Electrician day rates, UK 2026
Typical UK range
£280–£420
per day, ex VAT
≈ £35–£53/hour · reviewed July 2026
What moves the rate
- 01Registration with a competent-person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT) and whether the work is notifiable under Part P
- 02Testing and certification time — an EICR day is priced differently to a socket-and-switch day
- 03Domestic repair work versus commercial or new-build contracts
- 04Test equipment, calibration and insurance overheads carried into the rate
Demand for EICRs and consumer-unit upgrades has stayed strong as rental compliance rules tightened, which keeps experienced electricians' diaries full and rates firm. Fault-finding and call-outs are usually charged at a premium hourly rate rather than the day rate.
Electrician rates by region
| Region | Day rate | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater London | £380–£565 | £48–£71 | Detail → |
| South East England | £320–£485 | £40–£61 | Detail → |
| East of England | £295–£440 | £37–£55 | Detail → |
| South West England | £280–£420 | £35–£53 | Detail → |
| Scotland | £270–£405 | £34–£51 | Detail → |
| West Midlands | £270–£405 | £34–£51 | Detail → |
| North West England | £265–£395 | £33–£49 | Detail → |
| East Midlands | £260–£385 | £33–£48 | Detail → |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £250–£380 | £31–£48 | Detail → |
| Wales | £250–£375 | £31–£47 | Detail → |
| North East England | £240–£355 | £30–£44 | Detail → |
| Northern Ireland | £230–£345 | £29–£43 | Detail → |
Is your rate right?
A benchmark tells you what the market pays. It doesn't tell you what you need — that depends on your overheads, your tax pot and how many days you really bill. Two minutes in the calculator settles it.
Electrician day rates — FAQs
- How much does an electrician charge per day in the UK?
- Typically £280–£420 a day, ex VAT, for standard domestic work. London runs roughly a third higher and the lowest-cost regions around 15% below — see the regional breakdown above.
- What affects what an electrician charges?
- Experience and reputation, your region, how complex or specialist the work is, whether it's an emergency, and the overheads a electrician carries (insurance, van, tools, certification). Demand for EICRs and consumer-unit upgrades has stayed strong as rental compliance rules tightened, which keeps experienced electricians' diaries full and rates firm. Fault-finding and call-outs are usually charged at a premium hourly rate rather than the day rate.
- Do electricians charge VAT?
- Only if VAT-registered — mandatory once turnover passes £90,000 a year — in which case 20% is added on top. Plenty of sole traders are below the threshold and don't charge it, so check before you agree a price.
- Should I get more than one quote?
- Yes — two or three quotes give you a fair benchmark and make an outlier obvious. A written quote is legally binding in the UK, so a fair one shouldn't move unless you change the scope of the work.
Run a trade site or blog? Embed this live rate widget — free.
Indicative ranges compiled from public cost guides, reviewed July 2026. Ex VAT. A guide, not a quote.