How much does an electrician cost in London? What affects the price in 2026
How electricians charge in London
| Way of charging | How it works |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate, weekday daytime | Often a minimum charge of one hour, sometimes two |
| Half day (4 hours) | Good value for a list of small jobs done in one visit |
| Day rate (8 hours) | Rewires, consumer unit work, second fix on refurbishments |
| Call-out charge | Usually includes the first 30 to 60 minutes |
| Evening, weekend, bank holiday | Costs more than weekday daytime. See the emergency section below |
| Fixed job price | The usual way for most jobs. Check what it includes |
Hourly rates matter less than most people think, because a good electrician prices almost everything as a fixed job. What you should compare is the price for your job, what it includes (materials, certificate, making good) and whether the person quoting is registered with a government-approved competent person scheme.
What common jobs include
These are the jobs Energy North is asked about most in London. Every one is quoted in advance and includes VAT. The right-hand column shows what moves the price for that job.
| Job | What changes the price |
|---|---|
| EICR, 1 to 6 bedroom home | Number of bedrooms, consumer unit size, number of circuits, age of the wiring |
| EICR, commercial | Priced per circuit |
| PAT testing, 1 to 3 bedroom property | Number of appliances, all tested and labelled |
| Fire alarm certificate (BS 5839-6), 1 to 4 bedrooms | Number of storeys and alarms |
| Fire alarm certificate, HMO up to 6 bedrooms | HMO size and number of alarms |
| EV charger, replacement plug on existing wiring | Uses the wiring already in place |
| EV charger, plug connection plus RCBO in the board | Space and condition of the consumer unit |
| EV charger, full installation, labour only, up to 15 m cable | Length of the cable run, you supply materials |
| EV charger, installation with driveway wiring plus RCBO | Driveway route and cable length |
| EV charger, all materials, RCBO or garage unit, certificate | Everything included, the charger and route chosen |
| Fuseboard (consumer unit) upgrade, 10-way with RCBOs | Number of ways, state of the existing wiring |
| Extra double socket, surface or chased | Surface trunking or chasing into the wall |
| Replace a light fitting (customer supplies fitting) | Type of fitting and ceiling access |
| Outdoor socket with RCD | Whether RCD protection must be added first |
| Full rewire, 3 bedroom house | Property size, access, floors and making good |
Each job depends on the property, so we give a fixed price after a few questions or a look at a photo of the board. The price you get is the price you pay.
What changes the price
Materials. Light fittings and accessories range from budget to designer. Most electricians quote labour and let you choose fittings, so compare labour to labour.
Access and making good. Chasing cables into solid walls, lifting floorboards and re-plastering are what turn a two-hour job into a day. Surface trunking is cheaper and can be tidy.
The state of the existing installation. An old fuseboard without RCD protection means some jobs, an outdoor socket for example, legally need protection added first. A good electrician tells you this before quoting, not after.
Size of the property and number of circuits. Testing and certification jobs take longer on a bigger board, and a rewire scales with the number of rooms.
Certification. Notifiable work under Part P (new circuits, consumer units, work in bathrooms) needs a certificate and a notification to building control. A registered electrician self-certifies as part of the job; an unregistered one leaves you to pay the council separately.
Where and when. Inner London parking and congestion charge are built into every quote. Evenings and weekends cost more everywhere.
Emergency and out-of-hours work
An emergency call-out in London costs more than a weekday visit, and more again on bank holidays. Most "emergencies" are a tripping RCD or a dead circuit and can wait for the next morning at normal rates if you switch the affected circuit off at the board. See our separate guide on emergency electrician costs in London for what counts as a real emergency and what to do first.
How to read an electrician's quote
A quote worth accepting says five things: the exact work, whether materials are included, whether a certificate is included, whether making good is included, and the total with VAT. It also names the scheme the electrician is registered with. If a quote is a single number on a text message, ask for those five things in writing. It takes two minutes and removes almost every dispute that ends up in small claims court.
How to choose the right electrician
Check registration with a government-approved competent person scheme (you can search the register online). Check public liability insurance of at least £2 million. Read recent reviews with the reviewer's full name. Ask how the certificate will be delivered. Then compare two or three quotes for the same written scope. On Energy North every electrician who buys a lead in a regulated trade holds a verified badge, so the registration check is done for you.
Where this guide applies
This guide is written for London. It covers the boroughs we work in most, Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Redbridge, Westminster, Ealing, Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, and the rest of Greater London. Outside the M25 quotes are usually a little lower because labour and parking cost less.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hourly rate for an electrician in London in 2026?
It varies with the electrician, the time of day and the job. Hourly work usually has a minimum charge of one hour, and day rates are used for bigger jobs such as rewires. Most jobs are priced as a fixed price instead, so compare fixed quotes for the same written scope.
How much does an electrician charge for a call-out in London?
A call-out charge usually covers the first 30 to 60 minutes on site. Evenings, weekends and bank holidays cost more than a weekday daytime visit. Ask for the call-out charge in writing before anyone comes out.
How much does an EICR cost in London?
It depends on the number of bedrooms, the size of the consumer unit and the number of circuits, plus the age of the wiring and access. Commercial premises are priced per circuit. Energy North gives a free quote on request.
How much does it cost to install an EV charger in London?
It depends on what you need: a replacement plug on existing wiring, a full installation with up to 15 metres of cable, driveway wiring with an RCBO, or a package with all materials and the certificate. The length of the cable run and the state of the consumer unit matter most. Energy North gives a free quote on request.
Do I need a certificate for electrical work?
For notifiable work under Part P (new circuits, consumer unit replacement, work in bathrooms) yes, and a registered electrician self-certifies it. Minor work such as a like-for-like socket does not need notification but should still come with a minor works certificate.
Is a cheap electrician a false economy?
Often. An unregistered electrician cannot self-certify notifiable work, so you pay building control separately, and uninsured work can void your home insurance. Compare registered electricians on the same written scope.
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Related guides
- How much does an EICR cost in London?
- Emergency electrician cost in London
- Consumer unit replacement cost in London
- EV charger installation cost in London
- House rewire cost in London
Guide checked 21 October 2026. Energy North does not publish set prices because costs change. Ask for a free quote for your job; other electricians may quote differently. Nothing on this page changes the legal duties described, which come from the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 and BS 7671.