How Much Does an EICR Cost?

An EICR is an Electrical Installation Condition Report. An electrician inspects and tests the fixed electrical installation in your property, including the consumer unit, wiring, sockets, switches, lighting circuits and earthing and bonding. They then record what condition it is in and whether anything is potentially dangerous or falls short of current safety standards.

You are paying for the electrician's time, their test equipment, and the written condition report at the end. The price reflects how much inspection and testing your particular installation needs, which is why two homes on the same street can be quoted differently.

Number of circuits: every circuit has to be inspected and tested, so a property with more circuits takes longer than one with only a few.

Property size: a larger home usually has more sockets, lights and fittings to check, and more distance to cover.

Age and condition: older properties can have mixed or outdated wiring, previous alterations and less clear records, which can mean more investigation. A newer, well-documented installation is often quicker to work through.

Access: if the consumer unit is blocked, floors are fully fitted, or fittings are hard to reach, the job takes longer. Clearing the way beforehand helps.

Extra buildings: garages, outbuildings, garden supplies and sub-boards add to the testing, so mention them when you ask for a quote.

Some electricians quote a fixed price for the inspection once they know the size of the property and the number of circuits. Others charge by the hour, or add a callout fee to a time-based rate. Parts are not normally part of the inspection itself, but they matter if repairs are needed afterwards.

Time of day can also matter. Evening or weekend appointments may be priced differently from standard working hours, so say when you need the work done.

Whatever the method, ask for the quote in writing and check what it covers: the inspection, the testing, the written report, and whether a retest or any follow-up is included or charged separately.

An EICR tells you the condition of the installation. If the report finds faults or items that need attention, fixing them is remedial work, and it is normally quoted separately from the inspection. That is why it is sensible to ask upfront how the electrician handles repairs: whether they will quote before starting, and whether they will recheck the work afterwards.

Do not treat remedial work as an unwelcome extra. It is the reason for doing the inspection, because it deals with problems before they become a hazard.

For an average home, an EICR often takes a few hours, though larger or older properties can take longer. Expect the power to be switched off for periods during testing, so plan around that. Your electrician should be able to give you a realistic estimate once they know the property.

A condition report is commonly recommended at least every five years for many homes, and sooner if you have concerns or are buying an older property. Landlords have legal requirements around electrical safety in rented homes, and the rules can change, so check GOV.UK for the current position. If you are selling, a buyer or their solicitor may ask for a recent report, so it is worth asking your solicitor what they expect.

Any competent electrician can quote for an EICR, but inspection and testing is a specialist skill. Ask whether they are registered with a recognised competent person scheme and whether they carry out this kind of testing regularly. Be cautious about offers of a free electrical safety check, as a proper report takes real time and expertise, so ask what is actually included.