Things to know
Most electricians lose money on quotes that lump "parts and labour" into one number. Split them. Consumer unit replacement, rewiring, and fault-finding all have very different labour-to-materials ratios. A customer comparing your quote against a competitor's wants to see where the money is actually going, not a total they have to take on faith.
Certification is a line item, not a footnote. An EICR, a Part P notification, or sign-off to BS 7671 is real time and real liability you're taking on. Price it separately so it doesn't get silently absorbed into your labour rate. The customer should see they're paying for compliance, not merely for a socket being fitted.
Decide your callout structure once and stick to it. A fixed callout fee plus an hourly or day rate works well for reactive faults. Fixed per-job pricing works better for planned work like a full rewire, where an hourly rate makes customers nervous about how long you'll take. This template supports both, so you can switch per job without rebuilding the document from scratch.
State a workmanship guarantee in years, not as an open-ended "guaranteed" with no timeframe. Six years is a common benchmark for domestic rewiring work, and it gives a customer something concrete to compare against another contractor's quote. Pair it with a one-line note on what it doesn't cover, such as damage from later work by someone else, so the boundary is clear before either of you needs it.
Typical electrician line items and UK prices
Indicative ranges, excluding VAT. Rates vary by region (London and the South East run higher) and by job size.
| Item | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out / fault-finding (first hour) | per visit | £60–£100 |
| Day rate (qualified electrician) | per day | £220–£350 |
| Consumer unit replacement incl. RCBOs + certificate | per job | £550–£950 |
| Additional double socket (surface/first-fix) | per socket | £70–£140 |
| EICR (2–3 bed house) | per property | £120–£250 |
| Full rewire, 3-bed houseExcludes plastering and redecoration. | per job | £4,000–£7,000 |
| Part P notification (via scheme) | per job | £15–£40 |
| Outdoor socket or light (incl. RCD protection) | per point | £120–£250 |
Common electrician jobs and how to price them
- Consumer unit upgrades
- Fixed price including the new board, RCBOs or RCDs, testing, EIC and Part P notification. Note that faults found on testing are quoted separately.
- Rewires
- Fixed price per property, split into first fix, second fix and certification. State clearly that plastering and decorating are excluded unless listed.
- Landlord EICRs
- Per-property rate with a remedial schedule priced after inspection — never bundled, so the inspection stays impartial.
- Fault-finding
- Call-out plus hourly, with a cap agreed before you go past it.
- Extra sockets, lights and outdoor circuits
- Per-point pricing customers can compare easily.
Regulations and certificates to reference
- Building Regulations Part P (England and Wales) — new circuits, consumer unit replacements and work in bathrooms are notifiable. Register with a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or similar) to self-certify; otherwise building control fees apply and should be quoted.
- BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations, 18th Edition) — all work is designed, installed and tested to it. Issue an Electrical Installation Certificate for new circuits and a Minor Works Certificate for additions — reference which one in the notes.
- Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 — private landlords need an EICR at least every five years and must fix C1/C2 defects within 28 days. Quote landlord EICRs per property, with remedial work priced separately.
- Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 — work agreed at the customer’s home has a 14-day cancellation period; get written agreement if you are starting sooner.
Payment terms electricians commonly use
- Rewires: deposit on booking (often 20–30%), a stage payment at first fix, balance on certification.
- Small works: payment on completion; certificates released on payment is a common and reasonable condition.
- Letting agents: 14–30 days, with the EICR attached to the invoice.
Read more: Invoice payment terms explained · Payment methods to offer clients
VAT and CIS for electricians
VAT
Standard-rated at 20% once you are VAT-registered (threshold currently £90,000). Most domestic electrical work is standard-rated, including EICRs.
Installing solar PV, battery storage or heat pump wiring in a home can fall under the 0% energy-saving materials relief (in place until 31 March 2027) — but a general rewire does not.
Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
Electrical installation is a construction operation, so CIS applies when you work for a builder or main contractor: they deduct from your labour, not from cable and fittings. Itemise materials so the deduction is calculated correctly.
Working direct for homeowners or landlords is outside CIS.
General guidance, not tax advice — check your position with HMRC or an accountant.
Read more: Do I need to charge VAT on my invoices? · What must an invoice include? (UK legal requirements)
What this template includes
- Separate lines for wiring, fittings, certification, labour
- Optional VAT / GST row
- Valid-until date
- Notes for compliance / Part P / safety certificates
- PDF download or tracked share link
Full guide
How to Start an Electrical Business as a Sole Trader
Frequently asked questions
In England, new circuits, consumer unit replacements, and new circuits or alterations in a room with a bath or shower are notifiable. Like-for-like swaps of sockets and switches usually are not. Scheme members self-certify and the customer receives a compliance certificate.
No. Price the inspection on its own and quote any C1, C2 or FI items afterwards. Bundling them makes the report look self-serving and landlords will query it.
Adding a socket to an existing circuit is usually covered by a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate. A new circuit needs a full Electrical Installation Certificate.
Quote a fixed price for the defined scope and list assumptions — e.g. floorboards are liftable, there is no asbestos in the board backing. Anything outside those assumptions becomes a priced variation.
Reference any compliance work included — Part P (UK), BS 7671 wiring regs, EICR if applicable, or local equivalents. Listing certifications shows the customer the price includes regulated work, not just labour.
Per-job pricing reads more professionally and protects your margin if a job runs long. Use hourly only for small call-outs. The template supports both.
Yes — add a "Deposit due on acceptance" line in Notes, or split the project into a deposit invoice and a balance invoice once accepted.
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