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myHouse Rewire Cost Calculator
A house rewire involves removing the existing wiring, sockets, switches and consumer unit, and replacing them with modern equivalents.
Reasons for a house rewire include safety issues such as frequent tripping, flickering lights, buzzing sockets, discoloured wiring, etc. Other reasons are dated or damaged wiring, renovating an old house or an electrical upgrade.
BS 7671 is the national standard for electrical installations in the UK and represents the current wiring regulations. Compliance with these regulations is extremely important for the safety of your home and the people in it.
A house rewire involves replacing outdated wiring, sockets, switches and the consumer unit with modern, regulation-compliant installations. This is often required in older properties, during major renovations, or where existing electrics no longer meet current safety standards.
Our House Rewire Cost Calculator generates a tailored estimate based on your property’s specific requirements. You can input the number of sockets, switches, downlights, pendant lights, loft lights, and outdoor lights required, as well as the number of mains-powered smoke and heat alarms. Appliance circuits, such as electric ovens, hobs, extractor fans, showers, and fridge-freezers, can also be included in a complete electrical specification.
The estimate updates automatically as you adjust your selections, providing a transparent total before you submit your contact details to receive quotes from local electricians in your area.
Please note that this is an initial estimate. A site survey is typically required to confirm a final quotation, as access, layout and the condition of existing wiring can affect overall costs.
All rewiring work should comply with BS 7671, the UK wiring regulations, to ensure the safety and reliability of your installation.
Table of Contents
House Rewire Cost Calculator
Using Our House Rewire Cost Calculator
By adding information into our House Rewire Cost Calculator we can give you a quick rewire cost, with a tailored estimate for rewiring your home based on your specific property and preferences.
How to use the online rewire calculator:
Select Your Property Type
Choose from options like a 1-bed flat, terraced house, semi-detached home or detached house — this helps the rewire cost calculator understand the scale of the rewiring job.
Choose Wiring Complexity
Tell the calculator whether your existing wiring is modern and straightforward, typical of older homes, or very old and difficult to access. As the online rewire calculator will demonstrate, more complex wiring often increases the overall cost.
Pick Your Fittings and Finishes
Decide whether you want basic sockets and how many switches, mid-range fittings, or premium fixtures to have throughout your home. Higher-end fittings add to the overall figure, and how many sockets etc you need can also make a difference.
Add Any External Wiring Needs
If you require external circuits, take into consideration how many outdoor sockets or how much rewiring you need for CCTV and outdoor lights. As well as how many outdoor lights you have, fitting power to the garage or installing a complete electrical supply for an outbuilding can soon increase the overall rewire cost.
Specify Your UK Region
Labour and material prices can vary across the UK, so selecting your location (e.g., London, South East, Midlands, Wales or Scotland) helps make the rewire cost more accurate.
Calculate Your Estimate
Once you’ve completed all fields, hit Calculate to see an instant estimated rewire cost based on real data and hundreds of quotes from homeowners across the UK.
You can also reset the form at any time if you want to try different scenarios or compare variations in fittings, wiring complexity or property types. If you wish to try out the cost calculator again, based on factors such as increasing how many outdoor lights you need or taking into consideration adding an electric shower supply, then simply adjust some of the settings accordingly.
Average Cost of a House Rewire
The average cost of a house rewire varies depending on, amongst other things, the size of the property. Below are prices for rewiring various-sized homes in the UK, with prices often around 10% to 25% higher in areas such as London and the South East when compared to the national average.
| Property Type | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 bed flat | £3,000 – £3,500 |
| 2 bed house | £4,000 – £5,000 |
| 3 bed semi | £6,000 – £7,000 |
| 4 bed detached house | £8,000 – £9,000 |
| 5 bed or extended home | £10,000 – £11,000 |
Breaking things down further, approximately 35% of the total house rewire cost for a complete electrical supply covers materials only, while the remaining 65% takes care of labour fees and additional overheads.
To put that into context, below we take a look at the average material costs for a selection of properties. Although exact values may vary, depending on a range of factors such as how many sockets you have or how many switches are part of your complete electrical supply.
| Property type | Material cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | £1,365 |
| 2-bed house | £1,575 |
| 3-bed semi | £2,100 |
| 4-bed detached house | £2,625 |
| 5-bed extended home | £3,325 |
Factors That Impact House Rewire Costs
There are many influencing factors which impact a house rewire.
Property Size and Layout
The size and layout of a house are directly linked to how much it costs to rewire. A large home will need additional materials in the form of cabling and wires, which can also be impacted by how many switches and how many sockets are needed. When it comes to rewiring a complete electrical supply, especially one that's more complicated, this can also increase the time required and labour fees involved.
Occupied vs Unoccupied
Access to the walls, floors and ceilings is a big part of how house rewires are priced. An empty property costs less to rewire as there is no furniture to move, carpets to lift or occupants to disturb. This can make the price around 10% cheaper.
Number of Sockets, Switches, and Light Fittings
The number of sockets, switches, and light fittings installed as part of the rewire will impact the cost. Clearly, the more there are, the higher the final price will be. The quality of the units will also affect the cost, with standard electrical fittings being cheaper than higher-end models.
Consumer Unit Replacement
Replacing a replacing a fuse box or updating the consumer unit as part of a full rewire will add more than £500 to the overall cost. Modern units have RCD protection, which older fuse boxes lack.
Location
Where you live has an impact on how much you pay for a local electrician in your area. London and the South East are more expensive than the North of England, Wales or Scotland. This is due to the higher cost of living compared to the national average.
Additional Work
Any additional work should be considered when budgeting for a rewire. This includes chasing walls, electrical upgrades, re-plastering and installing smart technology as part of the project. You may also need the services of a decorator after a rewire.
Labour Cost to Rewire a House
The typical day rate for an electrician is £250-£300, although allowances should be made for regional differences. Hourly rates are, on average, £40-£60, although this can rise to as high as £100 per hour in some parts of London.
How long a rewire takes is largely dependent on the size of the property, which impacts your labour costs. Bigger homes take longer to rewire and therefore cost more, in some cases needing more than one electrician to do the work. Where walls need to be chased or floorboards lifted, the presence of a second electrician will speed up progress.
Below we take a look at the rewire cost of a complete electrical supply based on labour fees only, alongside an approximate duration for how long each job can take:
| Property type | Labour cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | £2,535 | 4-7 days |
| 2-bed house | £2,925 | 5-8 days |
| 3-bed semi | £3,900 | 6-10 days |
| 4-bed detached house | £4,875 | 7-12 days |
| 5-bed extended home | £6,175 | 10-15 days |
Additional House Rewire Costs
A rewire is a disruptive process, so many homeowners take the opportunity to get extra work done or future-proof their home at the same time, even when it means spending a little more.
Installing New Sockets/lights
Adding new or extra sockets and lights is common practice during a rewire. Many older homes still have single sockets or insufficient lighting, so this is the perfect time to rectify these issues.
External Lighting
Rewiring doesn’t have to mean internal work only. External lights, CCTV, and electric gates are added features that will increase the cost but improve your home’s security.
Data Cabling or Network Wiring
If you want to enhance your data speed, installing new data cabling will also add to your costs. However, upgrading your network wiring at the same time as a rewire may save you money in the future.
Decorative Repairs Post-rewire
Rewiring is a messy job, and remedial works such as re-plastering, painting and general redecoration are often necessary. Don’t forget to budget for this part of your project.
Can I Rewire My House Myself?
No, you cannot do a house rewire yourself. It is illegal and unsafe for someone to carry out a house rewire as a DIY project.
The only exception is if you are a registered electrician, and in this case, you will need to have the work tested and certified by Building Control or via a self-certification scheme.
Other homeowners must use a qualified electrician who is registered with a recognised competent person scheme. The work needs to be signed off, and you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and a Part P compliance certificate from the electrician. This is not something you can produce as a homeowner/DIYer.
How to Lower the Cost of a House Rewire
Although you can’t do a house rewire yourself, there are some ways that you can save money on this work.
Have the Work Done While the House is Empty
An empty house is around 10% cheaper to rewire. Electricians don’t have to move furniture, lift carpets or work in crowded lofts, which is reflected in the cost. It means the work gets done faster, too.
Combine with Other Renovation Work
Combining a rewire with other electrical works, such as upgrading cables, installing smart home tech or additional lights, means you will save money overall.
Get Multiple Quotes
Ensure you obtain at least 3 quotes so that you have an idea of what the job should cost on average. This information allows you to negotiate and ultimately choose the best electrician for your project.
Use Local Electricians
By using local electricians rather than a national or franchise company, you should save on travel fees. Local tradespeople want to build or maintain their reputation in the community, so they will be keen to offer a good service. They’ll also be able to respond more quickly to follow-up requests or issues.
Final Thoughts
The cost of a house rewire is between £2,500 and £11,000, depending on a number of factors including the property size, layout, number of necessary components, occupancy and location.
For a personalised estimate for rewiring, use our rewire cost calculator today. It removes the stress and guesswork. You can then contact qualified local electricians for more precise quotations and get your project rolling.
