How much does a consumer unit replacement cost in the UK? (2026)
Verified UK consumer unit (fuse board) replacement prices for 2026 by circuit count, unit type and region, plus the testing, certification and Part P rules that a fair quote must cover.
Replacing a consumer unit (the fuse board) in the UK in 2026 typically costs £480 to £640 for a standard 10-circuit board, including the unit, labour, testing, certification, and Part P notification. It is a half-day job that has to be done by a registered electrician, and the figure that catches people out is what happens when the existing wiring fails its test.
Quick answer
UK consumer unit replacement in 2026: £350-£500 for a 6-circuit small home, £480-£640 for a 10-circuit medium home, and £610-£850 for a 12-circuit larger home. The price includes the board, labour, testing, an Electrical Installation Certificate, and Part P notification. London runs about +23%. Must be done by a registered electrician.
How to read this guide#
Two kinds of figures appear below:
- Headline price ranges (by circuit count, unit type, and region): cross-referenced against MyJobQuote's UK 2026 consumer unit guide. Source listed at the bottom.
- Practical guidance (Part P, testing, what is excluded): standard UK practice and safety law, for context rather than figure-by-figure verification.
Headline ranges (verified)#
By number of circuits (full install), UK 2026:
| Board | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 6 circuits (small home) | £350 – £500 |
| 10 circuits (medium home) | £480 – £640 |
| 12 circuits (larger home) | £610 – £850 |
By unit type (full install):
| Type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Dual RCD / split-load | £460 – £600 |
| High integrity / RCBO | £470 – £650 |
| Shower unit (2 circuits) | £330 – £460 |
| Garage unit (4 circuits) | £330 – £440 |
By region:
| Region | Typical cost | vs UK midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| London | £550 – £800+ | +23% |
| South East / South West | £500 – £700 | +9% |
| Midlands | £470 – £650 | average |
| North West / North East | £450 – £600 | -9% |
| Wales / Scotland | £450 – £650 | -5% |
These cover a straightforward swap on sound wiring. Remedial work to faulty circuits, if the test finds any, is extra.
Practical guidance (industry standard)#
Part P is the law here#
Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. It must be done by a registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT, or equivalent), who tests the installation, issues an Electrical Installation Certificate, and notifies Building Control. See GOV.UK on Part P. Anyone offering a cheap board swap with no certificate is the one red flag that should end the conversation, both for safety and because uncertified work can block a future house sale.
The test comes first, and it can change the price#
A new board cannot be certified if the circuits behind it are unsafe. The electrician tests the existing wiring before fitting, and if faults appear (missing earthing, damaged cables, borrowed neutrals) they must be put right before sign-off. This is the single most common reason a consumer unit quote rises mid-job. A fair quote says what the test covers and how remedial work would be priced, rather than leaving it as an open surprise.
RCD or RCBO#
- Dual RCD (split-load): circuits share two RCDs, so one fault trips a whole group. Cheaper.
- RCBO: every circuit has its own protection, so a fault trips only that circuit. Safer and more convenient, and the modern default for a full upgrade. The supply-only difference is roughly £80-£150 versus £150-£300+.
What affects the price#
- Circuit count. More circuits, more terminations, more labour.
- Board type. RCBO costs more than dual-RCD.
- Wiring condition. Sound wiring is a clean swap; faults add remedial cost.
- Region. London and the South-East run highest.
- Access. An awkward meter position or a board move adds time.
What is often excluded#
- Remedial work to circuits that fail the test (the big one).
- An EICR if a full inspection is wanted first.
- Earthing and bonding upgrades to gas and water pipes, often needed on older installations.
- Making good to plaster or decoration where the board is moved.
- Surge protection (SPD) or AFDD devices, sometimes quoted as extras.
If you are rewiring at the same time, the board is usually part of that larger job. See the house rewire cost guide and is my house rewire quote fair.
Red flags in a consumer unit quote#
- No certificate or Part P notification. Walk away. This is legally required.
- No mention of testing the existing circuits. A board cannot be safely signed off without it.
- Remedial work left undefined so the final bill is open-ended.
- A price far below £350 for a full board, which usually means testing or certification has been left out.
- No earthing and bonding check on an older property.
Comparing your quote#
If a consumer unit is in your electrician's quote, check it includes testing, the certificate, and Part P notification, and that remedial work is defined. The faster way is to paste or upload your quote into Check the Quote: we check every line against current UK rates for your postcode, flag anything above the fair range, and tell you what is missing from the scope. Your first check is free.
Got a quote you want checked?
Paste any UK contractor quote and Check the Quote compares every line item against current market rates, flags missing scope, and runs a Companies House check on the contractor. Free on your first project.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to replace a consumer unit in the UK in 2026?
- A typical replacement is £480-£640 for a 10-circuit board in a medium home, £350-£500 for a 6-circuit small home, and £610-£850 for a 12-circuit larger home (MyJobQuote, 2026). The price includes the unit, labour, testing, an Electrical Installation Certificate, and Part P notification. London runs about 23% above the UK average.
- Who is allowed to replace a consumer unit?
- Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations and must be carried out by a registered electrician (for example NICEIC or NAPIT). They must test the installation, issue an Electrical Installation Certificate, and notify Building Control. Anyone offering to swap a board without certification should be avoided.
- Why does the electrician test the circuits before fitting a new board?
- A new consumer unit cannot be certified if the circuits it feeds are unsafe. The electrician tests the existing wiring first, and if faults show up (no earthing, damaged cables, borrowed neutrals) those must be fixed before the board can be signed off. This is the most common reason a quote rises mid-job, so ask what happens if remedial work is found.
- What is the difference between an RCD board and an RCBO board?
- A dual-RCD (split-load) board groups circuits under two RCDs, so a fault trips a whole group. An RCBO board gives each circuit its own protection, so a fault trips only that circuit, which is safer and more convenient but costs more. The supply-only unit difference is roughly £80-£150 for dual-RCD versus £150-£300+ for a full RCBO board.
- Do I need an EICR as well?
- Not always, but it is often sensible. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (typically £120-£300) inspects the whole installation and flags faults before you commit to a new board. On an older property, or one with no recent certificate, an EICR first can prevent surprises when the electrician tests the circuits.