How to Quote an Electrical Rewiring Job

A full rewire is one of the most complex and highest-value jobs an electrician quotes. Getting it right means visiting the property, understanding the scope in detail, and writing a quote that is clear enough to prevent disputes mid-job. This guide walks through how to quote an electrical rewire - including pricing by house size, what to include and exclude, VAT, and the testing and certification costs that get left out.

Always visit before quoting a rewire

Never quote a full rewire without a site visit. The variables that affect price - number of circuits, consumer unit location, buried vs surface wiring, floor type, ceiling type, extension or garage to include - cannot be assessed remotely. A site visit also gives you the opportunity to identify any existing installation issues that could affect the job.

On the site visit, note:

• Number of floors
• Floor type: suspended timber (easier cable routing) or solid concrete (harder)
• Ceiling type: plasterboard (can be cut and patched) or solid plaster (more disruptive)
• Extension or outbuilding to be included
• Location of consumer unit and whether it needs moving
• Number of circuits required
• Number of sockets, lights, and FCUs per room (confirm with customer)
• EV charger, electric shower, or other high-load circuits needed
• Whether the customer is having any rooms decorated after the rewire (if so, second-fix timing can be deferred)

Pricing by house size

The following are indicative price ranges for a full rewire in Ireland and the UK. These are starting-point estimates - actual prices depend on the specific property, circuit count, and what fixtures are included.

These are illustrative ranges only. Always produce your own quote based on the specific job.

What to include in the quote

A rewire quote should list exactly what is covered. Standard inclusions:

• New consumer unit (specify make, number of ways, RCBOs or RCDs)
• All new cables throughout (specify core and sheath cable to current BS 7671 standard)
• All socket outlets (specify number per room, e.g., double, single, USB)
• All lighting points (specify number and type - pendant, downlight, external)
• All light switches
• Dedicated circuits: cooker, electric shower, dishwasher, EV charger (specify each)
• Smoke and heat detectors (specify to BS 5839-6 grade)
• Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and notification to scheme (UK) or EICC (Ireland)
• Testing and inspection on completion

What to exclude from the quote

Being explicit about exclusions is as important as the inclusion list. Standard exclusions for a rewire:

• Making good after rewire (plaster patching, redecoration) - by others
• Furniture moving (customer to clear rooms before work)
• Network/data cabling (if not in scope)
• TV aerial or satellite points (if not in scope)
• External works beyond what is specified
• Any specialist lighting (customer-supplied pendants, fitted furniture lights)
• Fire alarm system beyond standard detection (if a full addressable system is needed, this is a separate quote)
• Any remediating structural issues found during first-fix

Don't forget certification costs

Include the cost of the Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and your Competent Person Scheme notification fee in the quote. This is a genuine cost to you and is often forgotten or bundled vaguely into labour. Being transparent about it avoids any confusion with the customer.

In Ireland, the EICC (Electrical Installation Completion Certificate) must be issued to the customer on completion of notifiable electrical installation work. This is not optional.

VAT on electrical rewiring

Electrical installation work on existing residential buildings is subject to:

See our VAT guide for electricians in Ireland and the UK VAT guide for tradesmen.

Stage payments for a rewire

For a full rewire, stage payments protect you and help the customer manage cash flow. A typical structure:

• Deposit on acceptance (25-30%): covers materials procurement
• First-fix completion (35-40%): when all cabling is run and consumer unit is installed
• Final payment on completion (balance): after second-fix, testing, and EIC/EICC issued

Build your rewire quote in 30 seconds

Get early access - it's free. Describe the job in plain English and PayReady AI builds a professional rewire quote with itemised line items, the correct VAT rate, and your stage payment schedule - ready to send in under a minute. Free during Early Access. No credit card. Ready in 2 minutes.

Or download a free electrician invoice template for Ireland to build it manually.