Rewire House Cost UK 2026

How much does it cost to rewire a house? Full rewire, partial rewire, and consumer unit upgrade prices with a detailed breakdown of first fix, second fix, testing, and making good.

Last updated: April 2026

Rewiring is one of the most disruptive but essential home improvement projects. The wiring in a typical UK house lasts 25–40 years before insulation degrades, connections loosen, and the system no longer meets current safety standards. Houses with old rubber-insulated wiring, round-pin sockets, or a fuse box without RCDs are overdue for a rewire and present a genuine fire and electrocution risk.

This guide covers the realistic 2026 cost of rewiring across the UK, from a consumer unit upgrade through to a full house rewire with new circuits, sockets, lighting, and testing. All electrical work must be carried out by a registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA) and comply with BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) and Part P of the Building Regulations.

Summary Cost Table

Prices include labour, materials, testing, and certification. They do not include making good (plastering and decorating) which is usually quoted separately. London and the South East are typically 15–30% higher than the national average.

Detailed Cost Breakdown

Consumer Unit (Fuse Board)

The consumer unit is the heart of the electrical system. Modern consumer units have individual MCBs (miniature circuit breakers) for each circuit and RCDs (residual current devices) that cut the power within milliseconds if a fault is detected.

• Standard consumer unit (metal, dual RCD, 10–12 ways) — £350 – £500 supply and fit
• RCBO board (individual RCD protection per circuit) — £500 – £800 supply and fit
• Surge protection device (SPD, mandatory since Jan 2019) — included in most new boards

Since the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018, Amendment 2), surge protection devices are required in most domestic installations. All new consumer units must be metal (not plastic) and comply with Regulation 421.1.201.

First Fix

First fix is the most disruptive phase. The electrician runs new cables through the walls, floors, and ceilings before the plasterer makes good. This involves chasing channels into walls, lifting floorboards, and drilling through joists.

• First fix labour (3-bed house) — £2,000 – £3,500
• Cable (Twin & Earth, various sizes, per 100m) — £50 – £120
• Back boxes, clips, and fixings — £100 – £250
• Typical first fix duration (3-bed) — 3 – 5 days

First fix accounts for approximately 60–70% of the total labour time in a full rewire. The electrician installs all cables, back boxes, and the new consumer unit during this phase. The property will be without power for periods during first fix — most electricians arrange temporary power for essential circuits.

Second Fix

Second fix happens after the plasterer has finished. The electrician returns to fit all the visible components — sockets, switches, light fittings, and the final connections at the consumer unit.

• Second fix labour (3-bed house) — £800 – £1,500
• Standard white sockets and switches (per point) — £5 – £15
• Brushed chrome / designer range (per point) — £15 – £40
• USB sockets (per double) — £15 – £25
• Downlight (LED, per unit supply and fit) — £25 – £50
• Typical second fix duration (3-bed) — 1 – 2 days

Testing and Certification

• Testing and commissioning — included in full rewire price
• Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) — included (legally required for all new work)
• Building regulations notification — included (registered electricians self-certify under Part P)
• EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) — £150 – £300 for existing installations

A registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or similar) is authorised to self-certify their work under Part P of the Building Regulations. You will receive an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and the work will be notified to your local building control authority. Keep this certificate — you will need it when selling the property.

Making Good

A full rewire leaves chased channels in walls and lifted floorboards that need making good. This is typically done by a plasterer and decorator, not the electrician.

• Plastering (patch making good, per room) — £100 – £250
• Full skim coat if walls are badly damaged — £300 – £600 per room
• Painting and decoration (per room) — £150 – £350
• Typical making good cost (3-bed house) — £1,500 – £4,000

Making good is often the hidden cost of a rewire. Many homeowners budget for the electrical work but underestimate the plastering and decorating needed afterwards. Some electricians offer a "chase and make good" service where they plaster over their own chases, but the finish is rarely as good as a professional plasterer.

Factors That Affect Cost

• Property size — more bedrooms means more circuits, more cable, and more sockets and lights. A 5-bed house costs roughly double a 2-bed house to rewire.
• Number of storeys — three-storey houses cost more because cable runs are longer and access is more difficult
• Property age and construction — solid-wall Victorian and Edwardian houses take longer to chase than modern timber-frame or stud-wall properties
• Existing wiring condition — if existing cables can be pulled through and replaced in existing routes, the job is faster. If conduits are blocked or routes inaccessible, the electrician must create new chases
• Socket and lighting specification — standard white sockets cost £5–£15 each; brushed chrome or designer ranges cost £15–£40 each. The difference across a full house is £200–£800
• Smart home features — smart switches, multi-room audio wiring, structured data cabling, and EV charger circuits all add cost
• Location — London and the South East are 15–30% above the national average for electrical work

How Long Does It Take?

These timescales cover first fix, second fix, and testing. They do not include making good (plastering and decorating), which adds 3–7 days depending on the extent of the chasing. You can live in the house during a rewire, but expect significant disruption — dust, noise, lifted floorboards, and periodic power outages. Most electricians keep essential circuits live wherever possible.

How to Save Money

• Coordinate with other work — if you are already replastering, renovating a kitchen, or having an extension built, adding the rewire at the same time avoids paying for making good twice.
• Choose standard sockets and switches — white moulded sockets (MK, BG) cost £5–£10 each. Designer ranges (brushed chrome, matt black) cost £15–£40 each. The difference across 30–40 points in a 3-bed house is £300–£1,200.
• Clear rooms before the electrician arrives — moving furniture away from walls and clearing loft spaces saves the electrician time and reduces your bill.
• Get an EICR first — an Electrical Installation Condition Report (£150–£300) tells you exactly which circuits need replacing. You may need a partial rewire rather than a full one, saving thousands.
• Handle the decorating yourself — painting over patched plaster is straightforward DIY. If you can do the decorating after the plasterer has made good, you save £500–£1,500 in decorator labour.
• Get three quotes — rewiring prices vary significantly between electricians. Get itemised quotes that show consumer unit, first fix labour, cable, second fix, and testing as separate lines.

Common Questions