Price assumptions: April 2026 · Checklist added 3 October 2026
How Much Does Rewiring a House Cost?
A full rewire is one of the most disruptive but important jobs you can do to an older property. The age of a property alone does not establish whether it needs a full rewire. Ask a registered electrician to assess the condition of the installation and explain whether repairs, a partial rewire or a full rewire are appropriate. Ongoing inspection and maintenance still matter after work is completed.
Tradesfolk editorial checklist · Added 3 October 2026
Get a useful quote for your job
Give each tradesperson the same brief so you can compare what is included.
- How many bedrooms and floors are there, and will the property be occupied?
- How many sockets, lights and data points are needed in each room?
- Should plaster repairs, decoration, certification and any consumer-unit work be included?
Ask for the total including any VAT, an estimated start date and how extra work will be agreed. Availability and final costs must be confirmed directly.
Electrical Safety First: find a registered electrician
Citizens Advice: choosing a trader and getting written quotes (England; links to other UK nations). These references support hiring guidance, not the prices above.
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Work photos uploaded by these tradespeople. They are examples of their work, not evidence for the price estimates or confirmation they cover your area.
What you can expect to pay
| Description | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | £2,500 | £3,500 | £4,500 |
| 2-bed terraced house | £3,000 | £4,500 | £5,500 |
| 3-bed semi-detached | £4,500 | £6,000 | £7,500 |
| 4-bed detached | £6,500 | £8,000 | £10,000 |
| Partial rewire (per circuit) | £400 | £600 | £800 |
| Consumer unit replacement only | £350 | £500 | £650 |
Prices include VAT. Domestic electrical work is standard-rated at 20%.
What affects the price
Wall construction is the biggest cost variable. Stud walls (timber frames with plasterboard) are easy to run cables through. Solid brick or stone walls need channels chased with a grinder, which takes much longer and creates more mess.
Floor type matters too. Timber floorboards can be lifted to run cables underneath. Concrete floors mean cables need to go through the walls or ceiling void instead, adding complexity.
The number of sockets and light points you want drives the total. Modern households typically need more sockets than older homes were wired for. Doubling the sockets in a room doesn't double the cost, but it adds noticeably.
Access to roof spaces and under-floor voids makes a big difference. Easy access means the electrician can pull cables through quickly. Limited access means more surface-mounted trunking or more invasive work.
Making good after a rewire is often quoted separately. The electrician will leave chased channels and lifted floorboards. You'll need a plasterer to patch up and potentially a decorator to finish.
How to keep costs down
- 1
Combine a rewire with other renovation work if possible. If you're already stripping a room for plastering or a kitchen refit, the electrician gets much easier access and the disruption overlaps rather than stacking.
- 2
Plan your socket and switch positions carefully before work starts. Moving a socket after the walls have been chased and plastered costs far more than getting it right first time.
- 3
Ask your electrician for an itemised quote that separates the wiring work from the consumer unit and from any making good they include. This helps you compare quotes fairly.
- 4
Consider adding extras while the walls are open: ethernet cabling, outdoor sockets, EV charger wiring, or smart home preparation. The marginal cost during a rewire is much lower than doing it separately later.
- 5
Check whether the quote includes the Electrical Installation Certificate and Building Regulations notification. Both are legal requirements for a rewire.
Frequently asked questions
Warning signs include old round-pin sockets, fabric-covered cables, a fuse box with rewirable fuses instead of MCBs, flickering lights, and sockets that feel warm. These signs need assessment by a registered electrician; they do not establish the scope of work by themselves. Ask whether an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is appropriate and discuss the findings before agreeing remedial work.
A 2-bed house typically takes 5 to 7 working days for the first fix (running cables) and 1 to 2 days for the second fix (fitting sockets and switches) after plastering. A 4-bed house usually takes 7 to 10 days first fix. You'll need to allow time for plastering between the two stages.
Yes, but it's not comfortable. You'll lose power to rooms being worked on, there will be dust everywhere, and floorboards will be lifted. Most people stay if they can, but if you have young children or work from home, it's worth considering alternatives for the first-fix phase.
The rooms where cables run through the walls will need plastering where the chases were cut. This means redecorating those areas. If the electrician can route cables under floors and through loft spaces, wall damage is minimised. Discuss routing options before work starts.
A partial rewire replaces the wiring in specific circuits or rooms rather than the whole house. It can make sense if most of the wiring is in good condition but one area needs replacing, for example after a loft conversion. However, if the majority of wiring is old, a full rewire is usually better value and safer.
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