Cost of Moving a Light Switch

Want to know how much it will cost to move a light switch?

Is it time to upgrade the light switches in your home? Or do you need to move the switches to a more accessible place? It’s a great way to give your décor a lift and have your switches where they are easy to reach.

In this article, we will give you the average costs for moving a light switch and the different styles you can choose.

So how can this article help?

We want to give you ballpark figures for light switch moving costs to help you get the job done at a reasonable price. We can connect you with local electricians who will supply quotes to move your light switch.

How Much Does it Cost to Move a Light Switch?

The cost of moving a light switch will depend on the amount you are charged by an electrician. Some are more expensive than others. Plus, where you live will make a difference. You can expect to pay more in London and the South East of England.

The cost will depend on a number of factors including how easy it is to access your wiring, the number of switches being replaced and the location of the new switch.

Another consideration that will affect costs is whether you use the original light switch or you choose to buy a new one. Basic light switches start at around £3, but you can pay a lot more. For example, if you own a Victorian home and you want period-style light switches you can pay around £50 for a Bakelite switch or £148 for a brass period dimmer switch.

Moving a Light Switch Prices

Labour Costs and Timescales

The labour costs and timescales depend on how many light switches you want to have moved. It will take between 2 and 3 hours to move one switch. If you have more than one then it could take half a day, or even a full day to complete.

Replacing a light switch will probably take an electrician around an hour. But in order for them to make small worthwhile they might charge a minimum fee of two hours, or they will charge per job. That’s why you can expect to pay a higher hourly rate for a small job.

If you live outside London, then you’ll likely pay a cheaper hourly rate. In London and the South East of England, you can expect to pay higher hourly rates for a tradesperson.

Moving light switches is also a job that can be done by a handy person although you should make sure they are competent with electrics.

Electricians can also charge per project, so if you are having other work done on your electrics you may be given a quote for all the jobs that need doing. For example, if you want to move light switches and also install lighting in another part of your home, then your quote will probably be for the two jobs on a project or day basis.

Supply Costs

If you decide to replace your light switches, there are many styles and colours you can choose. For instance, you may want your light switches to match your décor or blend in with period features.

Prices depend on the style, material, and type of switch. They all come at different prices. Have a look at the chart below for an idea of the average price of the various light switches available:

Average Cost of Single, Double and Triple Standard Rocker Light Switches

As you can see from the above chart the cost of a light switch depends on the size and material you choose. Where you buy it will also influence the price. A DIY store will usually be cheaper than a specialist lighting shop. A specialist shop though may have a wider choice of non-standard light switches.

Cost of Dimmer Switches

Dimmer switches are a great way to save electricity and reduce your bill. They are more expensive than standard switches. Most light switches can be swapped for dimmer switches as long as the dimmer switch is equivalent to the wiring in the original light switch.

For example, if you have a single-pole light switch you will need a single-pole dimmer. Poles are the number of separate circuits a switch controls. Your electrician can advise you on what you’ll need.

Cost of Other Light Switch Types

As you can see you don’t necessarily have to have a white plastic light switch. There are a variety of styles to choose from including period switches or modern touch switches.

Additional Costs

You may decide that rather than simply move a light switch to have Smart Lighting installed. Smart lighting is connected to your internet. You can then control the lighting from a mobile phone app, tablet or a device like Google Home or Amazon Alexa.

It gives you the ability to control your lighting when you are not at home. This can provide security if you are away or ensure you don’t arrive home in darkness.

It normally takes an electrician between one and two days to install smart lighting throughout your home, so the cost is likely to be between £480 and £720 for a day or between £960 and £1440 for two days work.

On top of the labour, you will need to replace your standard light bulbs and you will need a smart hub which is the control centre for the system. The cost for installing smart lighting throughout your home will cost on average between £3,000 and £10,000. The cost will depend on the size of your property, the amount of work involved and the number of new bulbs you need.

If you decide to buy motion-sensing lights you can expect to pay more than you would for a standard smart bulb. A smart bulb will cost on average between £10 and £50 and a motion sensor light will cost on average between £15 and £60.

Another additional cost you may have to add to your budget is a new consumer unit. Your electrician will advise you, but they may recommend you have one installed if your old one can’t support your new electric systems.

The cost of a new consumer unit (fuse board) on average, is between £350 and £850, on top of this you need to add the cost of labour. It will take an electrician between half a day and a whole day depending on how many circuits are installed.

That means you’ll be paying between £240 and £360 for half a day, plus the unit and between £480 and £720 for a full day. For example, if you have 6 circuits installed the cost of the unit will be between £350 and £500. Labour will take half a day at between £240 and £360 so the total cost for the unit and the installation charges will be between £590 and £740.

Once your light switch has been removed you may want to hire a decorator to repaint the walls. If you only paint the area where the work was completed it might stand out because it will be cleaner than the other areas. A better option is to paint the whole wall or even the room.

A painter charges around £150 to £200 a day outside London. In London prices rise to between £300 and £400 a day.

To paint an average-sized room of 4m x 3m will cost around £50 in paint and will take two days to complete. That means you are looking at an average cost of between £350 and £450 outside London and between £650 and £850 in London and the surrounding area.

Cost Factors of Moving a Light Switch

When an electrician comes to give you a quote, they will consider a number of points before giving you a final figure. The factors they will take into consideration are:

• The number of light switches you want moving
• The ease of access to the cabling and new switch location
• How long they estimate the job will take
• Whether or not you want other jobs done at the same time

What's Involved in Moving a Light Switch?

If you have wooden floorboards under your carpet the electrician will lift a section of the carpet and remove enough floorboards so that they can gain access to the cables. Then the electrician will locate the cable needed to fit the new light switch.

Once this is done the wall is measured for the new switch and marked where the new cabling will be installed.

Then, the plaster and cement or plasterboard is cut so the cable and the switchbox will go into the wall. When that is complete, the switch box is installed by screwing it into the hole. Next, the cable is installed along or up or down the wall and through to the lighting box.

Using filler, the electrician will pack out the hole where the cables now lay and then cover the cabling so it can’t be seen.

Finally, they will attach the cables from the box to the switch and fix in the front of the switch into the wall. The new connection will then be tested, and the new cable attached and placed in the cable box which goes back underneath the floorboards. The old cable can also go into a cable box with a label to say that the cable is no longer in use. The floorboards are then replaced.

Can I Move a Light Switch Myself?

We don’t recommend you do the job yourself as dealing with electricity can be dangerous. You can of course change a light bulb and there are other things you can do on a DIY basis as long as you don’t need to install new circuits or replace the consumer unit or work in the bathroom or outside.

As long as you are competent working with electricity, then moving a light switch is something you can do yourself because Part P of the Building Regulations considers moving a light switch is work that doesn’t need to be notified.

If you also plan to add extra sockets you should bear in mind that building regulations now state that a power socket can be no lower than 450mm above the floor and light switches no higher than 1200mm from the floor.

Building Regulations and Planning Permission

Planning permission isn’t required to move a light switch and you don’t have to inform building regulations either. But if you are planning any other type of electrical work then it is wise to check with your local council before you start any work.

You can download Building Control’s guidance leaflet. It gives you a list of lighting works and whether or not you need to notify building control. The Warwick District Council’s website also has plenty of useful information about electrical alterations.

Types of Light Switches

You can choose from various lighting switch styles. Here are some of the most common types of switches you can buy.

Dimmer Switch

Unlike a standard light bulb switch, a dimmer switch enables you to control the brightness of your lighting. Using less electricity saves you money, but if you need brightness because you are reading or sewing then you can adjust the lighting to suit your purpose.

Dimmer lights vary in price depending on the type of material and the style you choose. You can pay between £6 and £150.

Rocker Switch

Rocker switches are one of the most common switch types. The switch is slightly raised, and you need to press it with your finger for it to turn on and off.

Rocker switches cost between [price-missing]

Toggle Switch

Toggle switches are popular in houses that have a retro interior. The switch has a lever (or toggle) that sticks out from the light switch box. You flick them on and off.

You can buy them in brass, chrome, steel, wood, and coloured metal. You can expect to pay between £9 and £22 for each toggle switch.

Touch Switch

Touch switches don’t need to be flicked on or off or pushed. The touch of your finger is enough for the light to function. You can a buy touch switch for between £18.00 and £50.00.

Pull Cord Switch

A pull-cord switch is often used in the bathroom or attached to a ceiling fan. By pulling the cord you turn the light on or off. The average price for a pull cord switch is between £2 and £25.

Socket and Switch

A light bulb switch with socket are usually found either near the bottom of a wall in a property, for example, to plug in a vacuum cleaner or a lamp. Or they are found in the kitchen where appliances like a kettle or toaster are found. Costs on average for a plug-in light socket with switch are between £2 and £60.

Smart Wireless Light Switches

A smart wireless light switch doesn’t require any screws or cables to install. You use your Wi-Fi to operate the switch from anywhere, so it acts as a remote light switch. You can buy a smart switch for between £24 and £42.

Removing a Light Switch

If you are having a light switch moved to a new location the electrician will cut off the power to the old switch from the power supply so that you can remove the switch and fill in the hole in the wall. This should be included in your quotation.

Checklist – Hiring a Contractor to Move a Light Switch

We can help you get at least three quotations from local electricians. Simply give us a few details about the job along with your postcode and we’ll put you in contact with the right contractor.

When the electrician visits your home to give a quote it is advisable to ask some questions so that you can easily make up your mind about which quote to accept.

• We recommend that you start by asking when the job can be done and how long the electrician thinks it will take.
• Next, find out how much experience they have. If you intend to have a new circuit box installed or another ‘notifiable’ electrical job, then find out if they belong to the competent person scheme because this means you won’t need building regulation approval when the work is completed.
• Finally, make sure they have the right insurance. If they have staff, they will need employers liability insurance and for working in your home they should have public liability insurance. This type of insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but it does mean the contractor is covered by insurance for property damage or injuries to third parties whilst working in your home.

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