How to Quote Electrical Work: Guide for UK Electricians

Quoting electrical work is one of the trickiest parts of running an electrical business. Price too high and you lose the job. Price too low and you're working for less than you're worth — or worse, losing money once materials are factored in. Get it right and quoting becomes one of your most powerful tools for winning good work at the right price.

Here's how to quote electrical work properly as a UK electrician.

What Should an Electrical Quote Include?

A professional electrical quote should cover everything the customer needs to make a decision — and everything you need to protect yourself if there's a dispute later.

Your business details

Business name, address, phone number, email, and your NICEIC or NAPIT registration number. Being a registered electrician is a trust signal — put it front and centre on every quote.

A clear description of the work

Don't write "electrical work" and leave it at that. Break it down — what exactly are you doing, in which rooms, and what does it include? A consumer unit replacement quote should specify the board type, number of ways, RCD protection type, and whether the quote includes certification. Clarity prevents disputes.

Materials and labour broken out

Some customers want to see the split between materials and labour. Others don't care. Either way, know your numbers — material costs, your markup on materials, and your labour rate. Even if you present a single fixed price, you should know exactly what's inside it.

VAT treatment

If you're VAT registered, state whether your price is inclusive or exclusive of VAT. Getting this wrong causes serious problems — a customer who thinks they agreed £800 and then gets a £960 invoice is not going to be happy. Always be explicit.

Validity period

Material prices change. State how long your quote is valid for — typically 30 days is standard for most electrical work.

Payment terms

When do you expect to be paid? On completion, within 7 days, within 14 days? State it clearly on the quote so there's no ambiguity when the invoice arrives.

Exclusions

What isn't included? If your consumer unit quote doesn't include making good after chasing, say so. If it doesn't include testing of existing circuits, say so. Exclusions protect you from scope creep and customer expectations that weren't agreed.

How to Price Electrical Work

Know your day rate

Before you can price any job accurately, you need to know what you need to earn per day to cover your costs and pay yourself properly. Factor in: your target take-home pay, van costs, tools and equipment, insurance, certification body membership, training, and any quiet periods where you're not billing. Read our guide on how to work out your day rate if you haven't done this properly.

Estimate time accurately

Most electricians undercharge because they underestimate time. First fix always takes longer than expected. So does second fix. Customers take longer to make decisions than you plan for. Add a contingency — typically 15 to 20% on top of your best estimate for anything that isn't completely straightforward.

Price materials with a markup

Your time spent sourcing, ordering, and collecting materials has a cost. A standard markup on materials of 15 to 25% is reasonable and widely accepted in the trade. Don't supply materials at cost — you're providing a service as well as a product.

Price the job, not just the hours

For some jobs — particularly straightforward, repeat work you know inside out — pricing by the job rather than by the hour is faster and often more profitable. You know a socket addition takes 45 minutes. Price it accordingly rather than breaking down every minute.

Common Electrical Jobs and How to Approach Quoting Them

Consumer unit replacement

One of the most commonly quoted jobs. Scope it carefully — board type, number of ways, RCBO vs RCD protection, condition of existing wiring, ease of access. An EICR before the board change is good practice and adds value for the customer. Include certification in your quote and be explicit about what testing is included.

EV charger installation

Growing rapidly as a revenue stream. Factor in: cable run length, DNO notification requirements, earthing arrangements, and whether an OZEV-approved charger is specified. OZEV grant work has specific requirements — make sure your quote reflects the grant-eligible spec if applicable.

Full rewire

The most complex job to quote accurately. Always do a proper site survey first. Break the quote into first fix, second fix, and certification. Clarify making good responsibilities — are you plastering, or is that the customer's problem? Agree a stage payment structure for larger rewires.

Fault finding

Notoriously difficult to quote fixed price. Consider charging an hourly rate for fault finding with a cap, or charge a diagnostic fee for the first hour and then agree next steps. Be upfront with the customer about why fixed pricing is difficult — most understand.

How to Send a Professional Electrical Quote

A handwritten quote or a rough figure over the phone doesn't cut it for larger jobs. Customers compare electricians — a professional, clearly structured written quote makes you look more credible and trustworthy than a competitor who texts a number.

Use quoting software to produce a clean, professional document quickly. Tradify lets you build and send quotes from your phone in minutes, with your business branding, a full breakdown, and digital acceptance built in. No Word documents, no PDFs emailed manually.

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What to Do When a Customer Says Your Quote Is Too High

It happens to every electrician. Don't panic and don't immediately drop your price. Ask what their budget is and whether they've had other quotes. Sometimes the issue is a misunderstanding about scope — they thought the job was simpler than it is. Sometimes they genuinely can't afford it, in which case they're not your customer.

Dropping your price without a reason devalues your work and sets a precedent. If you do adjust, remove something from the scope — don't just discount. Read our guide on how to handle a customer who says your quote is too high for more on this.

The Bottom Line

Good quoting is a skill that takes time to develop. The electricians who win the most work at the best prices are the ones who quote clearly, professionally, and consistently. Get your pricing right, present it well, and follow up — those three things alone will put you ahead of most of your competition.

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