How much does an electrician charge per hour in the UK?

Electricians in the UK typically charge somewhere around £45 to £70 an hour for planned work, and day rates often fall between £250 and £450. London and the South East sit towards the top of those ranges. Emergency work costs more because it's urgent and often out of hours: our own emergency call-out is £95 on weekday daytimes, including the first hour.

Hourly rates are only part of the picture, though. For most jobs you'll get a better deal, and fewer surprises, from a fixed quote for the whole job.

What affects an electrician's rate?

• Location. Costs of running a van, insurance and parking are higher in and around London.
• Qualifications and registration. A registered electrician, such as a NAPIT member, can certify their own work under Part P of the Building Regulations. That saves you a separate building control fee and gives you the paperwork you need when you sell.
• Type of work. Fault finding and testing need specialist equipment and experience, so they're often priced differently from simple installation work.
• When the work happens. Evenings, weekends and nights cost more.

Why a fixed quote is usually better

With an hourly rate, you carry the risk if a job takes longer than expected. With a fixed quote, the electrician does. For work like fitting a new consumer unit, adding sockets or a full rewire, a good electrician can price the job accurately after a quick look, so you know the total before you agree to anything.

Our instant price calculator gives you an estimate for common jobs in about a minute, and we confirm the exact price before any work starts.

When paying by the hour makes sense

• Fault finding. Until the fault is found, nobody knows how long it will take. Most faults are found and fixed within an hour or two.
• Emergencies. A call-out fee covers the first hour, then time is charged in half hours.
• Small jobs. A few odd jobs on one visit are often easiest priced by time.

Questions to ask before you book

1. Are you registered with a scheme such as NAPIT or NICEIC, and will I get a certificate for the work?
2. Is that a fixed price, or an estimate based on time?
3. Does the price include parts, and do you charge for parking or travel?
4. Do you carry public liability insurance?