Electrician Call Out Fee & Day Rate, UK 2026
What you should expect to pay an electrician in 2026, call-out fees, hourly rates, out-of-hours pricing and JIB benchmarks. Honest, published numbers from a CHAS-approved Devon firm.
Standard call-out
£150 plus VAT (Mon, Fri 9am, 5pm, includes 1st hour).
Out of hours
£200 plus VAT before 9am or after 5pm on weekdays.
Weekend / Bank Holiday
£250 plus VAT any time on weekends & bank holidays.
UK call-out fee, typical 2026 prices
| Type | UK average | Our price (Devon) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard call-out (Mon, Fri 9am, 5pm) | £75, £150 plus VAT | £150 plus VAT |
| Out of hours (weekday before 9am / after 5pm) | £120, £220 plus VAT | £200 plus VAT |
| Weekends & bank holidays (any time) | £180, £300 plus VAT | £250 plus VAT |
| Domestic day rate (8 hrs) | £280, £400 plus VAT | £320 plus VAT |
| Commercial / 3-phase day rate | £350, £500 plus VAT | £395 plus VAT |
| Free survey threshold | Varies | Quoted work £500+ plus VAT |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much is an electrician call out fee in the UK?
A typical UK electrician call-out fee in 2026 is £75, £120 plus VAT for the first hour during working hours, and £120, £250 plus VAT for out-of-hours and weekend emergency call-outs. In Devon, our standard call-out fee is £150 plus VAT (Mon, Fri 9am, 5pm), £200 plus VAT before 9am or after 5pm on weekdays, and £250 plus VAT any time during weekends and bank holidays. Every call-out includes the first hour on site.
What is the average electrician day rate in the UK?
The UK average electrician day rate in 2026 is £280, £400 plus VAT for a qualified, registered electrician working a domestic 8-hour day. Commercial and three-phase work is typically £350, £500 plus VAT per day. JIB graded electrician rates set the industry benchmark, an Approved Electrician on JIB rates costs the employer roughly £24, £28 per hour before overheads, which is why qualified self-employed day rates start around £280.
What is your electrician day rate in Devon?
Our published 2026 day rate is £320 plus VAT for a single electrician (8 hours on site, materials extra at trade + 15%) and £580 plus VAT for a two-electrician team. We work to a fixed-price quote on most jobs over half a day, day rate is mainly used for fault finding, snagging, and rolling maintenance work where the scope is unpredictable.
Do you charge a call-out fee for emergencies?
Yes. Our call-out pricing is simple: £150 plus VAT Monday to Friday 9am, 5pm, £200 plus VAT before 9am or after 5pm on weekdays, and £250 plus VAT any time during weekends and bank holidays. We will always give you a price over the phone before we leave, and we will never charge for travel inside our core area (Newton Abbot, Exeter, Torbay, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Totnes).
Is the call-out fee deducted if I go ahead with the work?
For quoted work over £500 plus VAT we waive the call-out fee entirely, the survey is free. For smaller jobs the call-out covers the first hour, so if the repair takes 45 minutes you pay only the call-out (no extra labour). This keeps small fixes simple and predictable.
Are JIB rates the same as what I will pay?
No. JIB (Joint Industry Board) rates are the national pay agreement for employed electricians, they cover the worker's gross wage only. The price you pay a contractor also has to cover van, fuel, tools, insurance, certification, scheme membership (CHAS, NICEIC), training, holiday and pension. A self-employed JIB Approved Electrician charging £45/hour to the customer is not the same as earning £45/hour.