There is no single flat price for a house rewire, because no two houses are the same. The cost is driven by the size of the property, how many rooms and circuits are involved, how easy the cabling is to run, and whether you want extras like extra sockets, new lighting or a media wall along the way. The honest way to price it is a proper look at the property in person, then a written quote within 24 hours so you know exactly what you are paying for before anything starts.
What actually drives the price of a rewire?
When you ask “how much to rewire my house,” the real answer depends on a handful of things an electrician has to see in person:
- Size and layout. More rooms, more floors and longer cable runs mean more labour and materials. A three-bed semi and a large detached are very different jobs.
- Access to run cables. A property mid-renovation with floors up and walls open is far quicker to rewire than an occupied home where every cable has to be threaded carefully to keep the disruption and making-good down.
- How much you are adding. A like-for-like rewire is one thing. Adding extra sockets, new lighting circuits, outdoor power, a media wall or smart switching all adds to the scope.
- The fuse board and supply. A rewire normally includes a new consumer unit, and occasionally the supply or earthing needs attention too.
- Making good. Replastering, redecorating and tidying up after the cables are run is part of doing the job properly rather than leaving you with a mess.
Because all of that varies, a trustworthy quote comes after seeing the property, not off the top of someone’s head over the phone.
What is the difference between a full and a partial rewire?
A full rewire replaces all the fixed wiring in the property, every circuit, the consumer unit, and usually all the accessories, sockets, switches and light fittings. It is the right call for older homes with ageing or unsafe wiring, or where an EICR has flagged the installation as no longer fit.
A partial rewire replaces only part of the installation, for example one floor, the kitchen and bathroom circuits, or specific circuits flagged on a report. It costs less because there is less to do, and it is the right answer when the rest of the wiring is sound. The key is being honest about which you actually need. A good electrician will not sell you a full rewire when a partial one solves the problem, and will not patch up a partial job when the whole installation is past it.
How do I know if I even need a rewire?
Some signs point towards it, though only an inspection confirms it:
- Old rubber, fabric or lead-sheathed cabling, which dates from before modern PVC wiring.
- An old fuse board with rewireable fuses and no RCD protection.
- Sockets that are sparse, cracked, or warm to the touch.
- An EICR that comes back unsatisfactory with widespread C2 faults.
- A property that has not been touched electrically in 40 or more years.
If you are seeing these, the sensible first step is often an EICR or a survey, which tells you whether you need a full rewire, a partial one, or simply a new fuse board and a few remedials. That can save you a lot of money compared with assuming the worst.
How much disruption is a rewire, and how long does it take?
A full rewire is the most disruptive electrical job there is, because cables run through walls, floors and ceilings throughout the house. How long it takes depends on the size of the property and whether it is occupied. The way Snelling Electrical approaches it keeps the disruption sensible: dust sheets down, daily updates so you always know what is happening, walls made good afterwards, and full certification on completion. You are not left in the dark, literally or otherwise.
How does Snelling Electrical quote a rewire?
With a survey and a written quote within 24 hours. Jack comes out, looks at the property, talks through what you want, and gives you a clear scope and price in writing, the same person who will then do the work and sign the certificate. There is no call centre estimate and no vague “it’ll be around X” that creeps up later. You can read more on the rewires page.