The Short Answer
On our estimates, a full rewire of a 3-bed house costs about £6,000 to £9,500, including a new consumer unit and the certificate. A 1-bed flat is £3,500 to £5,800 and a 5-bed house £9,500 to £15,000. The electrics take about four to five working days in a 3-bed house, then there's plastering and decorating.
It's a big, messy job: you can live in the house, but expect the power off at times, dust and noise. Budget £500 to £2,000 for making good, because re-plastering and redecorating often aren't in the electrician's quote.
Rewire cost calculator
A full rewire with a new consumer unit and certificate, priced by the size of the home.
Estimated total
£6,500 to £11,500
| Full rewire, 3-bed house, consumer unit and certificate | £6,000 to £9,500 |
| Plastering over chases and patching | £500 to £2,000 |
Rewire prices by size
| Home | Full rewire | Electrician's time |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | £3,500 to £5,800 | two to three days |
| 2-bed flat or house | £4,500 to £7,000 | three to four days |
| 3-bed house | £6,000 to £9,500 | four to five days |
| 4-bed house | £7,500 to £11,500 | five to seven days |
| 5-bed house | £9,500 to £15,000 | six to eight days |
Do you need a rewire?
Electrical Safety First, the electrical safety charity, says there's no set age at which a home needs rewiring: old wiring isn't automatically unsafe. It recommends an inspection (an EICR) at least every 10 years in a home you own and every 5 years in a rented one, which tells you what, if anything, needs upgrading.
Get a registered electrician to check straight away if you notice:
- burn marks on plugs or sockets;
- buzzing or crackling sounds (arcing);
- fuses blowing or circuit breakers tripping.
For major work it suggests getting at least three quotes.
What you should get at the end
A rewire is notifiable work: new circuits and a new consumer unit both are. The simplest route is an electrician registered with Blue Flame, Certsure (NICEIC and ELECSA), NAPIT or OFTEC, who certifies the work and tells building control for you. Electrical Safety First says you should get an Electrical Installation Certificate and a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. Old cables that aren't reused should be removed, or permanently disconnected if they can't be.
Keep both certificates: you'll want them when you sell.
Costs on top
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Plastering over chases and patching | £500 to £2,000 |
| Living in during the work (our allowance, about 15%) | £900 to £1,450 |
Other prices you may see
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Rewires are priced by the size of the home and whether you're living in it.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do electricians charge for rewiring?
On our estimates, about £6,000 to £9,500 for a 3-bed house, £3,500 to £5,800 for a 1-bed flat and £9,500 to £15,000 for a 5-bed, including a new consumer unit and certificate.
Does a 25 year old house need rewiring?
Not necessarily. Electrical Safety First says there's no set age for a rewire; an EICR every 10 years (5 if rented) tells you whether anything needs doing.
How long does it take to rewire a 3-bed house?
About four to five working days for the electrics, then plastering and decorating.
Is rewiring a house a big job?
Yes. Cables go into walls and under floors, so expect power cuts, dust, noise, and plastering and decorating afterwards.
Do I need a certificate for a rewire?
Yes. It's notifiable work. An electrician registered with Blue Flame, Certsure (NICEIC and ELECSA), NAPIT or OFTEC gives you an Electrical Installation Certificate and notifies building control, and you get a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate.
How we priced thisView sources (5, 2 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.
- OfficialThe Building Regulations 2010, regulation 12(6A) and (9): notifiable electrical work and 'special location' (England), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 14 Oct 2026.
- OfficialThe Building Regulations 2010, Schedule 3: self-certification schemes (para 16, roof coverings), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryYour questions answered, Electrical Safety First. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- Trade guideHouse rewire cost, Checkatrade. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryRewiring your home, British Gas. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
