Searching “electrician cost London” throws up wildly different numbers. Some websites quote £30 an hour, others suggest £80+, and half of them are based on national averages that mean nothing in the capital. Here is an honest, up-to-date breakdown of what a qualified electrician actually charges in London in 2026 — written by NICEIC-approved electricians who work across Camden, Hackney, Islington, Tower Hamlets, and Southwark every day.
Average Electrician Hourly Rate in London (2026)
The standard electrician hourly rate London homeowners should expect in 2026 sits between £45 and £60 per hour (plus VAT) for a competent, registered professional. That range covers most routine domestic work during normal working hours.
You will find cheaper quotes, but be cautious. An electrician charging £25 an hour almost certainly is not registered with a competent person scheme, may not carry insurance, and cannot self-certify notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations.
At F&A Electrical, our rates are straightforward:
- £45 + VAT per half hour — Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
- £60 + VAT per half hour — evenings, weekends, and bank holidays
No hidden fees. No call-out charge baked into the first hour. You pay for the time the job takes. For larger projects we provide a fixed quote upfront so you know exactly what you are paying before any work starts. See our full rate card at our pricing page.
Electrician Day Rate London
For bigger jobs — a full rewire, a kitchen fit-out, or a commercial installation — most electricians work on a day rate. Typical electrician day rates in London for 2026:
| Experience level | Day rate (exc. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Qualified electrician (sole trader) | £300 – £400 |
| NICEIC / NAPIT registered electrician | £350 – £450 |
| Electrician + mate (two-person team) | £500 – £650 |
Day rates usually assume an 8-hour working day. Materials are charged separately unless the quote says otherwise — always ask.
Emergency Electrician Callout Rates
Lost power at 10pm on a Sunday? Emergency callouts cost more because you are paying for immediate availability outside of standard hours. Expect to pay:
- Emergency callout fee: £80 – £150 (first hour)
- Hourly rate after first hour: £60 – £90 per hour
At F&A Electrical, we do not inflate emergency pricing with mystery “callout fees.” Our evening and weekend rate of £60 + VAT per half hour applies to emergency work as well — you pay the same transparent rate whether the call comes in at 3pm or 3am.
Common Electrical Job Costs in London (2026)
Below is a realistic guide to what common domestic electrical jobs cost in London. Prices include labour and materials unless stated otherwise.
| Job | Typical cost range (inc. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Single socket installation | £80 – £150 |
| Double socket addition (from existing circuit) | £100 – £180 |
| Light fitting replacement (like-for-like) | £60 – £120 |
| New lighting circuit | £350 – £600 |
| Ceiling fan installation | £150 – £250 |
| Fuse board (consumer unit) replacement | £450 – £800 |
| EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) | £150 – £350 |
| Full house rewire (2-bed flat) | £2,500 – £4,000 |
| Full house rewire (3-bed house) | £4,000 – £6,500 |
| EV charger installation | £800 – £1,500 |
| Smoke/heat alarm system (hard-wired, 3-bed) | £300 – £500 |
These figures reflect real London pricing for 2026. If a quote for a consumer unit replacement comes in under £300, question what board is being fitted and whether the work will be certified.
For more detail on fuse board costs, see our guide: fuse board replacement in Camden. For EICR pricing, read our full breakdown: EICR in Islington.
What Affects Electrician Prices in London?
Location and access
A ground-floor flat in Islington with easy access to the consumer unit is quicker to work in than a converted Victorian terrace in Hackney where cables run through three floors of lath and plaster. Difficult access means more time, which means higher cost.
Age of the property
Older London properties — especially pre-war stock — often have outdated wiring (rubber-insulated cable, lead sheathing, no earth). Rewiring these takes longer because of the condition of existing circuits and the need to chase new routes through solid walls.
Scale and complexity
A single socket addition is a one-hour job. A full rewire with first and second fix, new consumer unit, smoke alarms, and certification is a multi-day project. Bigger scope means a fixed project quote is almost always better value than hourly billing.
Certification requirements
Any notifiable work under Part P (new circuits, consumer unit changes, bathroom electrics) must be certified by a registered electrician or signed off by Building Control. If a quote does not include certification, it is not a complete quote.
How to Get Good Value from a London Electrician
Getting a fair price is not just about finding the cheapest quote. Here is what actually matters:
- Get at least two written quotes. Verbal estimates are meaningless — insist on a written breakdown of labour and materials.
- Check registration. Ask for the NICEIC or NAPIT registration number and verify it online.
- Ask what is included. Does the quote cover materials, certification, making good?
- Avoid the cheapest quote. The lowest price almost always means corners cut on materials, no certification, or an uninsured tradesperson.
- Book non-urgent work during standard hours. You will pay less than evenings or weekends.
- Bundle jobs together. If you need a new socket and a light fitting replaced, book them in the same visit.
F&A Electrical: Transparent Pricing, No Surprises
We are F&A Electrical — NICEIC-approved electricians based in North London (N15), serving Camden, Hackney, Islington, Tower Hamlets, and Southwark. Our pricing philosophy is simple: tell people what it costs, do the work properly, certify it, and leave.
Our rates are published on our website at our pricing page because we think you should know what you are paying before you pick up the phone. Every job we complete comes with the relevant certification — whether that is an EICR, a Minor Works certificate, or a full Electrical Installation Certificate.
Get a Free Quote
Want to know exactly what your job will cost? We provide free, no-obligation quotes for all domestic and commercial electrical work across London.
Call us on 07407 627542 or email info@faelectrical.co.uk to get a quote — usually within the same day.
F&A Electrical is NICEIC approved, Part P registered, and fully insured. We serve homeowners, landlords, and businesses across Camden, Hackney, Islington, Tower Hamlets, and Southwark.