How to Write a Quote for Electrical Work — Template & Guide

Writing quotes for electrical work is different from most other trades. You are dealing with a regulated industry where certifications matter, Part P compliance is a legal requirement, and customers often have no idea what is involved in even a simple job. A clear, professional quote does not just help you win work — it protects you from disputes and sets proper expectations from the start.

This guide covers everything you need to include in an electrical work quote, how to price common jobs, typical pricing structures for UK electricians, and a full example quote breakdown you can use as a template. Whether you are quoting a full rewire, a consumer unit upgrade, or a batch of new sockets, the principles are the same.

Why Electrical Quotes Need Extra Detail

Electrical work carries more regulatory requirements than most trades. Under Part P of the Building Regulations, certain types of electrical work in dwellings must be either carried out by a registered competent person (such as a member of NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA) or notified to Building Control. This means your quote needs to make clear what certifications will be provided on completion.

Customers also tend to underestimate the complexity of electrical work. They see a socket going in and think it is a ten-minute job, not realising there is cable routing, testing, and certification involved. A detailed quote educates the customer and justifies your price — which is essential when they are comparing you against the cheapest quote on a lead generation site.

Getting your quotes right also protects you legally. If a dispute arises about what was and was not included, your quote is your primary evidence. A vague quote that says "rewire upstairs — two thousand five hundred pounds" gives you very little to stand on if the customer claims you agreed to include something you did not.

What to Include in Every Electrical Work Quote

Every quote you send should contain these essential elements:

Your Business Details and Certifications

Include your full business name, address, phone number, and email. Critically, include your competent person scheme registration number — NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or whichever body you are registered with. This immediately sets you apart from unregistered electricians and gives the customer confidence in your work. If you are VAT registered, include your VAT number.

Customer and Property Details

Include the customer's name, the property address where work will be carried out, and the date of the quote. If the quote has an expiry date (which it should — thirty days is standard), state that clearly.

Scope of Work

This is the most important section. Describe exactly what work you will carry out, in enough detail that there can be no ambiguity. For a rewire, for example, list every circuit, the number of socket outlets, lighting points, and any specialist circuits like cooker supplies or electric shower feeds. Specify the type of cable you will use, whether you are chasing into walls or surface mounting, and what making good is included.

Equally important is stating what is not included. If the customer needs to arrange their own plastering after you have chased cables in, say so. If you are not responsible for decorating, moving furniture, or lifting floorboards, make that explicit. Most disputes come from what was assumed rather than what was agreed.

Itemised Pricing

Break your price down so the customer can see where their money is going. At minimum, separate labour and materials. Ideally, break it down further by each major element of the work. This transparency builds trust and makes it harder for customers to argue your price is too high — they can see exactly what they are paying for.

Certification and Compliance

State which certificates will be issued on completion. For notifiable work under Part P, this will typically be an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and notification to Building Control through your competent person scheme. For minor works, a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC) may be appropriate. For testing existing installations, you would issue an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

Timeline

Give a realistic start date and estimated duration. For larger jobs, break it down — first fix, second fix, testing and commissioning. This helps the customer plan, especially if they need to arrange other trades around your work.

Payment Terms

State your payment terms clearly. For larger jobs, a staged payment structure is standard — for example, thirty per cent deposit on acceptance, forty per cent at first fix completion, and the remaining thirty per cent on completion and certification. For smaller jobs, payment on completion is normal.

Pricing Structures for Electricians

There are three main ways to price electrical work, and the right choice depends on the type of job.

Fixed Price Quoting

Fixed pricing is the standard for most domestic electrical work. The customer wants to know exactly what they will pay, and you calculate your price based on the materials needed and the time the job will take. This works well for defined jobs like rewires, consumer unit changes, new circuits, and socket installations where you can accurately predict the work involved.

The key to profitable fixed pricing is accurate estimating. If you consistently underestimate how long jobs take, you will lose money on every job. Keep detailed records of how long different tasks take you, and build a personal price book over time.

Day Rate

Day rates work well for fault finding, diagnostic work, and ongoing maintenance contracts where the scope is uncertain at the outset. In 2026, typical day rates for UK electricians range from one hundred and eighty to three hundred pounds depending on location and specialisation. Commercial and industrial electricians tend to charge at the higher end.

When charging a day rate, always give the customer an estimated number of days so they have a rough idea of the total cost. Nobody likes an open-ended bill.

Per-Point Pricing

Some electricians price by the point — a single socket is one point, a double socket is two points, a light is one point, and so on. This makes quoting very quick and gives customers a clear, simple pricing structure. A typical per-point price in 2026 ranges from sixty to one hundred and twenty pounds depending on the complexity and whether it involves new cable runs or connecting to existing circuits.

The downside of per-point pricing is that it can undervalue complex jobs where access is difficult or cable runs are long, and overvalue simple jobs where everything is straightforward. Many experienced electricians use per-point as a rough guide, then adjust based on the specific circumstances.

Common Electrical Jobs and Typical Prices

These are ballpark figures for common domestic electrical jobs in the UK in 2026. Your actual prices will vary based on location, property type, and specific requirements.

• Full house rewire (three-bed semi): three thousand five hundred to five thousand five hundred pounds
• Consumer unit upgrade: four hundred and fifty to eight hundred pounds
• New ring main circuit: three hundred and fifty to six hundred pounds
• Additional double socket (existing circuit): eighty to one hundred and fifty pounds
• Additional double socket (new cable run): one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty pounds
• New lighting circuit: three hundred to five hundred pounds
• Outdoor lighting installation: three hundred to eight hundred pounds
• Electric shower supply: two hundred and fifty to four hundred and fifty pounds
• Cooker circuit installation: two hundred to three hundred and fifty pounds
• EICR (three-bed house): one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty pounds
• EV charger installation: eight hundred to one thousand two hundred pounds
• Full kitchen rewire: eight hundred to one thousand five hundred pounds

These prices include labour, materials, and certification. When you are building your own pricing, work from your actual costs rather than copying someone else's prices — your overheads, speed of work, and material sourcing costs will be different.

Example Quote Breakdown: Full Rewire

Here is an example of how to break down a quote for a full rewire of a three-bedroom semi-detached house. This gives you a template you can adapt to your own pricing.

Job: Full rewire including new consumer unit, all circuits, testing and certification.

Labour:

• First fix — routing cables, back boxes, containment (three days at two hundred and fifty pounds) = seven hundred and fifty pounds
• Consumer unit installation and circuit wiring (one day) = two hundred and fifty pounds
• Second fix — fitting sockets, switches, light fittings (two days) = five hundred pounds
• Testing, commissioning, and certification (half a day) = one hundred and twenty-five pounds
• Labourer for chasing and lifting boards (two days at one hundred and twenty pounds) = two hundred and forty pounds

Materials:

• Consumer unit (split load, RCBO board) — two hundred and twenty pounds
• Cable (twin and earth, various sizes) — three hundred and eighty pounds
• Back boxes, connectors, and sundries — one hundred and twenty pounds
• Socket outlets and switches (MK Edge range) — two hundred and sixty pounds
• Fire rated downlights (twelve units) — one hundred and eighty pounds

Summary:

• Total labour: one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five pounds
• Total materials: one thousand one hundred and sixty pounds
• Contingency (ten per cent): three hundred and three pounds
• Certification (EIC and Building Control notification): included
• Total quote: three thousand three hundred and twenty-eight pounds

This level of detail shows the customer exactly what they are getting and justifies your price. It also protects you — if the customer asks for additional sockets halfway through, you can point to the original specification and quote the extras separately.

CIS Considerations for Electricians

If you work as a subcontractor for main contractors — which many electricians do on new builds, extensions, and larger renovation projects — you need to understand the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

Under CIS, the main contractor is required to deduct tax from your payments before paying you. If you are CIS registered, the deduction rate is twenty per cent of the labour element of your invoice. If you are not registered, it increases to thirty per cent. You can reclaim these deductions when you file your Self Assessment tax return.

Key points for your quotes under CIS:

• Separate labour and materials on your invoices — CIS deductions only apply to the labour portion
• Include your UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) and CIS verification number on your invoices
• Keep records of all CIS deductions — you will need them for your tax return
• If you are VAT registered, CIS deductions are calculated on the net amount before VAT
• Consider applying for gross payment status if you have a good tax compliance record — this means no deductions are made at source

When quoting for subcontract work, make it clear whether your price is inclusive or exclusive of CIS deductions. Most subcontractors quote the gross figure (before deductions) and the contractor applies the CIS deduction when they pay.

Tips for Writing Better Electrical Quotes

Survey the job properly. Never quote an electrical job from photos or a phone description alone. You need to see the property, check existing installations, assess access, and understand the full scope before you can price accurately. A thirty-minute site survey saves you from underquoting by thousands on a rewire.

Specify the brand and quality of materials. Stating "sockets and switches" in your quote is not enough. Specify the range — MK Logic, BG Nexus, Schneider Ultimate, or whatever you use. This prevents the customer expecting a premium product when you have priced for budget items, and it justifies a higher price if you use quality materials.

Include photographs. Take photos during your survey and reference them in your quote. For a rewire, photograph the existing consumer unit, any visible wiring issues, and areas where access will be difficult. This evidence supports your pricing and shows the customer you have done a thorough assessment.

Explain the regulations. Most homeowners do not understand Part P, BS 7671, or what the different certificates mean. A brief, plain English explanation in your quote shows your professionalism and helps justify why qualified electrical work costs more than hiring someone off social media.

Set clear expectations about making good. Chasing cables into walls creates mess. Be explicit about what making good you will do (filling chases with bonding) and what you will not (plastering, decorating). This is one of the biggest sources of customer complaints in electrical work.

Use a professional format. A handwritten note or text message quote does not instil confidence. Use a branded template with your logo, certifications, and a clear structure. Tools like QuoteSmith let you input your job details and generate a professional PDF proposal with scope of work, pricing, terms, and timeline in minutes — far quicker than building a document from scratch each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should an electrical work quote include?

An electrical work quote should include your business details and certifications (NICEIC, NAPIT, etc.), a clear description of the work to be done, an itemised breakdown of labour and materials, the total price including VAT if applicable, a timeline for completion, payment terms, and details of any electrical certificates that will be issued on completion. You should also state what is not included to avoid disputes.

How much does an electrician charge per day in the UK?

In 2026, UK electricians typically charge between one hundred and eighty and three hundred pounds per day, depending on location, experience, and the type of work. Rates are higher in London and the South East, and specialist work such as commercial installations or testing and inspection commands a premium. These rates should cover your wages, overheads, and profit margin.

Should electricians quote fixed price or day rate?

For defined jobs like rewires, consumer unit upgrades, and new socket installations, customers strongly prefer a fixed price. Day rates work better for diagnostic work, fault finding, or ongoing maintenance where the scope is uncertain. Fixed pricing requires accurate estimating but builds more trust with customers and gives them certainty about what they will pay.

Do electricians need to be registered with CIS?

If you work as a subcontractor for a main contractor in the construction industry, you should register with the Construction Industry Scheme. CIS registration means the contractor deducts twenty per cent from the labour element of your payments rather than thirty per cent for unregistered subcontractors. You can reclaim these deductions through your Self Assessment tax return. If you only do domestic work directly for homeowners, CIS does not apply.