Quick Answer
A full house rewire in the UK costs £3,000–£12,000, depending on property size. Most homeowners pay £4,500–£7,000 for a 3-bedroom semi-detached. The work takes 5–10 days and must be carried out by a qualified electrician registered with a Part P competent person scheme.
Rewiring a house is one of the most disruptive — and most necessary — home improvement jobs. Old wiring is a leading cause of house fires in the UK, and outdated systems simply can't cope with modern electrical demand. This guide gives you accurate 2026 prices, what the job involves, and exactly what to ask when getting quotes.
All prices below are for a full rewire by a qualified, registered electrician. For smaller jobs like replacing a consumer unit or adding sockets, see our guide on how much an electrician costs per hour.
In this guide
Rewire Cost by House Size (2026)
The biggest factor in rewire cost is the size of the property — specifically the number of rooms, circuits, and sockets that need wiring. Here are realistic 2026 prices for a full rewire including labour and materials:
| Property Type | Bedrooms | Low Estimate | High Estimate | Avg. Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | 1 | £3,000 | £4,500 | 3–5 days |
| 2-bed terraced | 2 | £3,500 | £5,500 | 4–6 days |
| 3-bed semi-detached | 3 | £4,500 | £7,000 | 5–8 days |
| 3-bed detached | 3 | £5,000 | £8,000 | 6–9 days |
| 4-bed detached | 4 | £6,000 | £10,000 | 7–12 days |
| 5-bed detached | 5+ | £8,000 | £12,000+ | 10–15 days |
💡 London and South East
Labour rates in London are typically 20–30% higher than the national average. A 3-bed semi that costs £5,500 in Manchester could be £7,000–£8,000 in London. Always get multiple quotes — prices vary significantly even within the same city.
What's Included in a Full House Rewire?
A full rewire replaces all of the electrical wiring in your home from scratch. Here's what a standard quote should cover:
| Item | Included? |
|---|---|
| Removal of all old wiring | ✓ Yes |
| New cable runs throughout property | ✓ Yes |
| New consumer unit (fuse board) | ✓ Yes |
| New sockets and switches (standard white) | ✓ Yes |
| New light fittings (basic pendants) | ✓ Usually |
| Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) | ✓ Yes |
| Making good (plastering/decorating) | ✗ Usually extra |
| Smart sockets or dimmers | ✗ Extra |
| Outdoor sockets or EV charger | ✗ Extra |
| Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms | ⚠ Sometimes included |
Making good is the biggest hidden cost. A rewire involves chasing cables into walls, lifting floorboards, and drilling through joists. Electricians are not plasterers — most will not re-plaster chases or redecorate. Budget an extra £500–£2,000 for a decorator or plasterer after the rewire is complete, depending on how much work is needed.
What Affects the Cost of a Rewire?
Occupied vs unoccupied property
An empty property is significantly cheaper and faster to rewire. If you're living in the house, the electrician works room by room, which adds time and cost. Where possible, rewiring during a renovation or before moving in saves money.
Age and condition of existing wiring
Rubber-insulated wiring (pre-1960s) and aluminium wiring (some 1960–70s properties) take more time to strip out safely and may require additional work. Properties with lead-sheathed cables or round-pin sockets are almost certainly overdue a rewire.
Property layout and access
A property with a loft and accessible underfloor space is quicker to rewire than one with solid concrete floors, no loft access, or complex room layouts. Solid walls (rather than stud partition) also add time.
Number of circuits required
A standard 3-bed home needs around 8–12 circuits (lighting per floor, ring mains, kitchen, shower, cooker, etc.). Adding dedicated circuits for an EV charger, home office, or outbuilding adds to the cost.
Upgrades and extras
Chrome or designer sockets, USB sockets, smart switches, dimmer circuits, and additional spur points all add to the final price. Decide what you want before getting quotes so all quotes are comparable.
Number of electricians on the job
A sole trader working alone will charge less per day but take longer. Two electricians halve the duration but increase daily costs. For larger properties, two-person teams are often more cost-effective overall.
How Long Does a House Rewire Take?
Duration depends on property size, access, and whether the house is occupied. Here's a realistic guide:
| Property | Unoccupied | Occupied (room by room) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | 2–3 days | 3–5 days |
| 2-bed house | 3–4 days | 5–7 days |
| 3-bed house | 5–6 days | 7–10 days |
| 4-bed house | 6–8 days | 10–14 days |
You will be without power for much of the working day while the job is in progress. Plan for this — especially if you work from home. Most electricians restore power at the end of each day so you can use the property overnight.
Do You Actually Need a Full Rewire?
Not every old or faulty electrical system needs a complete rewire. Sometimes targeted upgrades are enough. Here's how to tell the difference:
⚠️ You probably need a full rewire if:
- →Wiring is rubber-insulated (pre-1960s)
- →You have round-pin sockets
- →Wiring is aluminium (some 1970s homes)
- →You have a ceramic fuse box with rewirable fuses
- →Sockets or switches are brown or cream coloured
- →Last EICR showed Category 1 (C1) defects
- →Your home hasn't been rewired in 25+ years
✓ A partial upgrade may be enough if:
- →Wiring is PVC-insulated (post-1960s)
- →You have a modern consumer unit
- →You just need more sockets or a new circuit
- →EICR showed Category 2 (C2) improvements needed
- →Only one area of the house has issues
- →You recently moved in and wiring was checked
The best way to know is to get an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) from a qualified electrician. This costs £100–£300 and gives you a clear picture of what, if anything, needs doing. It's also the report required by landlords and increasingly asked for when selling a property.
Not sure if your electrics are safe? Read our guide on how to tell if your electrics are safe.
Regulations and Certificates
All rewiring work in the UK falls under Part P of the Building Regulations. This means:
- →The work must be carried out by a registered electrician (or notified to your local building control)
- →On completion, you must receive an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)
- →The EIC must be registered with the relevant scheme (e.g. NICEIC, NAPIT, SELECT)
- →You keep the EIC — you will need it when selling your home
Registered electricians can self-certify their work. An unregistered electrician must notify building control, which adds cost and delays. Always check your electrician is on an approved scheme before they start. See our guide on how to find a trustworthy electrician for exactly what to check.
If you're selling your home, read our guide on electrical certificates when selling a house — buyers and solicitors increasingly ask for an EIC or recent EICR.
How to Keep Rewire Costs Down
| Tip | Potential Saving |
|---|---|
| Move out during the rewire | £500–£2,000 (faster job, no room-by-room delays) |
| Get 3+ quotes | £300–£1,500 (prices vary a lot between electricians) |
| Do any prep work yourself | £200–£500 (clearing loft, lifting carpets, moving furniture) |
| Combine with other renovation work | £500–£1,500 (plasterer can make good at the same time) |
| Stick to standard white fittings | £200–£800 vs chrome or designer sockets |
| Don't add unnecessary extras | £100–£500 (keep extra circuits for later if not urgent) |
The single biggest saving comes from getting multiple quotes. Use GetQuickHelp to post your rewire job and get contacted by qualified local electricians. Comparing three quotes on a £6,000 job can easily save £1,000 or more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live in my house while it's being rewired?+
Yes, but expect significant disruption. Electricians work room by room, and you'll be without power for much of each working day. You can use the property overnight as power is usually restored at end of day. Moving out — even temporarily — will speed up the job and reduce the final cost.
Does a house rewire need building regulations approval?+
Yes. All rewiring work is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. If you use a registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, etc.), they can self-certify the work. An unregistered electrician must notify your local building authority instead.
How often should a house be rewired?+
There's no fixed legal requirement, but most electricians recommend a full rewire every 25–30 years. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) every 10 years — or when you move into a new property — will tell you the actual condition of your wiring.
Will a rewire damage my walls and decoration?+
Yes — cabling is chased into plasterwork and floorboards are lifted. Electricians generally leave chase lines open for a plasterer to fill. Budget for redecorating affected rooms after the rewire. A full repaint is often needed rather than patch repairs.
Is rewiring a house worth it?+
Absolutely — if your wiring is old or unsafe. Beyond the obvious safety benefits, a fresh rewire adds value to your property, satisfies buyers and solicitors during conveyancing, and means you can power modern appliances without overloading circuits.
Can I just replace the consumer unit instead of rewiring?+
Replacing the consumer unit is much cheaper (£400–£800) and addresses fuse box safety, but it does nothing about the condition of old cables behind your walls. If the wiring itself is deteriorating or outdated, a new fuse board alone isn't enough.
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