Electrician costs: hourly rates and job prices

The existing indicative prices on this page put regular electrician work at €40–€75 per hour, and urgent work at €75–€120 per hour. These are not SkilledContractors rates. The actual quote depends on time, materials, travel and the condition of your installation. Ask whether VAT is included. A written, itemised quote is more useful than one general hourly figure.

The existing indicative rate for regular work is €40–€75 per hour. SkilledContractors does not set this rate. Ask whether VAT, travel and parts are included. A higher hourly rate can still mean a lower total if fewer hours are needed.

For urgent work outside normal hours, this guide shows an existing indicative €75–€120 per hour. Ask about the call-out fee, surcharge and parts before the visit. If you notice a burning smell, sparks or damaged wiring, keep away from the installation and seek professional help. Schedule routine work during normal hours and list small tasks together in the quote.

Ask for separate lines for labour or a fixed job price, parts and their specification, call-out charge, testing, chasing and repair, disposal, and any out-of-hours surcharge. A low hourly rate can still produce a higher total if the quote covers less work. Agree how the contractor will approve and price unforeseen work.

The table below gives existing indicative examples: a socket (€50–€150), lighting connection (€75–€200) and consumer unit replacement (€500–€1,200). New wiring, circuits or making good the wall can change the total. For full scope and examples, request a job-specific, itemised quote.

Access to the cable route, the number of points, the existing consumer unit and making good the finish drive labour time. A home charger or induction hob may require a check of capacity and protection. An additional circuit differs from an upgrade to the grid connection; the latter is arranged with your network operator. Have the electrician assess both before agreeing a price.

An hourly rate can fit a small job with uncertain scope, such as diagnosing a fault. Ask about minimum billable time, the call-out charge and approval of extra hours. A fixed quote can be clearer for a defined task, such as one new point with a known cable route. Agree what happens if opening the wall reveals an unsuitable existing installation.

A new socket may also require chasing, a cable route through several rooms, protection in the consumer unit and wall repair. Replacing the consumer unit does not automatically include a grid upgrade. A charger may need groundwork or a longer cable run. Ask each contractor to say exactly what is included and what would count as extra work.

New wiring is more than the price of several sockets added together. Rooms, points, circuits, cable length, wall type and making good the finish all change the work. Ask for a separate wiring breakdown and distinct labour and material costs in the quote.

If an agreed job takes 2 hours at €60 with a €30 call-out charge, labour plus travel is €150. Add parts, VAT or other items only if the quote says they are excluded. This is arithmetic using the existing indicative figures, not a marketplace quote or average project price.

The network operator and the electrician have different responsibilities. Enexis explains that it owns the connection and meter, while the consumer unit belongs to the home's internal installation. Ask a professional to assess the installation and specify testing and handover. Read the network operator's explanation. Compare quotes for the same work scope. Find an electrician for your job.

The electrician may first need to determine whether the existing parts are suitable. Diagnostic work takes time, and a fault-finding visit differs from a quote for an already defined repair. Ask the contractor to put assumptions, parts and any final tests in writing so quotes cover comparable work.