The Short Answer
A like-for-like electric shower swap costs £150 to £300 to fit, plus £90 to £330 for a 9.5kW shower. A new shower, or a bigger one the existing circuit can't take, needs a new circuit: our estimate is £450 to £900.
By our working, a 9.5kW shower gives about 4.5 litres a minute at 40C when the mains is around 10C, and an 8-minute shower costs about 33p at the 1 October to 31 December 2026 price cap.
Electric shower flow and running cost
What flow you'll actually get, and what each shower costs at the Ofgem price cap (1 October to 31 December 2026).
Flow at 40C
4.5 L/min
A gentler flow
Cost per shower
33p
1.27 kWh at 26.32p
Cost per year
£243
2 a day, energy only
Same 8-minute shower from a gas boiler at 90% efficiency: 22p (£162 a year), using 2.0 times the water. Gas is cheaper per shower even though it heats more water, because at this price cap a unit of gas costs 30% of a unit of electricity.
Energy only: water and sewerage are charged on top if you're metered, and a mixer uses more water. Our working: kW = litres per minute ÷ 60 × 4.186 × temperature rise to 40C.
Electric shower prices
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 9.5kW electric shower (unit only) | £90 to £330 |
| Fitting, like for like on the existing circuit | £150 to £300 |
| New circuit from the consumer unit (our estimate) | £450 to £900 |
| Extra pipework to a new position (our estimate) | £300 to £700 |
A like-for-like swap on the existing circuit takes about two hours, up to four if wiring needs sorting. Triton and Mira both run their own fitting services if you buy one of their showers (see the FAQs).
8.5, 9.5 or 10.5kW? Flow and current
An electric shower heats cold mains water as it flows, so the flow depends on its power and on how cold the mains is. Our working: litres per minute = kW × 60 ÷ (4.186 × temperature rise). The mains temperatures below are our assumptions for each season.
| Shower | Mains ~15C | Mains ~10C | Mains ~5C | Current at 230V |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5kW | 4.9 L/min | 4.1 L/min | 3.5 L/min | about 37A |
| 9.5kW | 5.4 L/min | 4.5 L/min | 3.9 L/min | about 41A |
| 10.5kW | 6.0 L/min | 5.0 L/min | 4.3 L/min | about 46A |
A bigger shower draws more current, so before swapping up to a higher rating I'd have an electrician check the existing cable and circuit can take it. If it can't, the upgrade needs a new circuit, which is notifiable.
Do you need building control?
In England, notifiable electrical work is a new circuit, a new consumer unit, or additions or alterations to circuits in a "special location" around a bath or shower. Government guidance adds that replacements, repairs and maintenance aren't notifiable anywhere.
| Job | Notifiable in England? |
|---|---|
| Replacing a shower like for like on the same circuit | No (it must still meet the wiring regulations) |
| A bigger shower on a new or upgraded circuit | Yes |
| A new electric shower where there wasn't one | Yes (new circuit) |
What an electric shower costs to run
At the Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, electricity costs 26.32p per kWh:
| Shower length | 8.5kW | 9.5kW | 10.5kW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 19p | 21p | 23p |
| 8 minutes | 30p | 33p | 37p |
| 10 minutes | 37p | 42p | 46p |
At this price cap a unit of gas costs 30% of a unit of electricity, so a mixer shower on a gas combi can cost less per shower even though it uses more water. The calculator above compares the two.
Common faults, and repair or replace
Triton's technical manager lists what's behind most calls, and the checks to make first:
- No water at all: check the shower's circuit at the consumer unit, the RCD and the isolating switch. If they're on, it may be a faulty solenoid or circuit board (an engineer job).
- Water as cold as the cold tap: either the thermal cut-out has tripped (book an engineer) or the water pressure is too low for the heaters to come on. Check the pressure first.
- Too hot, even on a cool setting: usually restricted flow: a stop tap or valve not fully open, a limescaled spray plate or a collapsed hose.
- Hot and cold cycling: Triton says around 90% of these calls aren't faults; it's the mains pressure changing when water's used elsewhere. Turn the temperature down slightly.
- Leaking from a clear tube inside: the pressure relief device has gone, usually because of a blocked head or collapsed hose, and it has to be replaced.
- Tripping the electrics: tripping when you switch on points to the wiring, not the shower; tripping while it heats suggests a heater fault. Both need an engineer.
Mira suggests replacing rather than repairing if the shower is more than 10 years old, parts are discontinued or the faults keep coming back. Some replacements are made to fit old positions: Triton's T80 Easi-Fit+ takes the water and cable from either side and has a large backplate for replacement installations. For a whole new set-up, see shower installation costs.
Get electric shower quotes
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fit an electric shower?
£150 to £300 to swap one like for like, plus £90 to £330 for the shower. A new circuit adds about £450 to £900 on our estimate.
Do you need a plumber to install an electric shower?
A plumber can do the water connection. The electrical work must be done competently, and a new circuit is notifiable, so it needs a registered electrician or building control.
How much does Mira charge to fit a shower?
When we checked in October 2026, Mira was offering to install a Mira shower bought from it for £80 (normally £110), until 30 November 2026.
How much does it cost to install a Triton electric shower?
Triton's own fitting service started from £100 when we checked in October 2026, using engineers it employs. Any electrician or plumber can fit one too: about £150 to £300 on our estimates for a like-for-like swap.
Is a 10.5kW shower better than 9.5kW?
It gives a little more flow, but draws more current. If the existing circuit can't take it, the upgrade needs a new circuit, which is notifiable and costs more.
How much does an electric shower cost per shower?
About 33p for 8 minutes on a 9.5kW shower at 26.32p per kWh (1 October to 31 December 2026), by our working.
Why does my electric shower keep going hot and cold?
Triton says around 90% of these calls aren't faults: the mains pressure changes when water is used elsewhere. Try turning the temperature down slightly.
How we priced thisView sources (7, 4 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- Industry9.5kW electric shower prices, Screwfix. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryGuide to shower installation costs (30 April 2026), Mira Showers. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryCommon shower questions answered by a Triton expert (22 December 2025), Triton Showers. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialThe Building Regulations 2010, regulation 12(6A) and (9): notifiable electrical work and 'special location' (England), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 14 Oct 2026.
- OfficialApproved Document P: Electrical safety, dwellings (2013 edition), GOV.UK. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialEnergy price cap unit rates and standing charges, 1 October to 31 December 2026, Ofgem. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialBefore you get work done on your home (England), Citizens Advice. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
