The short answer
An electrician's total charge to change a fuse box in the UK typically falls between £350 and £1,200 for a complete job. Within that, the labour element alone commonly runs £200–£500 depending on how long the job takes and the electrician's day rate, while the board itself typically adds £80–£250 depending on type and size. The rest covers testing, an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and Part P notification. Because a consumer unit replacement is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations, a registered electrician must carry it out (or building control must be pre-notified). A straightforward change on a sound installation usually takes 4–8 hours on the day. Any faults found during testing — which must be fixed before the board can be certified — add to the total.
The headline charge you see in a quote wraps together several distinct cost elements. Understanding what those are helps you compare quotes fairly and spot anything that is missing.
Cost breakdown
- Labour (typical range)~£200–£500
- Consumer unit (materials)~£80–£250
- Testing and certificationusually within the total
- Part P notificationincluded by a registered electrician
- Total typical range~£350–£1,200
How electricians price a fuse box change
Most electricians quote a fixed price for the job rather than a day rate, because a consumer unit swap is a defined scope. Within that fixed price, several elements combine:
- Labour: a straightforward 10-way board change typically takes 4–8 hours on site, sometimes a second shorter visit for testing if the first day overruns. Electricians' day rates vary — more expensive in London and the South East, lower in rural areas and Northern England. Typical day rates for qualified electricians run roughly £250–£500 per day, though individual rates vary significantly.
- Materials (the unit itself): a budget consumer unit can cost under £50 at trade; a branded unit from Hager, Wylex or British General runs £80–£200 or more at trade, depending on type and number of ways. An RCBO board costs more to supply than an equivalent RCD board because each breaker is a more complex device.
- Testing: the installation must be tested before the EIC can be issued. This is a required part of the job, not an optional extra.
- Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and Part P notification: a registered electrician issues the EIC and self-certifies with building control. Some electricians list this as a line item; others absorb it into the total. Either way, it should be included.
- Remedial work: if testing finds faults — a circuit not earthed correctly, a socket in the wrong location — those must be put right before the EIC can be issued. Remedials are quoted separately once faults are identified.
| Cost element | Typical contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Labour (4–8 hours) | £200–£500 | Varies by region and electrician |
| Consumer unit (RCD board) | £80–£150 at trade | Within the total quote |
| Consumer unit (RCBO board) | £120–£250+ at trade | More expensive per breaker |
| Testing and EIC | typically within total | Not legitimately optional |
| Part P notification | typically within total | Registered electrician self-certifies |
| Surge protection device (SPD) | £80–£150 extra | Optional add-on; recommended by BS 7671 |
Indicative breakdown for guidance. Sources: Checkatrade and MyJobQuote UK trade cost guides. Actual figures depend on region, installation size and findings on inspection.
Why some quotes are lower — and what to check
A significantly lower quote can reflect genuine efficiency, but it can also mean something is missing. The main things to check:
- Is the EIC included? An Electrical Installation Certificate is the document confirming the work meets BS 7671. Without it, the work is not properly certified.
- Is Part P notification included? For a consumer unit replacement in England and Wales, the work must be notified to building control. A registered electrician does this as part of the job. If the price assumes you will self-notify (which requires a registered person's sign-off anyway), understand what you are being quoted.
- Is it a like-for-like board? An RCD board costs less than an RCBO board. If you have been quoted for one type, check the other quote uses the same specification.
- Are remedials included or excluded? A quote that includes an allowance for minor remedials is doing more work than one that simply quotes for the board change and leaves any faults as a separate conversation.
Tradesperson day rates and the total job
Published day rates for electricians in UK trade guides typically range from roughly £150–£250 in lower-cost regions to £300–£500 or more in London. However, most consumer unit jobs are quoted as a fixed total rather than time and materials, so comparing day rates directly is less useful than comparing complete written quotations on the same specification.
It is worth getting at least two quotes for a consumer unit replacement. Because the job is well-defined — board type, circuit count, testing and certification — a written spec lets you compare on the same basis rather than making assumptions about what each quote includes.
Frequently asked questions
Is a consumer unit replacement usually a fixed price or day rate?
Most electricians quote a fixed price for a consumer unit replacement because the scope is well-defined. A day rate is more common for open-ended fault-finding or general installation work. Get your quote as a fixed price so you know what you are agreeing to.
Why did the electrician charge more than the original quote?
The most common reason is that testing found faults in the existing wiring that had to be fixed before the board could be certified. These remedials are hard to predict without testing. A quote that explicitly includes a small remedial allowance or clearly excludes remedials helps you know what you are agreeing to before the work starts.
Do I pay VAT on a consumer unit replacement?
If the electrician is VAT-registered, VAT applies to the labour and materials. Many sole-trader electricians operate below the VAT threshold and charge no VAT; larger firms usually are VAT-registered. A written quote should state whether VAT is included or added.
Sources & further reading
- Checkatrade — cost of replacing a fuse box / consumer unit
- MyJobQuote — replace a fuse box cost guide
- gov.uk — Part P: electrical safety in dwellings
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific property and installation. They are guidance, not a quotation.