A full house rewire is one of the biggest electrical jobs a homeowner will ever need — and one of the most profitable projects an electrician can take on. Whether you're a homeowner budgeting for the work or an electrician pricing a rewire, this guide covers the full house rewire cost in the UK for 2026, broken down by house size, region, and exactly what should be included in the price.
Full House Rewire Cost by House Size (2026)
The biggest factor affecting rewire cost is the size of the property. Here's what you can expect to pay across the UK in 2026:
| Property Type | Typical Cost (inc. VAT) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | £2,000 – £3,000 | 3-4 days |
| 2-bed house/flat | £2,800 – £4,000 | 4-5 days |
| 3-bed semi-detached | £3,500 – £5,500 | 5-7 days |
| 3-bed detached | £4,000 – £6,000 | 6-8 days |
| 4-bed detached | £5,000 – £7,500 | 7-10 days |
| 5-bed detached | £7,000 – £10,000+ | 10-14 days |
These prices include labour, materials, a new consumer unit, testing, and Part P certification. They do not include making good plasterwork or redecoration — we cover those additional costs below.
Pro Tip: If you're an electrician pricing a rewire, always do a full survey before quoting. Count every socket, switch, and light fitting. A walkthrough with a clipboard takes 30 minutes but prevents costly underquoting. Use TradeQuoteAI to build the quote on-site and send it before you leave.
What's Included in a Full House Rewire?
A proper full rewire should include all of the following:
- New consumer unit (fuse board) — A 17th/18th Edition compliant board with RCBOs or dual RCD split-load
- All new cabling — Twin and earth throughout, replacing all existing circuits from the meter to every outlet
- New sockets and switches — White or chrome faceplates depending on customer preference
- New light fittings — Pendants as standard (customer may supply their own fittings)
- Smoke and heat alarms — Mains-wired, interlinked to comply with current regulations
- Earthing and bonding — Full upgrade to current standards (BS 7671)
- Testing and inspection — Full EICR on completion
- Part P building control notification — Required for all rewire work in England and Wales
- Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) — The legal sign-off document
Labour vs Materials Breakdown
Understanding how rewire costs split between labour and materials helps both homeowners and electricians price the job accurately:
| Cost Element | % of Total | 3-Bed Semi Example |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 55-65% | £2,100 – £2,700 |
| Materials (cable, accessories) | 25-30% | £800 – £1,200 |
| Consumer unit | 5-8% | £250 – £400 |
| Testing & certification | 3-5% | £150 – £250 |
Labour is always the biggest cost because a rewire is an extremely labour-intensive job. Cable needs to be chased into walls, run through floors and ceilings, and terminated at every point. Materials are relatively inexpensive compared to the time involved.
Regional Price Variations
Rewire costs vary significantly depending on where you are in the UK. Here's how a 3-bed semi-detached rewire compares across regions:
| Region | 3-Bed Semi Rewire Cost |
|---|---|
| London | £5,500 – £8,000 |
| South East | £4,500 – £6,500 |
| South West | £3,800 – £5,500 |
| Midlands | £3,500 – £5,000 |
| North West | £3,200 – £4,800 |
| North East | £3,000 – £4,500 |
| Scotland | £3,200 – £5,000 |
| Wales | £3,000 – £4,500 |
| Northern Ireland | £2,800 – £4,200 |
London prices are 40-60% higher than the national average due to higher labour rates, parking costs, and congestion. If you're an electrician working in London, make sure your day rate reflects this.
How Long Does a Full House Rewire Take?
The timeline for a rewire depends on the property size, number of electricians on site, and whether the property is occupied:
| Property | 1 Electrician | 2 Electricians |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | 3-4 days | 2-3 days |
| 2-bed house | 4-5 days | 3-4 days |
| 3-bed semi | 5-7 days | 4-5 days |
| 3-bed detached | 6-8 days | 4-6 days |
| 4-bed detached | 7-10 days | 5-7 days |
| 5-bed detached | 10-14 days | 7-10 days |
These timelines cover first fix (running cables), second fix (fitting sockets, switches, and lights), and testing. They do not include plastering or decoration time.
Pro Tip: If the property is empty, a rewire is significantly faster and easier. Advise customers to move out for the duration if possible — it reduces the job time by 20-30% and avoids the hassle of working around furniture and occupants.
Additional Costs to Budget For
A rewire quote covers the electrical work, but there are always follow-on costs that homeowners need to budget for:
| Additional Work | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Making good plasterwork | £800 – £2,000 |
| Full redecoration | £1,500 – £4,000 |
| Moving/refitting radiators | £80 – £150 per radiator |
| Lifting and relaying flooring | £200 – £600 |
| Upgrading to chrome sockets/switches | £200 – £500 |
| Additional sockets (beyond standard) | £50 – £80 per socket |
| Smart home wiring (CAT6, HDMI) | £300 – £800 |
Always make these additional costs clear to the customer upfront. A rewire will leave chased-out channels in the walls that need plastering and repainting. If the customer is not expecting this, it leads to disputes.
How Electricians Should Price a Rewire
Pricing a rewire accurately is the difference between a profitable job and a nightmare. Here's a practical formula:
- Count the rooms: Every room needs at least one lighting circuit point and multiple socket points. More rooms = more time.
- Count the sockets and switches: A typical 3-bed semi has 35-45 sockets/switches. Count them during the survey.
- Estimate the days: Allow 1-1.5 days per room for a solo electrician (first and second fix combined).
- Apply your day rate: Multiply estimated days by your day rate. E.g., 6 days x £380 = £2,280 labour.
- Add materials: Cable (£400-600 for a 3-bed), consumer unit (£250-350), accessories (£150-250), sundries (£50-100).
- Add testing and certification: Allow £150-250 for the EICR and Part P notification.
- Add contingency: 10% for unexpected issues (old lath and plaster, asbestos, difficult access).
- Add VAT if registered: 20% on top if you're VAT registered.
Pro Tip: Never quote a rewire without visiting the property first. Photos and descriptions from the customer are never enough. You need to see the existing wiring, access points, floor construction, and wall types to price accurately. Use our electrician quote template to structure your quote professionally.
Sample Rewire Quote Breakdown — 3-Bed Semi
Here's what an itemised rewire quote for a typical 3-bed semi-detached house looks like in 2026:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Labour (6 days @ £380/day) | £2,280 |
| Consumer unit (12-way RCBO board) | £320 |
| Cable (T&E, 3-core, flex) | £480 |
| Accessories (sockets, switches, faceplates) | £210 |
| Sundries (clips, grommets, fixings, trunking) | £80 |
| Testing, EICR & Part P notification | £200 |
| Smoke/heat alarms (mains-wired x3) | £120 |
| Subtotal (ex. VAT) | £3,690 |
| VAT (20%) | £738 |
| Total (inc. VAT) | £4,428 |
This gives a total around £4,200-£4,500 for a standard 3-bed semi rewire. If you're not VAT registered, the customer pays less and your margins are effectively higher at the same price point.
Pro Tip: Send itemised quotes rather than a single lump sum. Customers trust a detailed breakdown more, and it protects you if the scope changes. TradeQuoteAI builds itemised quotes with automatic VAT calculation — try it free.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to rewire a 3-bed house in the UK?
A full rewire for a 3-bed semi-detached house costs between £3,500 and £5,500 in 2026, depending on your location and the complexity of the job. A 3-bed detached house is slightly more at £4,000-£6,000 due to the larger floor area. These prices include labour, all materials, a new consumer unit, testing, and Part P certification. They do not include plastering or redecoration, which typically adds £1,500-£3,000 on top.
How long does a full house rewire take?
A full rewire typically takes 5-7 days for a 3-bed semi with one electrician, or 4-5 days with two. A 1-bed flat takes 3-4 days, while a large 4-5 bed detached house can take 8-14 days. These timescales cover first fix (running all new cables), second fix (fitting sockets, switches, and lights), and final testing. The property will also need plastering and redecoration afterwards, which adds another 3-7 days depending on the extent of the work.
Do I need a full rewire or partial rewire?
You likely need a full rewire if your property has rubber or lead-sheathed cable, a fuse box with rewirable fuses (no MCBs or RCDs), round-pin sockets, or is more than 25-30 years old. A partial rewire may be sufficient if the existing wiring is PVC-sheathed (grey or white twin and earth) and in reasonable condition, but specific circuits need upgrading — for example, adding an RCD-protected consumer unit or replacing a single faulty circuit. The best way to find out is to have an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) carried out, which will identify any deficiencies and recommend the appropriate level of work.
Related Guides
- Electrician Day Rate UK 2026 — What to charge per day and per hour as an electrician
- Free Electrician Quote Template UK — Copy our template with real pricing examples
- How to Price a Bathroom Refit — Complete cost breakdown for bathroom work
- How to Quote a Loft Conversion — Pricing guide for loft conversion work
- Tax Tips for Self-Employed Tradesmen — Keep more of what you earn
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