The short answer
A new fuse box — correctly called a consumer unit — for a typical UK house costs roughly £500–£1,200 installed, depending mainly on the type of board and the number of circuits. An RCD board (shared residual-current protection across circuits) commonly runs £500–£800, while a full RCBO board (a combined breaker per circuit, which is the better-protected option) is typically around £800–£1,200. Those figures normally include the unit itself, labour, testing, an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and Part P notification with building control. The work is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales, so it must be carried out by — or pre-notified through — a registered electrician. A straightforward job on a property with sound existing wiring usually takes around 4–8 hours.
Most UK houses have somewhere between 10 and 16 circuits, and the size and protection type of the board is the biggest single driver of the installed cost. The figures below are typical ranges from trade cost guides, not quotations — your actual number depends on an inspection.
Typical installed costs
- RCD board (typical house)~£500–£800
- Full RCBO board (typical house)~£800–£1,200
- Time on the dayusually 4–8 hours
- What's includedunit, labour, testing, EIC, notification
- RegulationPart P notifiable; registered electrician required
What drives the cost of a new fuse box
The main cost factors for a whole-house consumer unit replacement are:
- Board type: an RCD board groups circuits behind one or two shared RCDs, which costs less to supply and install than a full RCBO board where every circuit has its own combined breaker. The RCBO board costs more up front but offers finer fault isolation.
- Number of circuits (ways): a basic 6-way or 8-way board costs less than a 10-way or 14-way. Most modern houses with ring mains, separate lighting circuits, a cooker circuit, an immersion and a few dedicated circuits land on a 10-way to 14-way board.
- Condition of existing wiring: the electrician must test your installation before certifying it. If any faults come to light — an old socket in a bathroom, uncorrected earthing, worn cable — those must be put right before the EIC can be issued, adding time and cost.
- Surge protection device (SPD): the current 18th Edition of BS 7671 (Amendment 2) recommends an SPD in most residential installations; many electricians now include one as standard or quote it as an add-on, typically at £80–£150 extra.
- Location of the board: moving the consumer unit to a new position — rather than replacing it in the same spot — adds cost for additional trunking or cable runs.
| Board type / scenario | Typical installed cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RCD board, small house (8–10 way) | £450–£700 | Sound wiring, no major remedials |
| RCD board, larger house (12–14 way) | £650–£900 | More circuits, longer testing time |
| Full RCBO board, typical house (10–12 way) | £800–£1,100 | One breaker per circuit |
| Full RCBO board, larger house (14+ way) | £1,000–£1,400+ | Larger unit, more labour |
| Surge protection device (add-on) | £80–£150 | SPD per BS 7671 Amendment 2 |
| Additional circuit at same time | £150–£350+ | Per circuit depending on run length |
Indicative UK figures for guidance only. Sources: Checkatrade consumer unit cost guide; MyJobQuote fuse box replacement guide. Figures may vary by region and by the electrician's findings on inspection.
What should the price include
A properly scoped quote for a consumer unit replacement should include:
- The consumer unit itself (unit cost varies by brand and size — budget boards are cheaper; branded units from Hager, Wylex or British General cost more, but the supply cost is a fraction of the total job).
- Labour — removing the old board, fitting the new unit, reconnecting circuits and labelling them.
- Pre-work inspection and post-work testing to confirm the installation is safe.
- An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), which is the document confirming the work meets BS 7671.
- Part P notification to building control — a registered electrician self-certifies and notifies building control on your behalf. If you do not receive this, you have a problem at the point of selling the property.
If a quote omits the EIC, testing or notification, ask explicitly why — these are not optional extras for this class of work.
Why prices differ between properties and between electricians
Two houses on the same street can produce very different quotes. An older property with a previous rewireable fuse box may have wiring that hasn't been updated in decades; once the electrician starts testing, faults that weren't visible on a visual check can emerge and need remediation before certification. A newer house with a relatively recent wiring installation tends to pass its tests more cleanly, keeping the job within the straightforward range.
Regional pricing varies too: labour rates in London and the South East tend to be higher than in Northern England, Scotland or Wales. And different electricians price differently — one may include an SPD and a full schedule of circuit labels as standard; another may list them as line items. The most useful thing you can do is get two or three itemised quotes on the same specification.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a new fuse box for a 3-bedroom house?
A three-bedroom house typically has 10 to 12 circuits, so a 10-way or 12-way consumer unit is usual. An RCD board for that property commonly runs around £500–£850 installed; a full RCBO board around £800–£1,100. These are indicative ranges — the actual figure depends on the condition of your wiring and what the inspection finds.
Does the price include the certificate and Part P notification?
It should. A legitimate quote for a consumer unit replacement includes the Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and Part P notification with building control as part of the job, not as optional extras. If they are missing from a quote, ask the electrician to clarify.
Can I save money by buying the consumer unit myself?
A few electricians will work with a unit you supply, but most prefer to source their own — partly because they stand behind the quality and warranty of what they fit. The unit itself is a relatively small share of the total job cost; the labour, testing and certification make up the larger part. Saving on the unit rarely makes a meaningful difference to the total.
Sources & further reading
- Checkatrade — cost of replacing a fuse box / consumer unit
- MyJobQuote — replace a fuse box cost guide
- Electrical Safety First — consumer unit replacement best practice guide
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.