Average consumer unit replacement costs
Prices include labour, materials, testing, certification, and Building Control notification.
Basic Consumer Unit (6-10 ways)£350 - £500
Standard Domestic Unit (12-16 ways)£450 - £650
High-Spec RCBO Board£650 - £900
With Minor Circuit Upgrades£550 - £850
Commercial/Large Domestic£800+
What's included in the price?
- New Consumer Unit – high-quality metal consumer unit with RCD protection (dual RCD split-load or full RCBO)
- Professional Installation – full install including disconnection of old unit, connection of all circuits, and labelling
- Full Testing – insulation resistance, earth continuity, polarity, RCD operation times
- Certification & Notification – Electrical Installation Certificate, circuit schedule, and Building Control notification
Signs you need a consumer unit upgrade
Time for an upgrade
- •Old rewirable fuse board (fuse wire, not switches)
- •Wooden or plastic back box (fire risk)
- •No RCD protection (no "test" buttons visible)
- •Frequent tripping or blown fuses
- •Burning smell or scorch marks around the board
- •Adding new circuits (EV charger, extension, etc.)
Types of consumer unit
- Dual RCD (Split-Load) – most common for domestic. Two RCDs each protecting half your circuits. £450-£600 installed.
- Full RCBO Board – premium. Each circuit has its own RCBO; if one trips, others unaffected. £650-£900 installed.
- High Integrity Board – hybrid with RCBOs on critical circuits and standard MCBs under RCD protection for others. £550-£750 installed.
What can add to the cost?
- Earthing upgrades (£150-£300) – older properties may need main earth bonding improvements
- Circuit modifications (£80-£150 per circuit) – if existing circuits need splitting, extending, or fault rectification
- Meter tails upgrade (£100-£200) – if cables between the meter and consumer unit are undersized or damaged
- Relocation (£200-£400) – moving the unit to a more accessible position or out of a bathroom
Why use an NICEIC electrician?
- Work is self-certified – no need for separate Building Control inspection
- Proper certification for insurance and future property sales
- Work guaranteed and backed by NICEIC Platinum Promise
- Compliance with BS 7671 (18th Edition) wiring regulations