The short answer
A consumer unit as a physical product — the enclosure, busbars, main switch and circuit breakers — can be bought at trade for roughly £50–£250 depending on size, type and brand. An 8-way RCD consumer unit from a mainstream brand typically costs around £60–£100 at trade; a 10-way or 12-way RCBO board can run £100–£250 or more. The installed cost is significantly higher — typically £500–£1,200 — because the unit itself is a relatively small part of the total job. Labour, testing, an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and Part P notification make up the larger share. Buying a unit separately and expecting a much lower installation quote rarely saves money, because most of the cost is in the work, not the product.
There is often a gap between the price of a consumer unit in a catalogue or trade counter and the cost of having one properly installed. Here is why that gap exists and what each element typically contributes.
Consumer unit cost breakdown
- Unit (RCD, 8-way, trade)~£60–£100
- Unit (RCBO, 10-way, trade)~£100–£200+
- Labour (typical job)~£200–£500
- Testing and certificationwithin the total
- Full installed cost (typical)~£500–£1,200
What the consumer unit itself costs
A consumer unit is a manufactured product with a retail and trade price. The main variables are:
- Number of ways: an 8-way enclosure costs less than a 14-way. Most UK homes need a 10-way or 12-way unit.
- Board type — RCD or RCBO: an RCD consumer unit uses shared residual-current protection across groups of circuits and is simpler and cheaper to produce. An RCBO board has individual combined breakers per circuit and costs more per breaker.
- Brand: mainstream brands — Hager, Wylex, British General (Schneider Electric), Crabtree and MK — are common in the UK trade. Budget brands are cheaper; branded units carry a longer warranty and are more familiar to electricians for fault-finding.
- Enclosure type: since the 18th Edition, consumer units in domestic properties must have a metal enclosure (or a non-combustible equivalent); plastic enclosures no longer comply for new installations. Metal enclosures add slightly to the product cost.
| Board type and size | Typical trade price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way RCD consumer unit | £40–£70 | Small board, budget or mainstream brand |
| 8-way RCD consumer unit | £60–£100 | Common for modest installations |
| 10-way RCBO consumer unit | £100–£180 | One breaker per circuit |
| 12-way RCBO consumer unit | £130–£220+ | Larger house; branded units |
| 14-way RCBO consumer unit | £160–£280+ | Larger properties, more circuits |
| Type 2 SPD (add-on module) | £30–£80 | BS 7671 Amendment 2 requirement |
Indicative UK trade prices for guidance. Prices vary by supplier, brand and time of purchase. Sources: trade catalogues from major electrical wholesalers.
Why the installed cost is so much higher than the product price
The supply cost of the unit is typically 15–30% of the total installed price. The remainder is largely labour and compliance:
- Labour: a consumer unit swap typically takes 4–8 hours for one electrician — disconnecting the existing board, fitting the new unit, reconnecting each circuit, labelling it and tidying the installation.
- Inspection and testing: the electrician must test each circuit for insulation resistance, earth continuity and correct polarity before the board can be certified. This takes time, particularly on older wiring.
- Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC): the formal document confirming the installation meets BS 7671. It includes a schedule of circuits and test results. Producing this properly takes time.
- Part P notification: for a consumer unit replacement in England and Wales, the electrician self-certifies with building control as a registered competent person, which involves administrative work and a fee paid to the scheme.
- Remedial work: if testing finds faults in the existing installation — which is common in older properties — those must be fixed before the EIC can be issued, adding time and material.
Should you supply your own consumer unit?
Some homeowners consider buying their own unit to save money. A few electricians will accept this, but most prefer to source and supply their own board for several reasons:
- They take responsibility for the quality of what they fit; an electrician who fits a unit they did not choose may be reluctant to warranty the installation.
- The saving is modest — the unit itself is a small fraction of the total cost, so buying it yourself typically saves £30–£80 on a job where the total might be £600–£1,000.
- Some brands or specifications may not be what the electrician would specify for your installation, and a mismatch can cause compatibility or compliance problems.
In most cases the more productive focus is on getting accurate, like-for-like written quotes rather than trying to source the board separately.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a consumer unit cost to buy?
At trade, a consumer unit ranges from around £40–£70 for a small 6-way RCD board to £130–£280 or more for a large RCBO unit. Retail prices (from builders' merchants or trade counters to non-trade buyers) are somewhat higher. The board cost is a minor fraction of the total installed job.
Is it cheaper to buy a consumer unit myself and have an electrician fit it?
Usually not by much. The unit is 15–30% of the total job cost at most; labour, testing and certification are the larger share. Most electricians prefer to supply their own boards, and some will decline to work with a unit they did not specify. The saving, if any, is modest.
Why are RCBO consumer units more expensive than RCD units?
An RCBO (residual current breaker with overload protection) combines the function of an RCD and an MCB in a single device, and one is fitted per circuit. An RCD board uses shared RCDs covering groups of circuits, which requires fewer and simpler devices. The per-circuit cost of an RCBO board is higher, but each circuit gets independent protection — a fault on one circuit trips only that circuit.
Sources & further reading
- Checkatrade — cost of replacing a fuse box / consumer unit
- MyJobQuote — replace a fuse box cost guide
- IET — BS 7671 18th Edition wiring regulations
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.