A full house rewire in the UK typically costs £2,500 to £12,000 depending on property size, age and location. A standard 3-bedroom semi costs £4,500 to £7,500 including a new consumer unit. Prices include first and second fix wiring but usually exclude making good (replastering), which adds £800 to £2,500. Get at least three quotes from NICEIC or NAPIT-registered electricians before committing.
House Rewiring Cost Calculator
Select your property type and region for a personalised rewiring estimate. Costs are based on typical 2026 UK trade prices including labour, materials and a new consumer unit.
Average Rewiring Costs by Property Size (2026)
The table below shows typical rewiring costs across the UK. These figures include labour, materials and a new consumer unit but exclude making good. Actual prices vary by region, property condition and electrician — always get multiple quotes for your specific property.
| Property Type | Typical Cost Range | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Flat | £2,500 – £3,500 | 2–3 days |
| 2-Bed Terraced / Semi | £3,500 – £5,000 | 4–5 days |
| 3-Bed Semi-Detached | £4,500 – £7,500 | 5–7 days |
| 3-Bed Detached | £5,000 – £8,500 | 5–8 days |
| 4-Bed Detached | £6,000 – £10,000 | 7–10 days |
| 5+ Bed Detached | £8,000 – £12,000 | 8–12 days |
Making good: Budget an additional 15–25% of the wiring cost (£800–£2,500) for replastering and redecorating chased walls. Many quotes exclude this, so always ask whether making good is included.
What Affects Your Rewiring Cost
No two rewiring jobs are identical. The following factors can move your final price significantly in either direction.
Property size and layout. More rooms mean more circuits, sockets and cable runs. Open-plan layouts can reduce cable distances, while tall townhouses or properties with multiple floors add complexity. A 5-bedroom detached home might need 15 or more circuits compared to 6–8 in a flat.
Age of existing wiring. Older properties with rubber-sheathed or lead cables often require more extensive work because cable routes are harder to trace and existing conduits may be unusable. Pre-1960s homes typically cost more to rewire than 1990s builds.
Accessibility. If floorboards need lifting, walls need chasing and ceilings need opening, labour time increases. Properties with solid floors (common in ground-floor extensions) cost more because cables must be routed through walls or surface-mounted trunking instead.
Consumer unit specification. A standard 10-way metal consumer unit with RCBOs costs £250–£450 fitted. High-specification boards with surge protection, or split consumer units for larger properties, can reach £600–£800.
Region. London and the South East typically run 15–25% above national averages, while the North of England, Scotland and Wales tend to sit 10–15% below. This reflects both labour rates and overhead costs.
Making good. The plaster, filler and paint needed after chasing walls is often the most overlooked expense. If your rewire includes a loft conversion or extension, the making-good scope increases further. Some homeowners save by handling this step themselves or combining it with a planned redecoration.
Signs Your Home May Need Rewiring
If your property has not been rewired in the last 25–30 years, or you notice any of the following, it is worth getting an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) from a qualified electrician. An EICR typically costs £150–£350 and will tell you whether a rewire is necessary or whether targeted repairs are sufficient.
Old fuse box. A wooden back-board or rewirable fuses (rather than MCBs or RCBOs) suggest the wiring predates modern safety standards. A fuse box with no residual current device (RCD) protection is a significant safety concern.
Rubber or fabric-sheathed cables. If you can see black rubber or fabric-wrapped cables at light fittings or in the loft, the wiring likely dates to before the 1960s and should be replaced.
Frequent trips or blown fuses. Circuits that trip regularly, or fuses that blow without an obvious cause, may indicate deteriorating insulation or overloaded circuits that were not designed for modern appliance loads.
Scorch marks or burning smells. Discolouration around sockets or switches, or a persistent warm or burning smell near electrical fittings, requires urgent investigation.
Two-pin sockets or round-pin plugs. These indicate very old wiring that is almost certainly beyond its safe working life.
How to Reduce Your Rewiring Cost
A full rewire is a significant investment, but there are practical ways to manage the cost without compromising safety.
Get at least three quotes. Prices for the same job can vary by 30–40% between electricians. Always ensure quotes are like-for-like (same scope, same consumer unit spec, same approach to making good) before comparing.
Handle making good yourself. If you are comfortable with basic plastering and decorating, doing the making good after the electrician finishes can save £800–£2,500. Ask the electrician to chase walls neatly to make the plastering easier.
Combine with other planned work. If you are already having a house extension, plastering work or kitchen refit, combining the rewire reduces disruption and can lower making-good costs because walls will be opened up regardless.
Consider a partial rewire. If the EICR shows that some circuits are satisfactory, you may only need to rewire specific areas (such as the kitchen and bathroom circuits) rather than the entire house. A partial rewire typically costs 40–60% of a full rewire.
Plan socket and light positions early. Changing your mind after first fix means the electrician must re-route cables, adding time and cost. Decide on socket positions, USB charging points, outdoor sockets and smart home provisions before work begins.
The Rewiring Process: What to Expect
A full house rewire is disruptive but manageable if you understand the stages involved. Most rewires follow a predictable sequence over one to two weeks.
Survey and quotation. The electrician visits to assess the existing installation, count circuits and plan cable routes. They should provide a written specification listing the number and position of sockets, switches, data points and consumer unit spec. This visit usually takes one to two hours and is often free if you proceed.
First fix. This is the most disruptive phase. The electrician lifts floorboards, chases walls and runs new cables throughout the property. Expect dust and noise. First fix typically takes three to five days for a 3-bed house and is where most of the cost sits.
Second fix. Once the walls have been replastered or made good, the electrician returns to fit the faceplates on sockets and switches, hang light fittings and wire the consumer unit. Second fix is usually completed in one to two days.
Testing and certification. After second fix, the electrician tests every circuit and issues an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC). If they are registered with NICEIC or NAPIT, they notify Building Control on your behalf, fulfilling Part P. Keep the certificate safely — you will need it when selling the property.
Part P Building Regulations and DIY Electrical Work
Electrical work in England and Wales is controlled by Part P of the Building Regulations. Understanding these rules is important before deciding whether to tackle any of the work yourself.
Notifiable work. A full or partial rewire, adding a new circuit, or any work in a kitchen or bathroom is classified as notifiable under Part P. This means it must either be carried out by an electrician registered with a competent-person scheme (who self-certifies) or be inspected and signed off by your local authority Building Control department. A Building Control application typically costs £250 to £400 and must be arranged before work begins.
What you can do yourself. Minor works such as replacing a socket faceplate, changing a light fitting on an existing circuit, or adding a spur to a ring main in a non-special location (not a kitchen or bathroom) are generally non-notifiable. However, the work must still meet the current edition of BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations).
Why professionals are usually worth the cost. Beyond the legal requirement, rewiring involves working with live supplies, correctly sizing cables for circuit loads, and ensuring earthing and bonding meet current standards. Faulty wiring is a leading cause of domestic fires in the UK. An NICEIC or NAPIT-registered electrician carries the necessary insurance and provides a warranty — typically six years — covering their workmanship. This protection is especially valuable when selling or letting, as mortgage lenders and letting agents routinely ask for a valid EICR.
Sources & References
- Checkatrade — House Rewiring Cost Guide 2026
- MyBuilder — Cost to Rewire a House 2026
- GOV.UK — Electrical Safety Standards
Costs shown are typical ranges based on published trade data. Your actual cost depends on your property, location and chosen contractor. Always obtain multiple quotes. Last checked August 2026.