Last updated 7 October 2026
Quick answer: get at least three written quotes for the same written description of the job, then compare them line by line rather than by the total. A complete quote names the registered business, describes the scope, the materials, the testing and the certificate, says what making good is included, lists exclusions and likely extras, shows VAT separately, and says whether the price is fixed. The cheapest total is only cheaper if the lines underneath it match.
This guide assumes you have already shortlisted electricians you trust. If one of the quotes in front of you already looks doubtful, our guide to the warning signs of a cowboy electrician covers what to watch for.
Start with a written summary of the job
NICEIC’s advice for householders is to obtain at least three written quotations and, for larger projects, to prepare a written summary of the work so the quotes are prepared on a like for like basis. It also recommends a contract. A useful summary covers:
- the rooms or areas involved, and roughly what you want in each (sockets, lights, switches, an EV charger position);
- a rough sketch if you have one;
- anything you already know about the property: its age, whether it is a flat, where the consumer unit is, any recent EICR;
- whether you want the electrician to make good, or will use a plasterer and decorator yourself;
- when the work needs to be finished, for example before a tenancy starts.
Send the same summary to everyone. If one electrician suggests something different after the survey, ask the others to price that option too.
What each line of a quote should include
| Line | What it should say | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| The business | Registered name, address, NICEIC or NAPIT number, and a company and VAT number if it has them | You can check each one, and you know who your contract is with |
| Scope | Every room, circuit and point being installed, moved or replaced | “Rewire house” or “supply and fit board” leaves room for arguments later |
| Materials and specification | Consumer unit type and protection (RCBOs or RCDs, surge protection), charger make and model, cable sizes where relevant | This is where two similar totals often hide two very different jobs |
| Testing and certificate | Which certificate you will get: an Electrical Installation Certificate, a Minor Works Certificate or an EICR | Testing takes time. A quote that leaves it out is pricing a different job. |
| Making good | Whether chases and holes are filled, plastered or left for your decorator | A large hidden cost on rewires |
| Building warrant | Whether one is needed (for example rewiring a flat) and who is applying | In Scotland the owner holds the duty to get one |
| Exclusions and likely extras | What is not included, and how anything found mid job will be priced | Older properties often reveal earthing or wiring problems once boards come off |
| VAT | Shown separately, or stated that the business is not VAT registered | A total “plus VAT” and a total with no VAT are not comparable as written |
| Price type | “Fixed price” or “estimate” | A fixed price is the figure you pay; an estimate is a best guess |
| Payment terms | Any deposit, what it covers, and when the balance is due | Agree it before work starts, not on the day |
| Timescale | Start date, days on site, and how long the power will be off | Matters for rewires, board changes and anything before a tenancy |
| Guarantee | The workmanship guarantee and any manufacturer warranties, in writing | A verbal promise is hard to rely on later |
| Validity | How long the quote stands | Material prices move, so check it is still valid when you accept |
What the law adds
Under section 50 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which applies in Scotland, what a trader says or writes about the service becomes part of the contract if you rely on it when deciding to go ahead. That is a good reason to keep every quote and email. Where no price was fixed, section 51 says you pay a reasonable price, and where no time was fixed, section 52 says the work must be done within a reasonable time. A written fixed price and a start date avoid relying on either.
Line items by job, with 2026 guide prices
These are our own guide prices for North East Scotland, excluding VAT, and every job is confirmed in writing after a survey. They show what a fair line looks like and which details change the figure. They are not other firms’ prices.
EICR
| Line | Our guide price |
|---|---|
| Main board and the first 5 circuits | £150 + VAT |
| Each circuit above 5 | £15 + VAT |
| Each additional board (garage, outbuilding, sub board) | £70 + VAT, plus £15 + VAT per circuit on it |
| Typical totals | 2 bed up to about £255 + VAT, 3 bed up to about £315 + VAT, 4 bed up to about £375 + VAT |
Compare: how many circuits and boards each quote covers, whether remedial work is priced separately, and who will inspect. A very low flat fee may not allow time to test every circuit.
Consumer unit upgrade
| Line | Our guide price |
|---|---|
| Typical 100A domestic board, supplied, fitted, tested and certified | from £550 + VAT, guide up to £950 + VAT depending on circuit count and complexity |
| Replacing a single RCBO | £25 to £30 + VAT per device, plus installation |
| Surge protection device | £40 to £80 + VAT per device |
| Board upgrade bundled with an EV charger | £750 to £1,000 + VAT |
Compare: whether the board is all RCBO or a split load board with RCDs (both can comply, but an RCBO board means one fault switches off one circuit), whether surge protection is included, and whether the price includes testing the existing circuits and an Electrical Installation Certificate. Our page on consumer unit upgrades in Aberdeenshire explains the options.
EV charger installation
| Line | Our guide price |
|---|---|
| Basic 7.4 kW smart charger, standard install, cable run up to 15 metres | from £900 + VAT |
| Smart package (Ohme Home Pro or TeltoCharge) | from £995 + VAT |
| Premium solar ready package (Hypervolt Home 3 Pro or myenergi Zappi) | from £1,195 + VAT |
| Cable runs over 15 metres, consumer unit upgrades, earthing upgrades | Quoted after the survey |
Compare: the cable length included, how the charger is protected on your type of supply (earthing and the RCD type), and whether the charger is smart, which the law has required for new home chargers in Great Britain since 30 June 2022. If a grant is involved, check the installer is OZEV authorised.
Rewire
| Property | Our guide price |
|---|---|
| 2 bed flat | £3,500 to £7,000 + VAT |
| 3 bed semi | £5,000 to £10,000 + VAT |
| 4 bed detached | £7,000 to £14,000 or more + VAT |
Compare: whether a new consumer unit is included, the number of points per room, making good, how many days the house will be without power, and whether a building warrant is needed. Rewiring a house of up to two storeys does not need one; rewiring a flat or maisonette does.
Smaller jobs and fault finding
| Line | Our guide price |
|---|---|
| Electrician, standard hourly rate | £55 to £75 per hour + VAT |
| Fault finding, first hour | £80 to £150 + VAT |
| New socket | £65 to £100 + VAT each |
Compare: whether a fault finding price covers the repair or only the diagnosis, and whether materials are included. For wider price ranges by job and town, see what an electrician costs in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
How to put three quotes side by side
- Put each quote into the same rows as the table above.
- Mark every blank. A blank is a question, not a saving.
- Convert everything to the total you will actually pay, including VAT.
- Add the likely cost of anything excluded, such as making good, if you will need it anyway.
- Check the business and the insurance behind each quote before price decides it.
- Send the same follow up questions to each electrician and compare the answers in writing.
Not sure whether to go with a firm or a one person business for this job? See choosing between an electrical company and a sole trader.
Questions to send back before you accept
- Is this price fixed, and does it include VAT?
- Is testing included, and which certificate will I receive?
- What is excluded, and how will anything found during the job be priced?
- Is making good included, and to what standard?
- Who will do the work, how many days will it take, and how long will the power be off?
- Does the job need a building warrant, and who is applying?
- What guarantee do you give, and is it in writing?
How we quote
Our quotes follow a free survey, with no call out fee for quoting, and you get a fixed written price within one working day of the survey. The figure you agree at the start is the figure you pay, and if a new fault turns up mid job we price it before we touch it. Faithful Spark Electricians Ltd is a NICEIC Approved Contractor (620239), VAT registered (503 6560 13) and based in Peterhead, working as electricians across Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen.
Frequently asked questions
How many quotes should I get from electricians?
At least three written quotes, which is what NICEIC recommends. For larger jobs, give everyone the same written summary of the work so the quotes are like for like.
What is the difference between a quote and an estimate?
A quote is normally a fixed price for a defined scope, while an estimate is a best guess that can change. If the paperwork does not say which it is, ask for it in writing.
How much does an electrician cost per hour in Scotland?
Our standard rate is £55 to £75 per hour + VAT. Rates vary between businesses, so for anything bigger than a small job compare fixed prices for the whole job rather than hourly rates.
Why do electricians’ quotes vary so much?
Usually because they are pricing different jobs: different consumer units, more or fewer points, testing and certification included or not, making good included or not, and VAT shown or not.
Should I always pick the cheapest quote?
Only if it matches the others line for line and comes from a registered, insured business. A low total with blanks for testing, the certificate or making good often ends up costing more.
Should I pay a deposit to an electrician?
Agree any deposit in writing before work starts, including what it covers and when the balance is due, and pay it to the business named on the quote.
Want a quote you can compare line by line? Call 07304 027013 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm) or book a free survey.
