DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
Consumer unit replacement cost: fuse board change UK
Swapping an old fuse board for a modern consumer unit is a common upgrade, often prompted by a safety concern, an insurance requirement or a home sale. It is a smaller job than a rewire, but the price still moves with the number of circuits and any faults found once the electrician starts testing. The real prices below come from actual jobs, not list prices, so you have a realistic yardstick before you book anyone.
The quick version
- A consumer unit change is far cheaper than a full rewire but still needs a registered electrician, not a general handyman.
- The work must meet Part P building regulations and comes with testing and a certificate you should keep for life.
- The number of circuits and whether extra RCD or RCBO protection is needed both move the price.
- If testing uncovers faults in the existing wiring, putting them right adds to the cost, sometimes significantly.
- Quotes for what sounds like an identical job can vary a lot, so get more than one before you commit.
- Your power will be off for part of the day, which matters if you work from home or run anything that needs constant power.
What people actually paid
Real prices, in people's own words
- £350“I had one done in a similarly expensive area to you for £350, 8 way dual RCD”
- £545“cost £545.00”
- £600“They did not change circuit board just upgraded the individual circuit breakers required. Came in at around £600”
- £1,500“his was £1500 12way RCBO - in 2023”
Genuine amounts posted publicly. We publish the price and the quote, never the person.
Why the price varies so much
On paper a consumer unit swap is straightforward, but a few things move the price. The number of circuits in your home sets how big the board needs to be and how much labour is involved, so a small flat with few circuits will cost less than a large house with an extension and outbuildings wired in. Modern units include RCD or RCBO protection, and the spec you need, and how many separate RCBOs versus a shared RCD, can nudge the cost up. The bigger variable is what the electrician finds once they start testing; older properties sometimes have wiring faults, poor earthing or outdated cable that must be fixed before a new board can be signed off, and that work is priced separately from the board swap itself. Because the job is notifiable under Part P and must be certified by a registered electrician, price also reflects who is doing it: a sole trader working locally, a small firm, or a national brand. National brands and larger companies tend to quote above a local independent electrician for the same scope of work, partly because of overheads and partly because they can. Region plays a part too, with labour rates in and around London and the South East generally running higher than in other parts of the country. Put those together and two houses with the same number of circuits can end up with quite different bills, which is exactly why comparing several quotes against real prices matters more than trusting a single number.
How to pay less
- Get quotes from two or three registered electricians and check each one includes testing and certification, not just the board and the labour to fit it.
- Ask up front what happens, and what it costs, if faults are found during testing, so a surprise bill doesn't land after the work has started.
- Bundle the consumer unit change with other electrical work you already need doing, so you split one call-out charge across two jobs instead of paying twice.
- Choose a qualified local electrician over a national brand, which usually quotes higher for the same job and the same certificate.
- Compare the real prices on this page against your quote for a similar number of circuits, so you can spot early whether you're being quoted for a bigger board than you need.
- If your wiring is old, ask for an honest view on likely faults before work starts rather than after the board is off the wall, when you have less room to negotiate.
Common questions
Do I legally need a certificate for a new fuse board?
Yes. Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work that must meet Part P building regulations and be carried out by a competent, registered electrician. They issue an installation certificate once it is tested and signed off. Keep this paperwork for insurance and for any future sale of the home, as buyers' solicitors will ask for it.
Why is my consumer unit quote higher than expected?
Often it is because testing revealed faults in the existing wiring that must be corrected before the new board can be certified. The number of circuits and the type of protective devices also matter, as does whether you're quoted by a local electrician or a national firm. The real prices below show typical jobs so you can spot when a quote looks out of line.
How long does a consumer unit change take?
Most swaps are completed within a day, including testing. If the electrician finds wiring faults that need fixing before sign-off, it can take longer, sometimes stretching into a second day. Your power will be off for part of the day, so plan around that, especially if you work from home or have anything running that needs constant power.
Can I get a cheaper quote by supplying my own consumer unit?
Some electricians will fit a unit you've bought yourself, but many won't, because they want to guarantee the parts they're certifying. Even where it's allowed, the saving is usually small next to the labour, testing and certification costs, and if something goes wrong with a part you sourced, you may find it harder to claim it back through the electrician's guarantee. It's worth asking, but don't expect it to change the total by much.
Is it worth replacing a consumer unit before I sell my house?
If your board is an old fuse box with wooden or bakelite fuses, replacing it can reassure buyers and their surveyors, and a valid certificate is something solicitors will look for. If your existing unit is a modern one with RCD protection and no known faults, there's less urgency. Weigh the cost against how much a survey flag might put a buyer off or slow the sale down.
What's the difference between an RCD and an RCBO board, and does it affect price?
An RCD protects a group of circuits together, so if one circuit trips it can take others down with it. RCBOs give each circuit its own protection, so a fault on one doesn't cut power to the rest of the house. RCBO boards generally cost more than shared RCD boards because there are more individual devices to buy and fit, so it's worth asking which spec you're being quoted for.