Rewire scope
Full rewires cost more than partial work because more rooms, circuits, cable routes, testing and making good are involved.
Rewiring cost calculator
Rewiring Cost Calculator UK
Estimate the cost to rewire a UK property based on rewire type, property size, age, occupancy, access, consumer unit condition, making-good level and region. Use this calculator for full rewires, partial rewires, room-by-room electrical upgrades and occupied-home rewiring projects.
This is a planning estimate, not a fixed quote or electrical safety assessment. A qualified electrician needs to inspect the wiring, circuits, consumer unit and access before confirming the final price.
Full rewire, partial rewire or room-by-room upgrade?
Many homeowners search for rewiring cost before knowing the exact scope. The difference matters because a full rewire, partial rewire and phased room-by-room upgrade can have very different labour, access and making-good requirements.
| Situation | Better description | Cost impact |
|---|---|---|
| Old wiring across most rooms | Full house rewire | Usually the highest scope because wiring, circuits, access and disruption affect the whole property. |
| One area needs upgrading | Partial rewire | Usually lower scope, although access and matching with existing circuits can still affect cost. |
| Work is spread across stages | Room-by-room upgrade | Useful for phased work, but repeated visits may increase the total cost over time. |
| The home stays occupied | Occupied-home rewire | More protection, phasing, room access planning and disruption management may be needed. |
| Wiring condition is unclear | Survey-first project | An electrician needs to inspect before the rewire scope can be confirmed. |
Typical UK rewiring cost ranges
These broad planning ranges help you compare common rewiring projects. Use the calculator above for a more specific estimate based on your property and project details.
| Rewiring project | Typical planning range | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Small partial rewire | £1,000–£3,000+ | Limited work in one area or selected rooms |
| Larger partial rewire | £2,500–£5,500+ | Several rooms or mixed old and newer wiring |
| 2-bedroom house rewire | £3,500–£7,500+ | Smaller houses with standard access |
| 3-bedroom house rewire | £4,500–£9,500+ | Common UK planning benchmark |
| 4-bedroom house rewire | £6,000–£12,000+ | Larger homes or more circuits |
| 5+ bedroom or complex property | £8,000–£15,000+ | Larger, older, altered or access-complex homes |
These ranges are for planning only. A fixed quote needs a property inspection by a qualified electrician.
What affects the cost to rewire a house?
The cost to rewire a house depends on the size of the job, the condition of the existing installation and how easy the property is to work in. The calculator models the main cost drivers without giving DIY electrical guidance.
Property size
More rooms usually mean longer cable runs, more sockets and lighting points, more circuits and more labour.
Property age
Older properties can have difficult routes, previous alterations, older fuse boxes and more uncertainty before inspection.
Occupancy during work
An empty property is usually easier to rewire than a home that stays occupied during the project.
Access and disruption
Finished rooms, limited loft access, solid floors, tight cupboards and poor parking can increase labour time.
Consumer unit condition
A dated consumer unit or old fuse box can affect scope. Use the Consumer Unit Cost Calculator if this may need separate pricing.
Making good
Chasing, lifting floors and accessing walls may leave repair work. The expected finish level changes the planning allowance.
Region
Electrician labour costs vary across the UK, especially between lower-cost regions and London.
Rewiring an occupied home
Rewiring is usually simpler when a property is empty. If the home stays occupied, the electrician may need to phase the work, protect rooms, plan access around furniture and manage disruption more carefully.
Occupied-home rewiring can also affect making-good expectations. Areas may need to be opened, protected, repaired or cleaned in stages, so it helps to agree what is included before work begins.
Use the project planning guide to plan disruption before rewiring, especially if the work is happening alongside decorating, flooring, kitchen work or a wider renovation.
Consumer unit condition and rewiring
A rewiring project often involves checking the consumer unit, circuit arrangements and the condition of the existing installation. An older fuse box or dated consumer unit may increase the project scope or need separate pricing.
The calculator includes consumer unit condition as a cost driver. If you want to price this part separately, use the Consumer Unit Cost Calculator to estimate consumer unit replacement cost.
What may be included or excluded?
Rewiring quotes vary by electrician, property condition and the agreed scope. Use this table to check what may sit inside or outside a rewiring estimate.
| May be included | May be excluded |
|---|---|
| Electrician labour for the agreed rewiring scope | Major building or structural work |
| Cable and standard electrical materials | Decorative finishing beyond agreed making good |
| Socket and switch replacement where specified | Premium fittings or smart-home upgrades |
| Testing related to the project | Specialist remedial work found after inspection |
| Consumer unit work if included in the quote | Consumer unit replacement if priced separately |
| Basic making-good allowance | Full repainting or plastering unless included |
| Basic waste removal | Asbestos, hidden damage or third-party work |
When an electrician needs to inspect
CostIntel can estimate a planning range, but an electrician needs to inspect the wiring, circuits, consumer unit, access routes and finish requirements before confirming a fixed quote.
Wiring age is unknown
If the age or condition of the wiring is unclear, inspection is needed before deciding whether partial or full rewiring is required.
The property is older or altered
Older homes and heavily altered properties can have hidden routes, mixed wiring ages and unknown previous work.
The consumer unit is dated
An old fuse box or dated consumer unit may affect the scope, testing and final cost.
The property is occupied
Occupied-home rewiring usually needs closer planning around access, disruption, phasing and room protection.
Access is limited
Lofts, solid floors, finished rooms, flats, tight cupboards and poor parking can all affect labour time.
The scope is uncertain
If you are unsure whether the job is a partial rewire, full rewire or staged upgrade, an electrician needs to assess the property.
How this rewiring estimate is calculated
The calculator starts with a base range for the selected rewire type, then adjusts the estimate using property size, property age, occupancy, access and disruption level, consumer unit condition, making-good level and region.
This approach is designed for early planning. A fixed quote can change after an electrician checks wiring routes, circuit condition, consumer unit suitability, access, disruption and finish requirements.
For more detail, read our methodology, pricing data approach and how costs are calculated.
Related electrical cost calculators
Rewiring can overlap with other electrical work. Use these pages to compare related project scopes inside the Electrical Cost cluster.
Consumer Unit Cost Calculator
Estimate fuse box replacement or consumer unit upgrade costs if your rewiring project may include electrical distribution work.
Estimate consumer unit replacement costEV Charger Installation Cost Calculator
Estimate home charger installation separately if your rewiring project is part of wider electrical upgrade planning.
Estimate EV charger installation costElectrical Cost Hub
Compare rewiring, EV charger and consumer unit cost calculators inside the Electrical Cost cluster.
View all electrical cost calculatorsRewiring cost FAQs
How much does it cost to rewire a house in the UK?
A full house rewire can often range from around £4,000 to £12,000 or more, depending on property size, access, occupancy, consumer unit condition, making-good level and region. Smaller partial rewires may cost less. The calculator gives a more specific planning range.
How much does it cost to rewire a 3-bedroom house?
A 3-bedroom house rewire often falls around the middle of the UK rewiring range. A typical planning range may be around £4,500 to £9,500 or more, depending on property age, access, occupancy, finish level and whether consumer unit work is needed.
Is a partial rewire cheaper than a full rewire?
Yes. A partial rewire is usually cheaper because it covers fewer rooms or circuits. The cost can still rise if access is difficult, the existing wiring is unclear or the work needs to connect cleanly with older circuits.
Does rewiring include a new consumer unit?
Sometimes. A rewiring quote may include consumer unit replacement, but it can also be priced separately. If the existing unit is old or unsuitable, use the Consumer Unit Cost Calculator to estimate that part of the project.
Can you rewire a house while living in it?
It may be possible, but it can increase disruption, labour time and planning complexity. Occupied-home rewiring often needs phasing, room access planning, protection and clearer expectations around making good.
What affects house rewiring cost the most?
The main cost drivers are rewire scope, property size, property age, access, whether the home is occupied, consumer unit condition, making-good level and regional electrician labour rates.
Do old houses cost more to rewire?
Older houses can cost more if wiring routes are difficult, previous electrical work is unclear, access is limited or the consumer unit is dated. A survey is usually needed before the scope is confirmed.
Are CostIntel rewiring estimates fixed quotes?
No. CostIntel estimates are planning ranges. A qualified electrician needs to inspect the wiring, circuits, consumer unit, access routes and finish requirements before confirming a fixed quote.
Does this calculator give DIY rewiring advice?
No. This calculator is only for estimating rewiring costs. It does not provide DIY electrical instructions, legal compliance advice or guidance for carrying out regulated electrical work.