Consumer Unit Replacement Cost

How Much to Replace a Consumer Unit?

On average, you're looking at an overall cost of around £350 to £750 (including materials and labour fees). However, this could potentially be higher depending on the size of the property, the type of unit involved and any additional electrical work that may be required. Regional prices also vary, with the South East being towards the higher end of the price bracket.

Trying to find out how much it costs to install a new consumer unit and replace an old fusebox?

The cost of replacing a consumer unit depends on how big your house is and which type of consumer unit you choose.

For most homes, a high-integrity consumer unit that can carry ten circuits at 100A is the best choice. This type of consumer unit costs £470 to £650. For a larger home that requires more circuits, it can cost up to £850. On the other hand, smaller homes can get a good quality consumer unit for as little as £350.

If you are looking for a consumer unit to put out in your garage or workshop, this will typically cost £330 to £440.

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£100 to £200

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£200 to £300

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£300 to £500

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In this complete guide, we cover all the prices included in fuse box replacement and installing different types of consumer units — such as a split load consumer unit and garage consumer unit. We also look at the average fees that a consumer unit installer will charge in the UK.

Consumer Unit Prices

The cost to replace a consumer unit varies depending on the number of circuits and the type of unit

Cost of Consumer Unit by Number of Circuits

These prices are based on different numbers of circuits in a high-integrity consumer unit at 100A, as this is the most popular option.

Cost of Consumer Unit 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.

Fuse Box Installer Cost & Timescales

The cost of labour and the length of the job will depend on how many circuits your home is split into. The larger your home, the more circuits there will be.

On average, an electrician usually charges around £200 per day for labour. However, this is a National figure and can vary from one electrican to the next - your location can also make a difference, with London as an example of where costing is usually higher than other areas.

Should you require an electrician in an emergency 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 extra.

Normally, there are individual circuits for the lights and sockets on each floor. Then, separate circuits will be provided for each bathroom and the large appliances in the kitchen. The specifics will depend on how your home was wired.

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Consumer Unit Supply Costs

Unit Type

Unit Size

Amp Rating

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 to £300 in 2025. 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 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 2025, 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 assessment conducted and identified that the 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 straight-forward 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.

Types of Consumer Unit

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 appliances 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

Split load consumer units typically separate the large appliances in your home from the rest of the house. 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. The rest of the house will run 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

In these consumer units, every circuit is separated out. Each circuit will trip independently but offer the same level of protection as other consumer units.

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?

This should only be carried out by an officially registered electrician. 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.
• 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.

During the Installation

• Fitting the Main Switch — A double pole isolating switch will be clipped in next to the DIN rail, using separate teeth on the bus bar for proper connection.
• 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 to the bus bar through its live terminal at the bottom.
• Circuit Wiring — For each circuit, the live wire is connected to the top of the correct MCB, the neutral wire goes to the RCD, and the earth wire is connected to the earth terminal block.

After the Installation

• Final Testing — The electrician will carry out safety checks on all circuits, testing 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.

Fuse Box vs Consumer Unit

Sometimes, people will refer to their consumer units as a fuse box (or an RCD fuse box). So, there is understandably some confusion about the differences between the two.

• Fuse Box - These are an older form of electrical safety device. It will contain a number of physical fuses, designed to break the circuit if the electrical current gets too high. When a fuse blows, it must be removed and replaced before the electricity will work again.
• Consumer Unit - Although serving the same purpose, consumer units are a modern, safer alternative. Instead of fuses, it uses circuit breakers that detect electrical faults that can “trip,” cutting off the power via a switch.

Given the fact that consumer units are safer and easier to use, if your home still has an old fuse box, you should have it replaced with a new consumer unit.

What Is a Consumer Unit?

An electric consumer unit is a device that controls the main electricity at the point where it enters your home.

If there is a problem with the electricity, it will cut off the supply. It can cut off the supply to a small set of circuits or the whole house, depending on the problem. To do this, a consumer unit is made up of several parts.

Main Switch

The main switch controls all of the electricity that enters your home. It is a manual switch that allows you to turn off all the electricity to your home.

If this switch is flipped, then the house will be completely isolated from the mains. This is the switch you will need to use in case of an emergency or when carrying out repairs.

Residual Current Devices – RCD

The RCDs are devices that monitor your home’s electricity. There are usually two RCDs in each consumer unit. Each covers half the circuits in your home.

RCDs constantly monitor the current that is flowing through the circuits they monitor. If there is a sudden change in current or if the current gets too high, they will trip and turn off the circuits. RCDs are set to trip if the current gets over 30mA. This is the current at which injury becomes possible.

RCDs usually trip in cases where someone might be at risk of electrocution. This could be due to a fault in a device being used or in the wiring.

Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers are a little like RCDs. Their job is basically the same. They will turn off the electricity in the event of a fault. A circuit breaker or miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) will cover a small specific area of your home. For example, the kitchen sockets or the downstairs lights.

MCBs trip for two reasons. The first is that they are overloaded. This means you have too many devices plugged into the same circuit. You might just need to plug a device into a different socket in your home or switch something off.

This sort of trip can stop things like electrical fires.

The second reason MCBs trip is if the current is too high. This could be because of loose wire in a device. This sort of trip will prevent electrical shocks from faulty devices.

Benefits of Replacing a Consumer Unit

There are three main benefits when it comes to replacing a consumer unit, especially when compared to an old-fashioned fuse box:

• Improved Safety Features: The latest units offer updated protection by comparison to older fuse boxes.
• Compliant with Building Regulations: Keep your property in line with current building regulations should you require an inspection.
• Designed for Modern Requirements: Electrical demands are much greater than previous fuse boxes are designed to cope with.

By replacing a fuse box with a newer consumer unit, you will have peace of mind, as well as a setup ready to take on ever-changing demands.

Can I Change My Own Consumer Unit?

Replacing a consumer unit or fuse box is not a DIY job.

Unless you are a qualified electrician, then you should not try to replace your own consumer unit. It is a legal requirement that this type of electrical work be carried out by a certified professional. Beyond that, if done incorrectly, you could injure yourself or put both your family and home at risk.

Planning Permission and Building Regulations

Unless you live in a listed building, planning permission is not required for electrical work such as replacing a consumer unit. However, if your property is listed, it's best to check with your local council before starting any work.

If during the process of moving the consumer unit significantly changes your property’s exterior, then you may need to double-check with your local council as this could also result in needing planning permission.

Consumer units are also regulated under building regulations, specifically Part P, which covers electrical safety in homes. They are also subject to building control fees, whereby inspections usually range between £120 and £200, depending on the location of your property.

It’s best to hire a Part-P registered electrician for any work, as they will complete the job to the required standard and handle any necessary notifications and paperwork, which is usually included within their quote.

Electrical work must follow the Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) for safety, ensuring all installations meet legal standards. After completion, an Electrical Installation Certificate should be provided as proof that the work complies with regulations.

Cost to Remove a Fuse Box or Consumer Unit

If you are going to have electricity in your home, then you will need a consumer unit. For this reason, the removal of the old one is covered as part of the cost of installing the new unit. Your electrician will also be able to dispose of the old unit.

If you want to remove an old garage unit and not replace it, you will only need to pay for the electrician’s time. It will not take long so you could expect to pay £50 to £120.

Checklist: How to Hire a Consumer Unit Installer in the UK

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 a 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.

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