lights and garden lighting.
- Old consumer units. Older fuse boxes with rewireable fuses lack modern protection such as RCDs.
- Renovations. Kitchens, bathrooms, extensions and loft conversions all need electrical work.
- New technology. EV chargers, solar panels, battery storage and smart heating controls.
Warning signs
Call an electrician promptly if you notice:
- Scorch marks on sockets or switches
- A burning or fishy smell near electrics
- Sockets or plugs that feel hot
- Buzzing from switches or the consumer unit
- Frequent shocks from appliances or fittings
How to keep costs down
- Group small jobs together. One visit costs less than several.
- Be clear about what you want. Mark where you want sockets and lights before the electrician arrives.
- Clear the area. Moving furniture and lifting carpets yourself saves paid time.
- Book during normal hours. Avoid evenings and weekends unless it is an emergency.
- Plan ahead in renovations. It is much cheaper to add extra circuits and sockets while walls are open than after they are plastered and decorated.
- Do your own making good. If you are confident, filling and decorating after the electrician leaves can save money.
Hiring an electrician
Check registration
In England and Wales, much electrical work is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. An electrician registered with a competent person scheme, such as NICEIC or NAPIT, can self certify their work. If you use someone who is not registered, notifiable work must be checked and signed off by Building Control, which costs extra.
You can check whether an electrician is registered using the Electrical Competent Person register.
Get it in writing
Ask for a written quote that covers:
- Exactly what work will be done
- Parts and materials
- Making good, such as filling holes and chases
- Testing and certification
- Whether VAT is included
Making good
Electricians usually cut channels in walls and lift floorboards, but many do not replaster or redecorate. You may need a plasterer or decorator to finish the job, so ask what is included.
If you are an electrician
Use our day rate calculator to work out a profitable rate from your target income, tax, van and tool costs.
FAQs
How much does an electrician charge per hour?
About £55 an hour on average, with most charging between £40 and £70, according to Checkatrade.
How much does an electrician charge per day?
Around £300 to £500 a day.
What is an electrician's call out fee?
Many electricians charge a minimum fee for a visit, often including the first hour. Emergency rates are higher, around £80 to £100 an hour.
Do electricians charge for quotes?
Most quote for free on standard jobs. Fault finding is usually charged, since it is part of the work.
Is it cheaper to pay an electrician by the hour or by the job?
For small jobs, hourly or a minimum charge is normal. For larger jobs, a fixed price gives more certainty.
Can I do my own electrical work?
You can do some minor work, but notifiable work must be certified. For safety, it is best to use a registered electrician.
How long does a rewire take?
A typical rewire of a three bedroom house often takes around a week or more, depending on the size of the house, access and whether you are living there during the work. Plastering and decorating afterwards add more time. Our rewiring guide has the details.
Do electricians charge VAT?
Only if they are VAT registered. Registration is required once taxable turnover passes £90,000. Ask whether a quote includes VAT so you can compare fairly.
What if I am not happy with the work?
Raise it with the electrician first and give them a chance to put it right. If they are registered with a competent person scheme, the scheme may be able to help with complaints about work that does not meet the required standard.
Get quotes
Describe the job clearly, list any extra small jobs you want done on the same visit, and ask at least three local electricians for a written quote.
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