Rewiring and replastering cost in 2026
3 min
6
September 2026. Costs are indicative 2026 UK ranges, not a quotation.
Key figures in this guide
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Use the calculator with your own quantities and rates, then keep a contingency visible from day one.
Open calculatorRewiring a house costs £5,000 - £8,500 in 2026 for a 2-3 bedroom terrace, £6,500 - £10,500 for a 3-4 bedroom semi and £9,000 - £16,000 for a 4-5 bedroom detached house. Replastering afterwards is priced separately, and a consumer unit swap on its own is £650 - £1,200.
Rewiring and replastering are the two jobs that turn a cosmetic refresh into a proper renovation. They are disruptive, they usually happen together, and they are far cheaper before you decorate than after.
All figures are 2026 UK prices including labour and materials, excluding VAT where it does not apply.
What a rewire costs in 2026
| Property | Typical 2026 cost | Time on site |
|---|---|---|
| Flat, 1-2 bedrooms | £3,200 - £5,500 | 4-7 days |
| Terraced house, 2-3 bedrooms | £5,000 - £8,500 | 6-10 days |
| Semi-detached, 3-4 bedrooms | £6,500 - £10,500 | 8-12 days |
| Detached, 4-5 bedrooms | £9,000 - £16,000 | 10-15 days |
Partial and individual works in 2026:
| Item | Typical 2026 cost |
|---|---|
| Consumer unit replacement with certificate | £650 - £1,200 |
| Additional socket on an existing circuit | £120 - £200 |
| New lighting circuit per room | £250 - £450 |
| Electric shower circuit | £400 - £750 |
| EV charger installation | £900 - £1,600 |
| EICR inspection report | £180 - £350 |
A rewire must be certified by a registered electrician and notified under Part P. Ask for the electrical installation certificate before the final payment.
What replastering costs in 2026
| Work | Typical 2026 cost |
|---|---|
| Skim over sound plaster, per room | £450 - £900 |
| Ceiling skim, average room | £250 - £480 |
| Hack off and re-plaster, per room | £900 - £1,800 |
| Whole 3-bed house, skim throughout | £3,500 - £7,000 |
| Whole 3-bed house, hack off and re-plaster | £7,500 - £14,000 |
| Lime plaster to a solid wall, per sq m | £70 - £120 |
Plaster needs drying time. Allow 5-10 days per room before decorating, longer in winter, and longer again for lime.
Doing them in the right order
- 01Strip out, and open up anything that needs inspection.
- 02First fix electrics, plus any plumbing and heating pipework.
- 03Boarding and plastering.
- 04Drying time.
- 05Second fix electrics, sockets, switches and lights.
- 06Mist coat and decoration.
Chasing cables into freshly skimmed walls is the classic expensive mistake. Get the electrician in before the plasterer, not after.
What moves the price most
- Whether you are living in the property. Working room by room around a family adds days.
- Lath and plaster ceilings, which are messier and heavier to remove than plasterboard.
- Solid walls needing breathable lime rather than gypsum.
- Floor type. Lifting and relaying original floorboards to run cables takes real care.
- Access to the loft and under the floor for cable routes.
How to get comparable quotes
- Say exactly how many sockets, switches and light points you want in each room.
- Confirm whether the price includes making good after chasing walls, and to what standard.
- Ask whether plastering is skim only or hack off and re-plaster, room by room.
- Confirm who supplies fittings, and who removes waste.
- Ask for certificates and inspection dates in writing.
Renovome turns this into a written scope and programme, so quotes for the same house actually describe the same work.
Related guides
- How to get quotes for a small job, and compare them fairly
- Flooring, painting and other one-room jobs: how to brief them well
- What to expect while living through building work
Last reviewed: September 2026. Costs are indicative 2026 UK ranges, not a quotation.