What PAT testing costs, and what changes the price

There is no single figure for what PAT testing costs, because it is not priced one way. Most electricians quote it either per item tested or as a day or half-day rate for the visit, and which one applies to you depends on how much there is to test. Our charges page sets out how we price a job once we know the number and type of items — what follows is what actually moves that number up or down.

Per item, or a rate for the visit

A per-item price makes sense on a small job — a handful of appliances in a flat, or a single office with a fixed, known list. You are paying for what gets tested and nothing else, though almost every electrician sets a minimum charge, because turning up costs the same whether three items get tested or thirty.

A day or half-day rate makes more sense once the count runs into the hundreds. At that point the electrician is really selling you a block of time rather than a list of items, and the per-item cost works out lower simply because there is no travel or setup time being repeated for each one.

What actually changes the price

• The number of items — obviously, but also the thing most people under-count. Extension leads, chargers and multi-way adaptors are all separate items, not extras thrown in with the appliance they feed.
• The type of appliance — a Class I item with an earth conductor takes an extra test the tester has to run compared with a double-insulated Class II item, so a room full of laptop chargers goes faster than the same room full of kettles and heaters.
• Access — equipment that has to be unplugged from behind furniture, or is spread across several floors or several sites, adds time that a single open-plan office does not.
• Failures and retests — an item that fails and gets repaired on the day, or needs revisiting once it has been fixed, is more work than one that passes first time.

Why a twenty-item flat and a two-hundred-item office price differently

A landlord with a furnished flat is usually looking at a short list — kettle, microwave, toaster, a lamp or two, maybe a washing machine. That sits comfortably under most minimum call-out charges, so the visit itself is the main cost, not the testing.

An office with two hundred items spreads the same call-out cost across far more tests, which is why the per-item rate on a large job is usually lower than on a small one, even though the total invoice is bigger. Neither price is wrong — they are answering different questions.

Is PAT testing in London priced any differently?

Not because of the postcode itself. What genuinely varies across London and the surrounding areas is access — a ground-floor shop unit is a faster job than a multi-floor office with a lift booking to arrange, and that holds whether the address is in Dagenham or the City. Ask for a quote based on what is actually being tested and where, rather than a borough-wide rate.

We carry out PAT testing across London, Essex and north Kent, and we will always tell you honestly whether a per-item or a day-rate quote fits your job better before we start.

If you are unsure, it is always cheaper to ask than to guess. Give us a call and we will tell you straight.