Updated 25 September 2026
New circuit cost UK 2026
The going rate for new circuit in 2026 is £150–£400/circuit (total, ex VAT). Below: a calculator, what the job involves, materials at three price levels, and the prep that changes the price.
Market band£150–£400/circuit
Worked example, 1 circuit£367
Time on site4 h
New circuit calculator
Price a real job freeUses your rates, your speed and your receipts.
Market band source: Trade2Base.
What the job involves
| Stage | Task | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| work | Run new circuit | 3 h per circuit |
| work | Test and certify | 1 h |
Materials at three price levels
| Material | Budget | Trade choice | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable, clips, back boxes and accessories per circuit | £45 White plastic accessories — Standard finish | £65 Branded accessories, LSZH cable where needed — Reliable, neat | £110 Screwless or metal accessories — Premium finish |
| RCBO each | £20 Standard RCBO — RCD and overload in one | £28 Board-matched RCBO — Correct type for the board | £90 RCBO with AFDD — Arc-fault protection |
Trade prices ex VAT, estimates checked 2026-09-25. Log your receipts in Grafto and your own prices replace these.
What changes the price
- Floors and walls? suspended floors, stud walls · solid floors or walls
Prep to look for
| Condition | Check | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| No RCD protection | board with no test button | RCD protection or consumer unit upgrade, if required £400–£700. No RCD protection: needed before adding to circuits |
| Plastic consumer unit | non-metal consumer unit | Plastic consumer unit: upgrade recommended |
| Solid walls or floors | Solid walls or concrete floors where cables run? | |
| Possible asbestos (Artex) | textured swirl ceiling where downlights or cables go | Textured ceiling: test for asbestos before cutting |
Questions
How much does new circuit cost in the UK in 2026?
The researched market band is £150–£400/circuit (total, ex VAT), from Trade2Base. A worked example of 1 circuit comes to about £330–£509 across budget, trade and premium materials.
How long does new circuit take?
The worked example of 1 circuit takes about 4 hours.
What changes the price of new circuit?
Mainly size and access, plus any prep found on site: no rcd protection, plastic consumer unit, solid walls or floors, possible asbestos (artex).