01
Licensing is non-negotiable
Ask for licence number (A-Grade or equivalent in your state). Unlicensed work voids insurance, fails at property sale, and is dangerous.
Home Services Guide
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Electrical job costs for Australian homes, from a new power point to a switchboard upgrade or EV charger install.
2,400+
Jobs quoted
4.7 / 5
Average customer rating
100%
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Home Services
All fixed electrical work in Australia must be performed by a licensed electrician. DIY is illegal and voids home insurance. That said, licensed electricians' rates ($100–$170/hr) and workmanship vary a lot, the same job can legitimately quote $300 or $800 depending on the shop.
Compliance has tightened in the last decade. RCDs (safety switches) are now required on all circuits in new work, smoke alarms must be interconnected in most states, and switchboard upgrades are often triggered whenever new work is added to an old board.
What to look for
What separates a good electrical job from a bad one
The differences between quotes usually come down to a few things. None are visible on day one, and all show up later.
02
Certificate of Compliance
Every electrical job gets a CoC (NSW), CES (VIC), or equivalent. Keep it. You'll need it at sale time.
03
Smoke alarm laws
Each state has its own rules (especially QLD, which mandates interconnected 240V alarms in every bedroom). Check before buying property.
04
EV chargers need a dedicated circuit
You can't share a power point with an EV. A proper install runs a dedicated circuit from the switchboard, sometimes requiring a board upgrade.
05
Old switchboard warnings
Ceramic fuses and VIR (rubber) cabling are tell-tale signs of a pre-1970s electrical system. Most insurers will want it upgraded.
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Typical pricing
What does an electrician cost in Australia?
So you know what’s fair to pay, not because cheapest is best.
Get a tighter estimate with our pricing calculatorTypical packages at a glance
Power point / switch installation
$120–$280
What’s included
New power point, including minor wire extension. Add-ons for behind-plaster runs.
When this fits
Adding a new outlet in a room, relocating a switch.
Ceiling fan / light fixture install
$150–$400
What’s included
Replacing an existing fitting. New cable run or mount plate adds labour.
When this fits
Swapping a light for a ceiling fan, upgrading downlights.
Smoke alarm upgrade (interconnected)
$400–$1,200
What’s included
3–6 interconnected 240V + 10-year battery backup alarms (QLD, NSW, VIC legal requirement varies).
When this fits
Rental property compliance, house sale, or after-fire-alarm failure.
Switchboard upgrade
$1,500–$4,500
What’s included
New consumer unit, RCDs on all circuits, labelling, certification. Ceramic fuses → modern MCBs.
When this fits
Old switchboard with fuses, adding major new loads (AC, EV charger), or insurance-driven.
EV charger installation
$1,200–$3,500
What’s included
7kW single-phase AC charger, dedicated circuit, RCD protection. 22kW three-phase costs more.
When this fits
New EV owner. Most installers include unit + install bundled.
Quotes well below the entry tier usually skip prep work or use lower-grade product. Quotes above the premium tier are worth asking why. Use this as a fairness check, not a bargain hunt.
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What affects your quote
What affects your quote
A few factors do most of the work. Use them to decode why two quotes for “the same job” can be hundreds apart.
Accessibility
Running new cables through finished walls needs wall-chasing or cable fishing, significantly more labour than exposed conduit.
Switchboard capacity
Old boards often can't take the new circuits required (AC, induction, EV). Upgrade costs dominate many quotes.
RCD compliance
New work triggers RCD requirements on affected circuits. Some states require whole-house RCD coverage on renovations.
Height and structural work
High ceilings, downlights in 2-storey stairwells, and external lighting all add scaffold or ladder time.
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How we vet specialists
Only specialists who meet our quality bar
We don’t list every business in your area, only the ones who pass our checks. Here’s what we look for.
Verified ABN
Every business is checked against the Australian Business Register before they can quote. Sole-trader cowboys without registration don't make the cut.
Strong review history
Listed businesses meet our review and rating bar. We don't feature unproven operators, and we audit ongoing review velocity.
Quick to respond
We monitor how quickly each business responds to quote requests. Slow responders fall down the matching order automatically.
Customer feedback after every job
Real customers rate every completed job. That signal decides who keeps showing up in your matches, and who quietly disappears.
Get quotes in 30 secondsEvery business in your shortlist has already passed all four checks.
Brands you’ll see
Common electrical brands
Brand and product names you’re likely to see in quotes.
Clipsal / Clipsal Iconic
Most common Australian switch and power point range.
HPM
Budget-friendly alternative, widely stocked.
Legrand
European styling, common in renovations.
Martec / Fanco / Eglo
Ceiling fans and downlights.
Tesla / Fronius / SMA
EV chargers and solar inverters.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions
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