How Much Does It Cost to Install Sockets in the UK? (2026)

Installing electrical sockets means adding new power points or replacing existing ones in a property. In the UK in 2026, a single socket installation typically costs £80–£150, while adding a double socket to an existing circuit costs £100–£200. Costs increase when new circuits are needed or cables must be chased into solid walls.

Whether you are fitting out a new extension, upgrading a home office, or simply need more power points in a kitchen, understanding the real cost of socket installation helps you budget properly and avoid surprises on the invoice. This guide breaks down the numbers by socket type, by room, and by the factors that move the price up or down.

1 Cost Per Socket

The price you pay per socket depends mainly on whether you are replacing an existing faceplate, adding to an existing circuit, or running an entirely new circuit from the consumer unit. Here is what to expect in 2026.

• Single socket (added to existing circuit): £80–£150. This is the most straightforward job — the electrician spurs off a nearby socket and runs a short cable to the new location.
• Double socket (added to existing circuit): £100–£200. Marginally more expensive than a single because of the larger back box and faceplate, though labour time is similar.
• Replacing an existing socket (like-for-like swap): £50–£80. A quick job — often under 30 minutes — that covers removing the old faceplate and fitting a new one.
• Socket on a new circuit: £150–£250. Required when existing circuits are at capacity or regulations demand a dedicated circuit, such as for a kitchen appliance. The extra cost covers running cable back to the consumer unit and fitting a new MCB.

Tip: If you need several sockets added in the same room, the per-socket cost drops significantly because the electrician only needs to run one main cable and spur off it. Always get multiple sockets quoted together rather than one at a time.

2 Cost Per Room

Room-level pricing gives a more realistic picture if you are renovating or fitting out a whole space. The figures below assume sockets are being added to existing circuits where capacity allows.

• Kitchen (6 sockets): £600–£900. Kitchens are the most expensive room because of Building Regulations requirements, the need for RCD protection, and the likelihood of dedicated radial circuits for high-draw appliances like ovens and dishwashers.
• Bedroom (4 sockets): £350–£550. Bedrooms are generally straightforward — shorter cable runs, stud walls in many modern builds, and no special circuit requirements.
• Home office (6 sockets): £500–£800. A home office typically needs sockets at desk height, data points nearby, and enough capacity for monitors, computers, printers, and chargers without overloading the circuit.

These ranges assume a mix of surface-mount and flush installation. First-fix installations in new builds or extensions — where walls are open and cables can be run before plastering — sit at the lower end. Retrofitting sockets into finished rooms costs more because of the chasing, making good, and decoration involved.

3 Factors That Affect the Price

Two identical socket installations in different properties can vary by 50% or more. Here are the main drivers.

Surface-mount vs flush

Surface-mounted sockets (also called pattress-mounted) sit proud of the wall and are faster to fit because there is no chasing required. Flush sockets are recessed into the wall for a cleaner finish, but the electrician needs to cut a back-box hole and chase a channel for the cable. Flush fitting adds £15–£30 per socket in additional labour.

Existing circuit capacity

If the existing ring circuit has spare capacity and a nearby socket to spur from, the job is quick and cheap. If the circuit is already loaded or the nearest socket is on the opposite side of the house, costs rise because of longer cable runs or the need for a new circuit.

Cable run distance

Cable is not expensive per metre — 2.5mm twin and earth costs roughly £1–£2 per metre — but longer runs mean more labour time for routing, clipping, and testing. A socket 2 metres from an existing spur point costs far less than one 15 metres away on the other side of a floor.

Wall type: stud vs solid

Stud (plasterboard) walls are easier to work with. Cables route through the cavity and back boxes clip in without chasing. Solid walls — brick, block, or stone — require chasing with a wall chaser or SDS drill, followed by plastering over. Solid wall installations typically add £20–£40 per socket in labour.

First fix vs retrofit

First-fix electrical work in a new build or extension is significantly cheaper because cables are run before plasterboard goes up. Retrofitting into a finished, decorated room costs more because of making good and potentially redecorating. If you are planning a renovation, get your electrician to quote the socket work before the plasterer arrives.

4 Additional Costs to Budget For

The per-socket prices above cover the socket itself. Two other costs frequently catch homeowners out.

Consumer unit upgrade

If your property still has an old-style fuse box without RCDs, any notifiable electrical work will require a consumer unit upgrade. This is a legal requirement under BS 7671 (the IEE Wiring Regulations) and typically costs £800–£1,200 including testing and certification. It is a significant addition, but it brings your entire electrical installation up to current safety standards. For more on whole-house electrical costs, see our guide on how much it costs to rewire a house in the UK.

Part P certification

In England and Wales, adding new circuits or any electrical work in kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoors is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. If your electrician is registered with a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA), they can self-certify the work. If they are not registered, you will need to pay for building control inspection, which adds £200–£400. Always check your electrician is registered before work starts.

5 Example Quote Breakdown

To give a concrete picture, here is what a typical quote looks like for adding 8 double sockets to a home office extension. This is a first-fix installation with open stud walls.

That works out to roughly £85 per double socket — well within the lower end of the range because this is first-fix work with short cable runs. Retrofit into solid walls with plastering would push the total closer to £1,000–£1,200 for the same scope.

If you are an electrician quoting this kind of work, VoxTrade lets you walk through the site, describe the socket positions by voice, and generate an itemised quote like the one above before you leave. No spreadsheets, no typing up quotes later that evening.

DIY vs Hiring an Electrician

It is tempting to save money by installing sockets yourself, and there are limited situations where you legally can. Replacing a socket faceplate on a like-for-like basis — swapping a cracked single socket for a new single socket on the same circuit — does not require certification and is a reasonable DIY task if you are confident isolating the circuit and testing with a voltage indicator.

However, adding new sockets, running new cables, or any work in kitchens, bathrooms, or outdoors is notifiable under Part P and must be carried out or certified by a registered electrician. Beyond the legal requirement, electrical work carries genuine safety risks. Incorrectly wired sockets can cause fires, electric shocks, and will almost certainly be flagged on a homebuyer's electrical report, creating problems when you sell the property.

The cost difference between professional installation and DIY is relatively small for socket work. On a single socket, you might save £50–£80 in labour — but you lose the testing certificate, the warranty, and the peace of mind. For most people, it is not worth the trade-off.

Wrapping Up

Socket installation in the UK is a well-defined job with predictable costs when you understand the variables. A straightforward double socket added to an existing circuit costs £100–£200. Fitting out a full room runs £350–£900 depending on the number of sockets and wall type. The main cost drivers are whether you need new circuits, whether walls are stud or solid, and whether the work is first-fix or retrofit.

Get at least two itemised quotes, check your electrician is registered with a competent person scheme, and if you are planning a renovation, coordinate the electrical first-fix before the plasterer finishes. For electricians quoting this kind of work, clear, itemised pricing builds trust and wins more jobs than a round number sent by text.