Electrician costs in Wales 2026

Day rates and hourly rates

Electrician rates in Wales vary by location and qualification:

Area	Hourly rate	Day rate
Cardiff	£55–90/hr	£260–420/day
Swansea	£50–80/hr	£240–380/day
Newport	£50–80/hr	£240–380/day
Valleys (Merthyr, Rhondda)	£45–70/hr	£210–330/day
North Wales (Wrexham, Bangor)	£45–75/hr	£210–350/day
Rural mid-Wales	£40–65/hr	£190–310/day

Most electricians charge a minimum call-out (typically 1–2 hours) for small jobs.

Common job costs

Job	Typical cost (Wales)
Add single socket	£70–120
Add double socket	£80–140
Replace consumer unit (fuse box)	£450–850
Install outdoor socket	£120–200
Fit outdoor security light	£90–180
Install LED downlights (per light)	£50–90
Rewire room	£400–800
Full house rewire (3-bed)	£3,500–7,000
Install EV charger	£700–1,200
Install underfloor heating (electric)	£800–2,000 per room
Fit shaver socket	£80–140
EICR (3-bed house)	£180–300
Add new circuit	£250–450
Install extractor fan	£100–200

Consumer unit (fuse box) costs

Consumer unit replacement is one of the most common electrical jobs in Wales. Old units with rewireable fuses (often found in pre-1970s properties) are a safety risk and will fail EICR inspection.

Type	Supply and fit cost
Standard RCD protected unit (8-12 way)	£400–600
RCBO protected unit (individual protection)	£550–850
Split load board (dual RCD)	£450–700
Smart consumer unit	£700–1,100

Prices include the unit, installation, labelling, and Building Control notification (if via competent person scheme). Add £200–400 for replacing the meter tails simultaneously (often needed in older properties).

EICR costs

Property	EICR cost (Wales)
1-bed flat	£100–180
2-bed house	£140–250
3-bed house	£180–300
4+ bed house	£220–380

Landlords require 5-yearly EICRs in Wales. Book through an NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA registered electrician to get a valid certificate for compliance purposes.

What affects electrician costs?

Age of property — older wiring (pre-1980 rubber-insulated cable, pre-1965 lead-sheathed cable) adds complexity and time, increasing costs.

Emergency rates — out-of-hours call-outs typically add 50–100% to standard rates. For emergencies, try to describe the problem clearly — some issues (like a tripped RCD) can be resolved over the phone.

Material costs — Cable, consumer units, and accessories vary in price. Ask whether the quote includes materials or if you're being charged for time plus materials separately.

Location — Cardiff and Swansea rates run 10–20% above Valleys and North Wales rates for equivalent work.

NICEIC/NAPIT registration — registered electricians can self-certify notifiable work, which saves you the cost (£200–400) of a separate Building Control inspection.