Why EICR Quotes Vary So Much
An EICR quote built from a two-minute phone call is a guess dressed up as a price. Without knowing the number of circuits, the number of consumer units, or what happens if the report comes back unsatisfactory, two electricians can look at the same job and land on very different numbers — and both can be defensible. The fix isn't a fixed national price list. It's a consistent checklist so every quote states the same things, and the customer can actually compare them.
The Core Checklist — What Every EICR Quote Should State
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Property type and approximate floor area | Drives the assumed circuit count before you've even seen the consumer unit |
| Number of consumer units / distribution boards | Multiple boards (extensions, outbuildings, converted flats) add real testing time |
| Assumed number of circuits | The single biggest driver of on-site time — state it, don't leave it implied |
| Scope of testing (visual, dead, live) | Some cheap quotes are visual-only inspections dressed up as a full EICR |
| Report format and turnaround time | Landlords and agents often need the certificate within a set number of days |
| Remedial work — included or excluded | The most common source of a "surprise" invoice after the inspection |
| Access and travel assumptions | Flat with no parking vs. rural property with a long driveway are not the same job |
| Cancellation / access-failure terms | Protects you if the customer isn't in or the property isn't ready |
Why this protects you too: a checklist-compliant quote is also the easiest way to justify your price against a cheaper, vaguer one — the customer can see exactly what they're paying for and what a rival quote might be quietly leaving out.
Red Flags in a Vague EICR Quote
- No mention of how many circuits or consumer units are assumed
- No statement on whether remedial work is included
- No report turnaround time given
- A single flat price with no property details attached at all
Any of these usually means the price was built on assumptions that haven't been written down — which is exactly what causes disputes once the inspection is under way. For typical price ranges once scope is defined, see our EICR cost guide for 2026, which breaks pricing down by property type.
A Sample Checklist-Compliant Quote Line
Example: "EICR for 3-bed semi-detached house. Assumes one consumer unit and up to 10 circuits. Includes visual inspection, dead and live testing, and certificate issue within 5 working days. Remedial works and fault-finding beyond the inspection are excluded and will be quoted separately after the report."
That one paragraph answers almost every question a customer or letting agent is likely to ask before they've even asked it.
Turning This Into a Reusable Template
Once you've settled on your checklist, the fastest way to keep it consistent is to build it into a quote template rather than rewriting it from memory every time. A saved EICR quote template with the checklist items already in place means every quote you send states the same scope, in the same order, whether you're quoting from the van or the sofa. Tools such as TradeQuoteAI's quoting software let you save this checklist as a reusable EICR template and turn it into a sendable PDF in under a minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do EICR quotes vary so much between electricians?
Mostly because they assume different scope — circuit count, number of consumer units, whether remedial work is included, and report turnaround all change the price, and not every quote states them.
Should an EICR quote include remedial work?
Usually not upfront. Remedial work is normally quoted separately once the report identifies actual faults, since the extent isn't known until the inspection is complete.
What is the single biggest driver of EICR pricing?
The number of circuits and consumer units, followed by access and property size — state these clearly in the quote rather than leaving them assumed.
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