House Rewire Cost Calculator UK
The cost to rewire a house in the UK typically ranges from £4,000 to £11,000 including VAT, depending on property size, the number of sockets and lighting points, and the type of consumer unit installed. Use the calculator below to generate an accurate estimate for your specific property.
How many sockets do I need in each room?
The IET On-Site Guide to BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 Appendix H Table H7 sets out minimum socket outlet recommendations for domestic properties. These are the values the calculator's Small / Medium / Large room size selectors apply automatically.
| Room | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living room | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| Kitchen | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Double bedroom | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Single bedroom | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Dining room | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Hallway / landing | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Kitchens get the most points. Modern kitchens routinely use 8–10 sockets: dedicated spurs for the fridge, freezer, dishwasher and washing machine, plus worktop sockets for small appliances. Running out of sockets in a kitchen almost always leads to extension leads, which is both inconvenient and a trip hazard.
Bedrooms need more than people think. Each bedside lamp, phone charger, TV, gaming console and laptop adds up quickly. A medium double bedroom (4 sockets) fills up fast — consider whether an extra socket beside the bed or at the desk position would be worthwhile while the walls are already open.
Living rooms benefit from generous provision. A typical lounge with TV, games console, streaming box, sound bar, lamps and device chargers can easily use 6 or more sockets. Plan for how you actually live, not the minimum.
Don't forget outdoor and EV-readiness. An outdoor socket or flood light circuit is significantly cheaper to install during a rewire than as a separate job later. Similarly, if you are likely to own an electric vehicle in the next 5–10 years, a dedicated EV-ready circuit or spare way in the consumer unit costs very little at rewire time.
Source: IET On-Site Guide to BS 7671:2018+A2:2022, Appendix H, Table H7; Electrical Safety First guidance on socket provision.
A full rewire makes the home temporarily uninhabitable — floorboards lifted, walls chased, no power for periods, dust throughout. Most clients arrange a short stay elsewhere (family, B&B, Airbnb) for the 5–10 working days the work takes. We’re happy to discuss timing and phasing options — call 0116 430 0383 or use the contact form below.
Property status
Room count
Quick start with a typical UK property — or enter your own room counts below.
Or enter how many of each room type your property has, then click Generate room sections.
Consumer unit
15-way metal enclosure with surge protection device (SPD) and main switch. RCBOs fitted as needed for the circuits installed (typically 8–12), with spare ways for future additions (EV charger, solar, etc.).
Detectors
Main protective bonding
How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House in the UK?
House rewire costs vary significantly depending on the size of the property, the number of circuits, and any site-specific complications such as solid floors, asbestos, or extensive chasing requirements. The ranges below are indicative for a typical Leicester or East Midlands property with a standard RCBO + SPD consumer unit, all circuits rewired, smoke and heat detectors, and full inspection and certification.
| Property size | Typical cost range (inc VAT) | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| 2-bedroom property | £4,000 – £6,500 | 5–7 working days |
| 3-bedroom house | £5,500 – £8,500 | 7–10 working days |
| 4-bedroom house | £7,000 – £11,000 | 10–14 working days |
All prices include inspection, testing and certification to BS 7671, with an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) issued on completion. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) will tell you the condition of your existing installation and is often recommended as a starting point before committing to a full rewire — it identifies exactly which circuits and accessories require replacement.
Example Estimates by Property Type
The figures below are generated using the calculator's preset configurations — a useful baseline before you customise for your specific property. Each figure includes the RCBO + SPD 15-way consumer unit, smoke and heat detectors, water and gas bonding, and an Electrical Installation Certificate.
| Property type | Baseline estimate (inc VAT) | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| 2-bedroom flat | ~£5,100 | 2 beds, 1 bath, 1 kitchen, 1 living room, 1 hallway |
| 3-bedroom house | ~£6,400 | 3 beds, 1 bath, 1 kitchen, 1 living room, 1 dining room, 1 hallway, 1 landing |
| 4-bedroom family home | ~£7,600 | 4 beds, 2 baths, 1 WC, 1 kitchen, 1 living room, 1 dining room, 1 hallway, 1 landing |
| 5-bedroom large property | ~£8,800 | 5 beds, 2 baths, 1 WC, 1 kitchen, 2 living rooms, 1 dining room, 1 hallway, 1 landing |
These are baseline estimates using medium room-size defaults. Larger rooms, more sockets, additional circuits or specialist requirements will increase the figure. Use the calculator above to model your specific property.
How Long Does It Take to Rewire a House?
A typical 2–4 bedroom UK home takes 5 to 10 working days to rewire from first fix (lifting floors, chasing walls, running cable) through to second fix (fitting accessories), inspection, testing and final certification. Larger properties, those with solid concrete floors, or those requiring additional circuits such as EV chargers or outbuilding supplies may take longer. Certification is issued on the final day once all testing is complete and any defects have been resolved.
Do I Need to Move Out During a Rewire?
Yes — the property will need to be vacant for the duration of the works.
A full house rewire makes the home temporarily uninhabitable. Floorboards are lifted throughout, walls are chased to run cables, and the main electrical supply is isolated for extended periods each day. Dust and disruption affect every room simultaneously. Most clients arrange a short stay elsewhere — with family, in a B&B, or via Airbnb — for the 5–10 working days the work takes.
If moving out is not feasible, there are alternatives worth discussing:
- Partial rewires — rewiring only the circuits that are unsafe or most urgently needed, leaving others for a later phase.
- Staged works — completing the rewire room by room over a longer period, allowing parts of the property to remain in use between phases.
- Consumer unit replacement only — if the wiring is in acceptable condition but the fuse board is outdated, replacing the consumer unit is a 1–2 day job that does not require vacating.
Contact us to discuss which approach is right for your situation.
Signs Your House Needs Rewiring
The following are common indicators that a property may need a full or partial rewire. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) will confirm the condition of the installation and identify which circuits require attention.
- Fuses blow or RCDs trip frequently with no obvious cause
- Old cable types visible — rubber-insulated, lead-sheathed, or fabric-covered wiring
- Round-pin sockets or Bakelite accessories still in use
- Rewireable fuses (ceramic fuse holders) rather than MCBs or RCBOs in the consumer unit
- Burning smells from sockets or switches, or scorch marks around accessories
- Flickering or intermittently dimming lights with no obvious cause
- No earth conductor on lighting circuits (common in pre-1966 properties)
What Is Included in a Full House Rewire?
- New ring final circuits and radial circuits for socket outlets throughout
- New lighting circuits with pendant or downlight positions
- RCBO + SPD 15-way consumer unit (individual protection on every circuit, surge protection device)
- Interlinked smoke detectors (hallway, landing, living room) and heat detector (kitchen)
- Main protective bonding to water and gas services
- Dedicated circuits for electric shower, extractor fans and kitchen appliances as required
- Full inspection and testing of the completed installation to BS 7671
- Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) issued on completion
- Part P Building Regulations notification to the local authority where required
What Affects the Final Price?
The calculator provides a solid baseline estimate, but the final quoted price is confirmed after a site survey. Factors that can affect the cost include:
- Property age and cable condition — older properties with rubber or lead-sheathed cables may require additional labour to remove safely
- Floor construction — solid concrete floors significantly increase cable-routing time compared to suspended timber floors
- Asbestos — any confirmed or suspected asbestos-containing materials must be assessed before work begins; remediation is not included in rewire pricing
- Room sizes and socket counts — larger rooms with more sockets and lighting points cost more; use the size selector in the calculator to reflect this accurately
- Outbuildings and garages — a supply to a detached garage or garden room depends on distance, cable route and ground conditions; not included in the calculator
- Smart home or specialist circuits — data cabling, underfloor heating, EV charger circuits and security systems are quoted separately
- Decoration and making good — patching plaster, redecorating and reinstating floor coverings after chasing are not included unless specifically agreed
How to Use the House Rewire Cost Calculator
Show step-by-step guide
- Quick start with a preset. Click one of the property type buttons — 2-bed flat, 3-bed house, 4-bed family, or 5-bed large — to populate all room counts automatically with typical values. The calculator generates room sections and produces an instant estimate.
- Property status. Select whether the property is currently occupied or vacant. The calculator only estimates full rewires for vacant properties — if occupied is selected, the form disables and an advisory message is shown.
- Adjust room counts. Enter how many of each room type the property has, then click Generate room sections. The calculator creates an individual card for each room.
- Set room size and details. Expand each room card by clicking its header. Use the Small / Medium / Large selector to apply IET On-Site Guide recommended socket counts, or adjust manually. Kitchen cards include dedicated fields for oven circuit, hob, extractor and dishwasher; bathroom cards include shower supply, extractor and shaver socket.
- Consumer unit. Choose between Dual RCD 10-way (£600 ex VAT) or RCBO + SPD 15-way (£650 ex VAT, recommended). The 15-way unit provides individual circuit protection and surge protection, and has spare ways for future additions.
- Detectors and bonding. The detector counts update automatically when rooms are generated. Adjust if your property has a different configuration. Water and gas bonding are included by default.
- Calculate and download. Click Calculate estimate to see the sub-total, VAT and total. Click Show full breakdown for a line-by-line view. Click Download PDF estimate to save a formatted A4 document with a unique reference number.
Important Notes
- All estimates are indicative and subject to site survey. The final quoted price may differ once the property has been assessed in person.
- Prices include inspection, testing and certification to BS 7671. An Electrical Installation Certificate is issued on completion. Part P notification is made where required.
- Leicester-Spark Ltd is VAT registered (GB 508 779 646). VAT at 20% is applied to all work and is included in the totals shown.
- The calculator does not include outbuilding supplies, EV charger circuits, data cabling, asbestos remediation, decoration or making-good after chasing.
- Leicester-Spark Ltd is a NICEIC Approved Contractor. All work is carried out in accordance with BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 (18th Edition Wiring Regulations).
Need a Confirmed Quote in Leicester?
The calculator gives you an accurate baseline, but the only way to confirm a fixed price is a site survey. We visit the property, assess the existing installation, confirm the scope, and provide a written quotation — typically within 48 hours of the visit.
Call us on 0116 430 0383 or 07403 342839, email info@leicester-spark.co.uk, or use the contact form. We are based at 18 Uplands Road, Leicester, LE2 6PB and cover Leicester and the surrounding areas including Wigston, Oadby, Blaby and Glenfield.
Need a fixed rewire quote?
Book a site survey — we'll confirm a fixed price after seeing the property.