Electrician's price: Costs for electrical work
Electrical Quotes
from local electricians
Find out about call out fees, hourly rates and potential other costs here.
What is an electrician's call out fee?
Most electricians will ask you to pay a call out fee. This will be in the very wide range of $30-85 (average of $60), but will be absorbed into the first 30-60 minutes of work.
What is an electrician's hourly rate?
The general cost for work done by an electrician is a rate of $40-$85 per hour, with most rates hovering around the average of $60-$68 (usually charged by the quarter hour).
This price may be slightly higher if its a small electrical job, and lower if it's a bigger job. Why is the hourly rate for smaller jobs sometimes more expensive?
Some electricians will charge flat rates for specific jobs for example:
- General Maintenance - charged as a call out and then time on top $75-125
- New power point - around $75 per power point, though price will vary depending on access to the location.
- New light fitting - similar to power points.
- Install Safety Switch - $265-$370
- Rewire House - almost impossible to give you a guide but budget for at least $4000
- New Phone Point - $50-$75
- Foxtel connection - $100-200 (depending on whether the TV needs installation, what the connection is like etc)
Where could there be extra costs?
An electrician has a duty of care to ensure that the wiring is safe when they leave it, even if it wasn't 100% safe when they viewed it. This does mean that in order for the work to be compliant (and you getting a compliance certificate) you may need to pay for some additional 'make safe' work. If your wiring is relatively new there is less likelihood of this risk, but as standards have increased over the years an old house may no longer have compliant or 'safe' wiring.
You'll also find costs escalate if an electrician has to use scaffolding (rare) or dig up wires.
Products or materials cost?
All wires and 'consumable' materials will be supplied by your electrician, sometimes itemised, sometimes included in a standard job price. You can supply light fittings, appliances, powerpoints or switches etc, and will find that sometimes electricians can get trade rates on these items (but your choice may then be limited). When the product is a larger item such as an electric heater, electricians prefer to install items they know so it's best to check with them before purchasing (especially if they can get a trades discount or offer advice about other options).
Now that you have a better idea on what your job could cost, get specific quotes from quality, licensed businesses by posting a job here.
Have some advice or info on electrical quotes you've received in the past? Leave a comment or pop us an email to suggestions@servicecentral.com.au
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The charges mentioned of electrician look amazing and reasonable.
over a year ago by Electrician Melbourne -
I'm turning an old garage into a granny flat, I have a general knowledge of electrical work and was wondering if I set up all the power points and kept the wiring on the surface (as though it was a brick wall) via conduit, and left the power points open for inspection of the connections etc, and then got a electrician to view it and then connect the live power to the circuit, is it possible to do it that way to save a few dollars ?
over a year ago by Greg -
greg
over a year ago by tom
not sure where you are but here in qld if wiring is not installed by a qualified elec (not just inspected) its illegal and defintely uninsureable. even a single powerpoint needs installing by a qualified electrician. even replacing a lightswitch (annoyingly) -
To answer Greg's question.
over a year ago by derp
Yes that would be acceptable as long as the electrician inspects and sign off on everything. As he will be liable for any discrepancies. (In NSW anyway) -
Greg
over a year ago by Pete
If you are in Victoria you will need a licensed electrician to carry out all the work, a compliance cert is required and most sparkies will not issue a cert for work they have not doen as they are certifying that it complies with AS 3000:2007 and the Victorian regulations, -
What about the main electrical board. Does it require additional inspection? Is a sparkie's certification enough?
over a year ago by Addie -
I live in melbourne. Just want to know the price foe external powerpoint at front of my house.
over a year ago by Brenda -
hi, I live in Melbourne & we've built a new house. We have the wiring & junction boxes added for the lights & I would like to know how much a sparky would charge to install the light fixtures...
over a year ago by Giz
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those rates are far too cheap I would get any work that has been done for those hourly rates inspected.
over a year ago by perth contractor
You will struggle to find a good electrician for under a $100 per hour plus callout -
We are looking at swapping all of our bedroom lights from the left side of the door frame to the right. How much would a job like this cost (3 bedrooms) can it even be done? Thanks
over a year ago by Miranda -
Miranda..It depends on if the wires connecting to the fixtures are long enough to move to right side of door. If not then the fixtures will be rewired from switch to fixture. if that were the case i would charge $150 per fixture plus material
over a year ago by Pete
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