Electrical Work Cost in Australia
Electrical Work in Australia has a modelled range of $120–$500, with a midpoint estimate of $310. See your city for local modelling assumptions and available evidence.
Independent source review pending. See the evidence card for any actual verification date.
$120–$500
Midpoint estimate: $310 per job
Electrical Work · Australia · Broad service estimate; confirm the job scope. Modelled estimate, not calculated from consumer submissions. GST treatment unknown; city, suburb and materials differences are assumptions rather than observed prices. Confirm scope and inclusions with the provider.
How this figure is put together
Estimate from our published model, labelled as such; method and city factors on the page.
Modelled estimate. City, suburb and materials factors are assumptions, not observed price differences. Confirm GST, units and inclusions with the provider.
GST treatment is unknown for this basis; confirm it with the provider.
No verified observation date for this model.
Existing guide assumptions; not a measured market sample or verified rate card.
How electrical work is priced in Australia
List the fittings, circuits or fault symptoms. Separate diagnosis from installation, and ask who supplies each fitting and whether switchboard work, wall repairs and testing are included.
Use the state regulator guidance to confirm the licence class and documentation required for the exact work. Ask for the reason behind a proposed wiring or switchboard upgrade instead of assuming it is necessary from the age of the home alone.
Estimate or verified?
Here electrical work prices on this page are modelled estimates using existing guide assumptions, without a reconciled source dataset. An observed range is published only when its numbers are computed from at least 10 eligible submissions with matching scope, tax and materials treatment. Quotes and paid invoices are kept separate. How we build estimates · Submit a price
Electrical Work cost by city
Estimates by city, adjusted from the national range. Click your city for local detail and city-specific FAQ.
Electrical Work by city
Modelled ranges, not observed prices. The spread between cities comes from a published city multiplier applied to the national range — it is an assumption about each market, not a measurement of it.
On a small screen, scroll across to see every column.
Adelaide
Modelled estimate
See Adelaide estimate →
Toowoomba
Modelled estimate
See Toowoomba estimate →
Albury-Wodonga
Modelled estimate
See Albury-Wodonga estimate →
Perth
Modelled estimate
See Perth estimate →
Hobart
Modelled estimate
See Hobart estimate →
Gold Coast
Modelled estimate
See Gold Coast estimate →
Bendigo
Modelled estimate
See Bendigo estimate →
Ballarat
Modelled estimate
See Ballarat estimate →
Brisbane
Modelled estimate
See Brisbane estimate →
Townsville
Modelled estimate
See Townsville estimate →
Darwin
Modelled estimate
See Darwin estimate →
Melbourne
Modelled estimate
See Melbourne estimate →
Mackay
Modelled estimate
See Mackay estimate →
Canberra
Modelled estimate
See Canberra estimate →
Sydney
Modelled estimate
See Sydney estimate →
Common electrical work jobs and what they cost
National estimates (Sydney baseline). Each job has its own page with materials, GST and callout detail.
Install Power Point
Add a new single power point (existing circuit, easy access)
$150–$380
Switchboard Upgrade
Replace old fuse box with modern switchboard + safety switches
$1,200–$3,500
Light Fitting Installation
Replace or install a new light fitting (downlight, pendant, batten)
$90–$280
House Rewire
Full electrical rewire (3-bedroom home)
$8,000–$23,000
EV Charger Installation
Install Level 2 EV home charger (7kW single-phase typical)
$1,100–$3,200
Safety Switch (RCD) Install
Fit a residual current device to an existing switchboard
$200–$450
Ceiling Fan Install
Install a ceiling fan on an existing light point
$180–$450
Oven / Cooktop Connection
Hard-wire a new oven or electric cooktop to an existing circuit
$200–$500
Interconnected Smoke Alarms
Supply and install hard-wired interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms (per home, 3 to 4 alarms)
$450–$1,100
Electrician Hourly Rate
Licensed electrician labour charged by the hour, excluding callout and materials
$100–$180
Kitchen Electrical Rough-In
New dedicated circuits for oven, cooktop, dishwasher and benchtop power points in a kitchen renovation
$1,200–$4,000
Install 10 LED Downlights
Supply and install ten LED downlights in an existing ceiling with roof access
$600–$1,200
Price by type and size
National estimates. Actual prices vary by city, see your city above for local pricing.
Callout + 1hr
Powerpoint install
Switchboard upgrade
Ceiling fan
Add-on pricing
| Add-on | Cost |
|---|---|
| After-hours callout | $80–$200 |
| Smoke alarm | $60–$120 |
| EV charger | $800–$2,500 |
What drives price up
Confirm these inclusions
- Callout + first hour
- Diagnosis
- Minor parts
- Compliance cert
Ask about separate charges
- Major parts
- After-hours
- Permits
- Smart home wiring
Questions to ask an electrician
Most overcharging hides in the scope, not the headline price. These pin down the deal before you commit; for items often charged separately, see Ask about separate charges. If a price changes after you agree, see your rights when a quote changes.
- 1
Is this a fixed quote or an estimate?
A quote is generally a fixed price for the scope described; an estimate is a guess that can change. Ask which one you are getting.
- 2
Can you put the full scope and the final price in writing before any work starts?
A written list gives both parties a scope to check before agreeing to the work.
- 3
If you find extra work on the day, will you stop and price it before doing it?
Agree that any variation is priced and approved before it starts, not added to the invoice afterwards.
- 4
How much deposit do you need, and when is the balance due?
Know what you pay up front and what triggers the final payment before you agree.
- 5
Is GST included in the price you have quoted?
Confirm whether the supplier is GST-registered and whether GST is included. Check the ATO for registration rules.
Three checks that take five minutes
Check the licence
For licensed trades, ask for the licence number and confirm it on your state's fair-trading or licensing site before you book. Requirements depend on the work and location; check the relevant regulator.
Confirm they're insured
Ask what insurance covers this work and check exclusions with the insurer. If an operator can't confirm it, that's a red flag.
Insist on a written quote
A fair quote itemises the scope, names what's excluded, and states whether GST is included. A written record makes the agreed scope easier to check.
Who is allowed to do electrical work in each state
Licensing is the first thing to check before comparing prices. An unlicensed quote for licensed work is not a quote you can use.
Licensing and permissions guidance
Electrical work: checked sources
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| Location | Official source | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Building Commission NSW | All electrical wiring work must be done by a licensed electrician, whatever the job costs. There is no small-job or DIY exemption. Whoever tests the work lodges a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) with Building Commission NSW within seven days; give them your email address so your copy reaches you.Official source checked 2026-10-20. Confirm current requirements with the regulator. |
| VIC | Energy Safe Victoria | All electrical work must be carried out by a licensed electrical worker working for a Registered Electrical Contractor. A Certificate of Electrical Safety must be issued for installation work and you receive a copy. Prescribed work such as switchboards and solar also requires independent inspection before it can be energised.Official source checked 2026-10-20. Confirm current requirements with the regulator. |
| QLD | Electrical Safety Office (WorkSafe Queensland) | Only a licensed electrical contractor may do electrical work in your home, with no dollar threshold. They must give a Certificate of Testing and Compliance to whoever engaged them, as soon as practicable after finishing. If a builder engaged the electrician the certificate goes to the builder, so ask the builder for it.Official source checked 2026-10-20. Confirm current requirements with the regulator. |
| WA | Building and Energy | All electrical work must be done by a person holding the relevant electrical licence, with no dollar threshold. The licensed contractor must give you an Electrical Safety Certificate within 28 days of finishing. Maintenance and like-for-like replacements are exempt. If the certificate does not arrive, contact your network operator.Official source checked 2026-10-20. Confirm current requirements with the regulator. |
| SA | Office of the Technical Regulator | Electrical installation work must be done by a licensed and registered electrical worker. Your electrician must issue an electronic Certificate of Compliance (eCoC) within 30 days, confirming the work was tested and that they are correctly licensed. Minor maintenance such as changing a lightbulb is exempt.Official source checked 2026-10-20. Confirm current requirements with the regulator. |
| TAS | Consumer Affairs Tasmania | Electrical work requires a practitioner licence, even when done unpaid, and there is no dollar threshold. For notifiable work the electrician completes a Certificate of Electrical Compliance and lodges it with TechSafe Australia within three days of energising; the certificate book includes a customer copy, so ask for yours. Like-for-like replacement generally needs no notification.Official source checked 2026-10-20. Confirm current requirements with the regulator. |
| ACT | Access Canberra | Electricians must be licensed for any electrical wiring work, with no dollar threshold. All wiring work must be tested and certified, and the electrician must give a certificate to the construction occupations registrar and to you as the owner of the installation. New installations are audited before they can be energised.Official source checked 2026-10-20. Confirm current requirements with the regulator. |
| NT | NT WorkSafe | It is illegal to do your own electrical work in the NT unless you are licensed, so use a licensed electrical contractor. There is no dollar threshold. For alterations or additions the contractor must provide a Certificate of Compliance to the owner and occupier within 20 business days. Maintenance and like-for-like replacement are exempt.Official source checked 2026-10-20. Confirm current requirements with the regulator. |
| Your location | Australian Business Licence and Information Service | Search the exact activity and location to find licensing, regulatory and council requirements. Follow through to the named authority and verify the provider separately. This lookup is not confirmation that a provider is licensed or a job is exempt.Official source checked 2026-10-14. Confirm current requirements with the regulator. |
This is not a complete register of requirements. Where a state-specific source has not been checked, use the government lookup. Qualified trade review is pending; no universal licence exemption is asserted.
Common mistakes
Skipping the licence check
Verify the licence class for the location and proposed work using the official regulator links.
Approving an undefined upgrade
Ask for the diagnosis, proposed work, parts, testing and documentation in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check who can perform this work?
Describe the exact task to the state electrical safety regulator and check the provider in its register. Do not use this estimate as permission to perform electrical work yourself.
What should the quote include?
Confirm attendance, diagnosis, labour, supplied fittings, testing, required documentation, GST treatment and any making good.
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