What do electricians charge per day in the UK in 2026?

Most self-employed UK electricians charge between £250 and £400 a day in 2026. Published averages range from about £237 to £400 depending on the source, and London rates can reach £450–£650.

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

Typically around £45–£65 an hour for domestic work, with averages close to £50. Emergency and out-of-hours rates are usually £70–£120 an hour.

What is the JIB rate for electricians in 2026?

After the January 2026 increase, JIB rates are approximately £18.38 an hour for an Electrician and £20.08 an hour for an Approved Electrician.

Do electricians charge by the day or by the job?

Bigger jobs like rewires and consumer unit replacements are often charged by the day, while most smaller domestic jobs are quoted at a fixed price.

Guide · Trades

Electrician Day Rate UK 2026: What Electricians Charge Per Day

By Future Momentum Systems · Updated September 2026

An electrician day rate for most self-employed UK electricians is between £250 and £400 in 2026. London rates run considerably higher. Published averages vary widely depending on the source and the type of work. We've gathered the main UK figures in one place, along with hourly rates, JIB rates, regional prices and emergency charges.

What electricians charge per day in the UK (2026)

Source	Average day rate	Typical range
Logic4training (2026 survey of electricians)	£312	£96–£600
Checkatrade cost guide	£400	Based on 8 hours at £50/hr
Total Skills (self-employed, domestic)	—	£250–£350
Total Skills (self-employed, commercial)	—	£300–£500
Hamuch	£237	£179–£307

Taken together, a realistic working figure is £250–£400 a day for an experienced electrician outside London. Logic4training's survey found the average daily rate eased from £335 in 2025 to £312 in 2026 — a drop of around 7%. Other guides put typical rates higher, particularly for commercial work.

Electrician hourly rates in 2026

Most UK electricians charge around £45–£65 an hour for standard domestic work. Checkatrade puts the average at about £50 an hour, with emergency work averaging around £90 an hour. Many domestic electricians prefer to quote a fixed price per job rather than charging by the hour.

JIB rates for employed electricians

Employed electricians on JIB (Joint Industry Board) national agreed rates are paid by the hour rather than a day rate. Following the January 2026 increase of 3.95%, the JIB rate is approximately £18.38 an hour for an Electrician and £20.08 an hour for an Approved Electrician. Self-employed day rates are much higher because they have to cover tools, van, insurance, holidays and unpaid admin time.

Daily rates in London and by region

Location makes a big difference. Tradehand's regional guide puts central London electricians at around £450–£650 a day, compared with £300–£420 in Birmingham or Manchester and £260–£350 in Newcastle.

Area	Typical day rate
Central London (Zones 1–2)	£450–£650
Inner London (Zones 2–4)	£380–£550
Outer London (Zones 4–6)	£350–£500
Birmingham	£300–£420
Manchester	£300–£420
Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield	£280–£380
Newcastle, Sunderland	£260–£350

Source: Tradehand electrician rates by region, 2026.

Day rates by experience

Newly qualified electricians — around £150–£200 a day.
Established (2–5 years) — around £250–£350 a day.
Experienced (10+ years) — around £280–£350 a day outside London, more in London.
Commercial and industrial specialists — often £300–£500 a day.

Sources: TradeQuoteAI and Total Skills, 2026.

Emergency and out-of-hours electrician rates

Emergency and out-of-hours electrical work typically costs around £70–£120 an hour, and more in London, where minimum call-out charges of £120–£200 are common.

What affects an electrician's day rate?

Location — London and the South East pay the most.
Experience and qualifications — Approved electricians and specialists charge more.
Type of work — Rewires, consumer units and commercial fit-outs suit day rates; small jobs are usually fixed-price.
Domestic vs commercial — Commercial and industrial work sits at the higher end.
Urgency — Emergency and out-of-hours callouts carry a premium.

Domestic vs commercial and industrial work

Electricians typically charge more for commercial and industrial work than for domestic jobs. Commercial sites often need specific qualifications, extra paperwork and work outside normal hours. Industrial work can involve three-phase systems, large installations and strict safety rules.

Domestic work, such as rewires, new circuits and consumer unit upgrades, is usually priced per job or per day. Smaller tasks like adding a socket or replacing a light fitting are normally a fixed price.

For electricians: the hidden cost of a missed call

At £300 or more a day, a single missed enquiry can easily be worth a day's work — or a full rewire. But you can't answer the phone halfway up a ladder, under a floor or with your hands in a consumer unit. Most callers won't leave a voicemail; they ring the next electrician on Google.

That's why more trades businesses use a call answering service that picks up every call, takes the job details and texts them straight to you. See our answering service for electricians →

Need a website that wins more jobs? See our websites for trades →

Electrician pricing FAQs

Sources

Figures are published averages as of September 2026 and are for guidance only.