Consumer Unit Replacement Cost

Consumer Unit Replacement Cost Calculator

How Much to Replace a Consumer Unit?

The average consumer unit replacement cost in the UK is around £350 to £750, including materials and labour. Most homes require a 10-circuit consumer unit, which typically costs £470 to £650.

A consumer unit is the modern version of an older fuse box or fuse board, so replacing a faulty or outdated fuse box usually involves installing a new consumer unit.

The final cost depends on the size of your property, the number of circuits required, the type of consumer unit installed, and whether any issues are found during electrical testing.

Typical price ranges include:

• Small properties or 6 circuits — £350 to £500
• Most homes or 10 circuits — £470 to £650
• Larger homes or 12 circuits — £610 to £850
• Garage or workshop consumer unit — £330 to £440

These prices usually include:

• Removal of the old fuse box or consumer unit.
• Supply and installation of a new consumer unit.
• Electrical testing of all circuits.
• An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC).

If you’re trying to work out how much it costs to replace a fuse box, fuse board, or consumer unit, the tables in the next section show typical UK prices based on the number of circuits and the type of unit installed.

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Consumer Unit Replacement Prices

The cost to replace a consumer unit varies depending on the number of circuits required and the type of unit installed. Larger homes typically need more circuits, which increases the size and price of the consumer unit.

Consumer Unit Replacement Cost by Number of Circuits

These prices are based on high-integrity consumer units rated at 100A, commonly used in UK homes. The number of circuits determines how many areas of your home are protected separately (e.g., lighting, sockets, kitchen appliances).

Consumer Unit Replacement Cost by Type

These prices are based on 100A consumer units with ten circuits unless stated otherwise, as not all of these can carry ten circuits.

If you're unsure which type of consumer unit your home has, read more about the types of consumer unit below to understand the different options.

Supply-Only Consumer Unit Prices

If you are buying the unit separately, supply-only prices are lower than the full replacement cost. However, a consumer unit must still be installed and tested by a qualified electrician, so most homeowners will pay for both the unit and the installation.

The table below shows average supply-only prices for common consumer unit types.

Fuse Box Installer Cost

Below, we look at the labour fees a fuse box installer may charge to complete the job to a professional standard.

On average, a qualified electrician charges around £200 to £300 per day in labour fees (depending on your location). However, for jobs such as to replace a fuse box, you are likely to be quoted a fixed price rather than an hourly or daily fee, as it is a relatively standard job.

Should you require an emergency electrician or outside of their normal working hours, then expect to be charged around £160 for a minimum two-hour call-out, with any time beyond that being charged at an hourly rate (typically around £40–£60 per hour). Please note emergency electrician prices may be higher in areas such as London.

Below is a table based on labour only, although when receiving a quote to replace a fuse box, you should already know how many circuits you are being charged for, which can vary between properties.

Cost To Replace a Fuse Box By Region

The cost of replacing an old fuse box with a new unit can vary by region, with prices in the South often being higher than those in the North due to higher labour fees. As per the below, the difference between the lower price range in Manchester (materials and labour fees combined) is considerably less than the overall costs in the likes of Portsmouth or London.

How Long Does It Take to Replace a Consumer Unit?

Replacing a consumer unit usually takes around 4 to 8 hours in most homes.

The exact time depends on the size of the property, the number of circuits, and the condition of the existing wiring. If the electrician identifies faults during testing, additional electrical work may be required.

In larger homes or more complex installations, the work may take up to 1 day to complete.

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Additional Consumer Unit Installation Costs

When you get an electrician in to replace your consumer unit, it is possible that they might uncover some bigger problems that need fixing. Each of these can add to the costs.

Electrical Inspection Cost

Having an electrical survey and getting an EICR certificate costs between £120 and £300 in 2026. This will either confirm that everything is fine and there's nothing to worry about, or identify issues that need to be resolved to ensure your home is safe.

If there is any reason to be concerned about the quality of the existing wiring in your home, you should have an electrical inspection completed.

New Plug Sockets Cost

The average cost of installing a double socket in the UK is around £110 to £165. Keep in mind that this will cost more if you want to hide the new wires, as you will need to plaster over them.

If the plug sockets in your home are old or broken, this is the perfect opportunity to replace them with something new. It's a good chance to install some extra plug sockets if you're finding you don't have enough, or they're not ideally placed.

Outdoor Socket Installation Cost

In 2026, the average outdoor socket installation cost is around £85 to £130.

Having an external plug socket available can be a convenient and low-cost upgrade if you often find yourself running extension cables from the inside of your home.

When you have an electrician on-site replacing your consumer unit, this is an excellent opportunity to have an outdoor plug socket fitted.

House Rewire Cost

The average cost to rewire a house in the UK is between £2,400 to £5,500. However, the prices you're quoted by electricians will depend on a variety of factors — such as the size of your home, the type of home you have, and how old the property is.

If you've had an electrical installation condition report or similar has been conducted and identified that the existing wiring in your home needs to be replaced, then you will need to schedule this in with a qualified electrician.

Cost to Replace Light Switches

You may want to update your light switches. To get old ones replaced costs £3 to £55. If you want to upgrade to a dimmer switch, this will cost £35 to £65. Although the average cost for installing completely new light fittings is around £100.

Moving a Light Switch or Plug Socket Cost

Rather than rewiring the whole property, you may wish to move an existing light switch or plug socket instead. This will cost around £100-£150 for materials and labour fees.

The price may vary depending on the electrician, however, this is a relatively straightforward job on the assumption you're moving it along the same wall without any obstructions.

Earth Bonding

Earth bonding is a protective step that is already taken in most houses. If an electrical inspection shows it is missing, you will need to have it done. It involves connecting all of the metal objects in a room to Earth. To get your home fully Earth bonded costs on average £200.

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Factors That Impact Consumer Unit Replacement Costs

There are a few factors that will affect the cost of replacing your old consumer unit.

• Relocating a Consumer Unit — The cost to move a consumer unit is, on average, £525, although this can be higher if external work is required involving the local electricity network.
• Type of Consumer Unit — Some units are more expensive than others, although there's only about £60 difference between a basic model and any higher-end options.
• Condition of Existing Unit — If the current unit is particularly old or in poor condition, then your electrician may charge up to £50 to remove it on your behalf.
• Size of Property — The larger the house, the more circuits that are required, which will then impact the length of the job and the overall cost of materials and labour fees.
• Location and Accessibility — This is largely related to labour fees rather than material costs, as electricians in London and the South East tend to charge more, as do some in more rural locations.

Cost to Move a Consumer Unit

You may wish to move your consumer unit if it's in a position that's causing an issue. For instance, if the unit is taking up space in an area better suited for something else, or it's in a location that's difficult to access, then relocating the unit is a potential option.

However, moving a consumer unit can be a complex job as it can also involve installing new cables as well as extensive work within your home. Although, if the move is just a short distance (for example within a meter or two), then the cost of the job may be similar to that of installing a standard replacement.

Larger moves or those that require external work, such as alterations to how the main electrical supply enters your property from the street, may become costly, with the upper end potentially reaching around £1,200 or higher.

By comparison, if all that's needed is electrical repair work (for example repairing faults such as a system short circuiting), this can cost as little as £65 for a standard call-out.

Signs You May Need a Consumer Unit Replacement

A consumer unit typically lasts 20 to 30 years. However, older fuse boxes or damaged units may need replacing sooner to maintain electrical safety.

You may need a consumer unit replacement if you notice any of the following:

• Frequent circuit breaker trips that cannot be linked to a specific appliance.
• An outdated fuse box with replaceable fuses instead of modern circuit breakers.
• No residual current device (RCD) protection.
• Burning smells, buzzing sounds, or visible damage around the unit.
• A failed Electrical Installation Condition Report.

If any of these issues occur, get a qualified electrician to inspect the system and advise whether a replacement is needed.

Types of Consumer Unit

If you’re unsure which consumer unit you need, the sections below explain the most common types and their typical costs.

There are a few different types of consumer units to choose from. In most cases, your electrician will be able to suggest the best choice for your situation. However, as this is a safety item, it is a good idea to fix your budget, and then choose the best consumer unit that you can afford.

Garage Consumer Unit Cost

These are small consumer units designed to go in a separate building like a garage, or workshop. They will only have the capacity for a few circuits.

The average cost is £30 to £40.

Pros

• ✔ Can separate an outbuilding's supply from the rest of the house.
• ✔ Can be used to add extra circuits without replacing the existing unit.

Cons

• ✖ Limited number of circuits.

Shower Consumer Unit Cost

These are separate units that can be added to existing consumer units. They are good for large electrical devices that require a higher standard of circuit breaker.

The average cost is £30 to £60.

Pros

• ✔ Can be installed parallel to an existing consumer unit.
• ✔ Separates an appliance from the rest of the house.
• ✔ Cheap option.

Cons

• ✖ Only suitable for one or two appliances.

Split Load Consumer Unit Cost

A split load consumer unit is one that separates the large appliances in your home from the rest of the circuits. So, if the oven trips the circuit, the rest of the house is unaffected.

For example, your oven and hob might go through separate Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCBO), which means they essentially have their own RCB and MCB (miniature circuit breakers), while the rest of the house runs through MCBs connected to one RCB.

The average cost is £60 to £100.

Pros

• ✔ A fault with a large appliance won’t affect the rest of the house.

Cons

• ✖ A fault on a socket in the home will affect everything in the house.

RCD Dual-Split Consumer Unit Cost

This is a consumer unit that has two separate RCDs. This means the circuits in the house are split into two groups. Half the circuits go through each of the RCDs.

The average cost is £60 to £100.

Pros

• ✔ If there is a problem, only have the circuits in the house stop working at a time.
• ✔ Can separate upstairs and downstairs circuits.

Cons

• ✖ A fault in one room can affect many rooms.

High Integrity Consumer Unit Cost

A high integrity consumer unit is one that separates out all the circuits in your home. Each circuit will trip independently but offer the same level of protection as other consumer units. This means that if one circuit has a problem, it is the only one affected.

The average cost is £70 to £150.

Pros

• ✔ If there is a problem, only one circuit is affected at a time.

Cons

• ✖ More expensive.

What's Involved in Installing a Consumer Unit?

As outlined under Part P of the Building Regulations, installing a consumer unit (or a fuse box replacement) should only be carried out by an officially registered electrician as, in the UK, it is against the law to install a consumer unit yourself unless you are fully qualified to do so.

That is why it is common practice to seek 3 quotes for the work before you proceed. With the help of MyJobQuote, you can find a reputable electrician in your area with no obligation to book.

As for the process and what's involved, let's take a look at the main steps below:

Before the Work Begins

• Turn off the Power — The power supply will need to be isolated and safely disconnected from the house before starting the rest of the process. As such, you will be temporarily left without power while the work is being carried out.
• Wiring Checks — The electrician will inspect the existing wiring and check it meets the current regulations so it is safe to connect to the replacement consumer unit. As long as the wiring is still safe, you can put in a new consumer unit, or alternatively your electrician will replace the wires at the same time as they replace the fuse box.

During the Installation

• Fitting the Main Switch — The electrician will install the main double-pole isolating switch supplied with the new consumer unit, ensuring it is correctly mounted and connected in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Connecting Meter Wires — A live and neutral wire from the meter will be connected to the double pole switch, while the earth wire from the meter is connected to the earth terminal block.
• Wiring the MCBs — Each MCB (miniature circuit breaker) should then be connected via a bus bar through its live terminal, although always review manufacturer’s instructions as this may vary between models.
• Circuit Wiring — For each circuit, the live, neutral, and earth wires are connected to the appropriate terminals as specified by the consumer unit manufacturer, ensuring correct connection to the MCBs or RCBOs, RCDs, and earth bar.
• Surge Protection — Having a modern consumer unit usually includes a Surge Protection Device (SPD) to safeguard electrical appliances from power surges, as required in most domestic installations.

After the Installation

• Final Testing — The electrician will carry out safety checks on all circuits, testing aspects such as RCD trip times, insulation resistance, and to ensure they are operating correctly and in compliance with all necessary regulations.
• Certification — Once everything is confirmed, you should receive the appropriate certification, such as a Building Regulations Compliance, if applicable and a notification is sent by your electrician to Building Control or your local authority.

Planning Permission and Building Regulations Related to Consumer Box Installations

Consumer units and fuse box replacement are regulated under building regulations, specifically Part P, which covers electrical safety in homes. They are also subject to building control fees, with inspections usually ranging between £120 and £200, depending on location.

When you are moving or looking to replace a fuse box, this should only be carried out by a fully qualified electrician. By doing so the job will also be carried out correctly and in line with Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) to ensure the job meets official legal standards.

After completion, an Electrical Installation Certificate should be provided as proof that the electrical installation complies with regulations.

Checklist: How to Find a Consumer Unit Installer Near You

Before hiring an electrician to install or replace a consumer unit, use the following checklist to make sure you're hiring a qualified and reliable professional:

• Are they Part P registered? Look for a ‘competent person’ who is Part P registered. This ensures the work meets building regulations and the necessary certification and paperwork will be handled correctly.
• Are they registered with a government-approved scheme? Check if the electrician is part of NICEIC, ELECSA, NAPIT, or another recognised body. This gives you added protection and support if anything goes wrong with the work.
• Do they hold recognised qualifications? A competent electrician should hold relevant qualifications, such as a Level 3 vocational award or City & Guilds certification in electrical installation.
• Do they have liability insurance? This should be employer’s and public protection, in case of accidents, injury, or damage to your property during the job.
• Will they provide an Electrical Installation Certificate? After completing the work, a qualified electrician should issue an electrical installation certificate confirming it complies with UK safety standards and legal requirements.
• Have you compared at least 3 quotes? Getting multiple quotes through MyJobQuote helps ensure you're paying a fair price and can reveal major differences in what's included in the job.
• Do they have recent customer reviews or references? Check feedback on platforms including MyJobQuote, references and asking friends or family will help give insight into their reliability and work quality.
• Do they offer a guarantee or warranty? Some electricians offer a warranty for their workmanship, which can provide peace of mind after the job is completed and confidence that the job has been carried out correctly.