Replacing a consumer unit in the UK typically costs between £350 and £750 for a straightforward swap on a standard domestic property, according to published national trade guides — but the final quotation depends on the number of circuits, whether your earthing needs upgrading, and any remedial work discovered during testing. These figures are market benchmarks, not RIGS prices.
This guide explains what is included in a replacement, what drives the price up, and how a new consumer unit differs from patching an old fuse board.
What Consumer Unit Replacement Involves
The consumer unit (often still called the fuse box) is the main distribution point for your home’s electrical circuits. Replacement usually includes:
- Removing the existing unit and installing a new metal-clad board compliant with current standards
- Fitting appropriate MCBs and RCD/RCBO protection for each circuit
- Connecting existing circuits — provided cable condition and test results are satisfactory
- Testing the installation after the swap
- Issuing an Electrical Installation Certificate and Part P notification through a registered competent person
Since January 2016, new or replacement consumer units in domestic properties must be enclosed in non-combustible material (typically steel) per BS 7671 requirements. Plastic boards are no longer installed as replacements in most domestic settings.
Replacement is notifiable work under Part P in England and Wales. Only a registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT, or equivalent) should carry it out and certify it (Electrical Safety First — Part P).
UK Benchmark Cost Ranges (External — Not RIGS Prices)
| Scope | Published UK range (indicative) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6-circuit board (small homes) | £350–£500 | MyJobQuote |
| 10-circuit board (typical 3-bed) | £480–£640 | National trade guides |
| 12+ circuits (larger homes) | £610–£850+ | More RCBOs and labour |
| Dual RCD board | £400–£800 | Common domestic configuration |
| RCBO per circuit | £500–£1,000 | Higher material cost, better fault isolation |
Checkatrade cites around £485 as a typical populated 10-way RCBO replacement including installation — a useful midpoint for budgeting, not a quote.
British Gas publishes fixed prices from £545 (6-way) to £820 (20-way) for their own service — another benchmark, not comparable to every independent electrician.
What Increases the Price
Number of circuits Each circuit needs a protective device. Homes with many circuits (kitchen appliances, EV supply, outbuildings) need larger boards and more RCBOs.
RCBO vs dual-RCD layout RCBOs (combined overcurrent and residual current protection per circuit) cost more in hardware but isolate faults to a single circuit. Dual-RCD boards are cheaper but can disconnect more of the house when one circuit faults.
Earthing and bonding upgrades If the main earth or gas/water bonding fails tests, upgrading these is additional work — essential for safety and certification.
Poor existing wiring A consumer unit swap assumes circuits test satisfactorily. Failed insulation resistance or dangerous accessories may require remedial work before or during the replacement.
Location and access Tight cupboards, external meter positions, or asbestos concerns (in some older properties) affect labour time.
Surge protection (SPD) Increasingly recommended for sensitive electronics. Adding an SPD is an extra cost but may be advised for your property.
Asbestos or non-standard enclosures Rare in domestic Tring properties but can require specialist handling where present.
Consumer Unit Replacement vs Fuse Board Repair
Patching an old rewirable fuse board is rarely a long-term solution. Modern insurance, mortgage, and EICR standards expect RCD protection and non-combustible enclosures.
Our guide on when your fuse board needs replacing covers warning signs — this article focuses on cost and scope, not whether replacement is needed.
If an EICR codes the board C2 for lack of RCD protection, replacement is usually the remedial action — not adding a single RCD to an obsolete enclosure.
How Replacement Fits With a Rewire
Sometimes a consumer unit swap is enough. Sometimes it is the first step before wider work:
- Unit only — existing cable tests well; board was the main defect
- Unit plus partial circuits — some circuits fail; targeted rewiring of those runs
- Unit as part of full rewire — cable condition poor throughout
See full vs partial rewire and rewire cost benchmarks for wider scope pricing.
What You Should Receive After Payment
From a registered installer you should receive:
1. Electrical Installation Certificate for the consumer unit work (BS 7671) 2. Building Regulations Compliance Certificate (Part P) — or confirmation of notification 3. Updated circuit chart on the unit door 4. Explanation of any limitations if circuits were not fully tested or further work is recommended
Keep these documents for insurance, resale, and future electricians.
Dual RCD vs RCBO Boards — Cost Difference
Dual RCD consumer units split circuits across two RCD devices. They cost less in hardware than full RCBO layouts but have a downside: one fault can disconnect multiple circuits at once.
RCBO per circuit boards cost more because each circuit has its own combined overcurrent and residual-current device. The benefit is finer fault isolation — a tripped kitchen circuit does not necessarily take out your lighting.
When comparing quotations, ask which layout is specified. A cheaper quote on a dual-RCD board is not equivalent to a higher quote for RCBO protection on every circuit. For homes with mixed old and new wiring, RCBO layouts often reduce nuisance outages while faults are investigated.
Surge Protection (SPD) and Future Load
BS 7671 increasingly expects surge protection devices in domestic installations where risk warrants it. Adding an SPD during consumer unit replacement is an incremental material cost but protects sensitive electronics from transient over-voltages.
If you may add electric showers, induction hobs, or high-load appliances later, discuss spare ways and board sizing now. Upgrading again within a few years costs more than sizing the board appropriately the first time — though RIGS does not publish fixed upgrade packages without survey.
What Happens During the Replacement Visit
Understanding the visit helps you compare quotations fairly:
1. Isolation and proving dead — the electrician confirms power is off safely before work starts 2. Removal of the old unit — existing circuits are labelled and disconnected systematically 3. Installation of the new board — tails, busbars, and devices fitted to manufacturer requirements 4. Testing — insulation resistance, polarity, RCD operating times, and fault loop impedance where applicable 5. Labelling and handover — circuit chart updated, certificates issued, and any limitations explained
If testing fails on an existing circuit, the quote may assume passing results. Failed tests trigger remedial discussions — another reason written quotations should mention provisional remedial allowances.
Insurance, Mortgage, and Resale Context
Insurers and buyers increasingly ask about RCD protection and installation age. A certificated consumer unit replacement with a clear circuit chart removes ambiguity during property transactions.
An EICR is separate from replacement certification. If you are buying or selling, see electrical checks when buying a house for how reports fit the purchase timeline.
Getting a Quotation From RIGS
RIGS Electrical replaces consumer units for domestic properties from our base in Tring. We survey the existing installation before quoting — we do not publish fixed national prices because every board and test result differs.
Request a consumer unit replacement quote or see fuse board upgrades in Tring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a consumer unit replacement take? Often one day for a straightforward swap if tests pass. Remedial work can extend to two days.
Can I replace a consumer unit myself? Notifiable work must be certified. DIY replacement without proper notification and testing is non-compliant and unsafe.
Is £485 a fixed price? No — that figure appears in national trade guides as a typical UK average. Your property may cost more or less.
Does replacement include an EICR? Not always. Some electricians include a condition report; others quote the swap only. Ask explicitly.
Will a new board stop my RCD tripping? Only if the trip was caused by a board fault. Nuisance tripping from appliances or wiring faults needs separate diagnosis.
Consumer unit vs fuse box — same thing? Colloquially yes. Technically a modern consumer unit has MCBs/RCBOs rather than rewirable fuses. See consumer unit vs fuse box.
*All cost ranges are from published UK trade guides unless noted. They are not RIGS Electrical prices. Obtain a written quotation for your property.*