DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
What drives the cost of a new consumer unit
Swapping a fuse board sounds like a quick job, and sometimes it is, but the price can climb once an electrician sees what is behind the cover. Knowing what pushes the cost helps you read the real prices below with a clearer eye, and it stops you assuming the first number you're quoted is either a rip-off or a bargain.
The quick version
- The board itself is a small part of the bill; testing, certification and remedial work make up the rest.
- Any faults found during testing must be fixed before a new unit can be signed off, which adds cost.
- Consumer unit work falls under Part P, so it must be done by a registered electrician and certified.
- A quote given without an inspection is a guess. The final price often moves once the electrician sees the wiring.
- The real prices below are actual prices, so you can see typical spends rather than a rough estimate.
- Two jobs that look identical from the front of the board can cost very different amounts once the old wiring is opened up.
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
A straight swap on healthy wiring is the cheapest case. The trouble is that a new consumer unit comes with modern protection, and once it is fitted it will trip on faults the old board happily ignored. So the electrician tests the circuits first, and anything dangerous has to be put right before sign-off. Old wiring, no earth on the lighting circuits, or dodgy past DIY all add work. The number of circuits, whether you need surge protection, and how easy the board is to reach also shift the price. Who does the work matters too. Most consumer unit changes are carried out by small local firms or sole traders rather than large national companies, and their overheads, van time and how busy their diary is all feed into the day rate they quote. Prices also move around the country: labour rates and the cost of getting materials to site are not the same in every region, so a quote that looks high or low next to a friend's might just reflect where you live rather than anything wrong with the job.
How to pay less
- Ask for an inspection first so faults are known before the quote, with no surprises mid-job.
- Get three quotes from registered electricians and check each one includes testing and the certificate, not just the board and labour.
- Bundle any other electrical jobs into the same visit to save on repeat call-out charges.
- Pay by credit card where you can, so you have Section 75 protection on the work.
- Ask what happens if faults turn up during testing. A clear answer up front, with a rate for extra work agreed in writing, stops a dispute later.
- If money is tight, ask whether any remedial work can be phased. Some faults must be fixed before sign-off, but not every extra socket or circuit needs doing on the same day.
Common questions
Do I legally need a registered electrician to change a consumer unit?
Changing a consumer unit is notifiable work under Part P of the building regulations. A registered electrician can self-certify it and issue the paperwork. Using someone who is not registered means extra hassle and cost getting the council to sign it off, and it can cause problems if you come to sell the house.
Why did my electrician find extra work after quoting?
A new board has sensitive protection that reveals faults the old one masked. Once those show up on testing, they must be fixed for the installation to be safe and certified. It is not a scam, though a good electrician will warn you it can happen and should explain what was found before doing the extra work.
How long does a consumer unit change take?
A simple swap is often a day, including testing and certification. If the electrician finds faults that need fixing first, it can stretch longer. The real prices below reflect that spread, so treat a single quoted figure as a starting point rather than the final bill.
Is the cheapest quote the one to take?
Not on its own. Check that testing and the certificate are actually included, not added on afterwards, and that the price covers the same scope of work as the other quotes. A low headline figure that excludes certification or remedial work usually ends up costing more once those are added back in.
Can I fit a consumer unit myself to save money?
You can do the physical work, but the job still has to be inspected, tested and certified by someone qualified before it is legal to use, and most registered electricians will not certify work they did not carry out themselves. In practice this means DIY rarely saves as much as it looks like it will once you add in that inspection.
Why do quotes for the same job vary so much between electricians?
Two electricians looking at the same board can reach different views on how much remedial work the old wiring needs, and that difference in scope is usually what separates a low quote from a high one. Day rates also vary by firm and by region, so it helps to ask each electrician to set out exactly what is and is not included before comparing the numbers.