PAT Testing Cost: A Look at Prices

PAT testing is an electrical inspection and check of a portable electrical appliance to determine if it’s safe to use.

Portable appliances include any item with a plug and a cable; washing machines, microwaves, power tools, IT equipment, desk lights, cleaning equipment etc. are all examples of electrical items that can be PAT tested.

While not a legal requirement in itself, employers and landlords do have a legal responsibility to ensure any electrical appliances they supply are safe, and PAT testing is the easiest way to prove this.

But how much does PAT testing cost? How long does it take, and how often should it be performed?

As part of our research into the cost of home improvement projects, we contacted 26 electricians in the UK and asked them to provide us with prices for electrical jobs such as house rewires, solar panels, installing extra plug sockets, fitting bathroom fans and much more.

We looked at the cost of PAT testing, how much it costs per item, minimum charges etc.

Below you can see the results of our research. This is how much we were told PAT testing costs in early February 2021, we’ve displayed the data by region as electrical work like this is often more expensive in the south of the UK and London:

Project 1 – PAT Testing to a Small Office

We asked for a price to PAT test all the appliances in a small office with around 35 items.

The items were mostly IT equipment such as computers, monitors, printers, WiFi equipment, a projector, desk, extension leads and free-standing lights etc and also a few items in the kitchen such as a microwave, kettle, fridge, toaster etc.

Below is an average of the prices given to us:

It’s worth noting that PAT testers often have different pricing models. For example, some may charge a minimum fee, and £2 per item for up to 50 items with the price then discounted to £1 per item for any further items.

Project 2 –  Per Hour Pricing

As you can see from our first project, most of the electricians we contacted used a “per item” pricing model and many stated a minimum charge.

Some, however, provided us with prices on a “per hour” basis with a minimum charge which we guess covers their callout and time for the first hour.

What’s Included In These Prices

The PAT testing prices on this page include:

• A visual inspection of the area around the item to determine if it’s being used in a safe place.
• Visual inspection of the item, primarily looking for signs of overheating or burn damage.
• A full inspection of the power lead looking for damage or unsafe repairs/extensions.
• An inspection of the plug, including the internals, to check that it’s legal and safe.
• An electrical test to check for earth protection, insulation and leakage.
• Sticker for each item.
• A final report and any recommendations.
• VAT is included in our prices when it was charged (not all of the 26 firms we contacted we VAT registered).

 What’s Excluded From Our PAT Testing Prices

Employers, landlords and even homeowners are often confused as to what’s included and excluded in the cost of PAT testing; we hope this helps to clarify:

• Testing any fixed electrical items such as sockets, switches or fuseboxes as they aren’t portable.
• The repair of any faulty items. Some items could be repairable, perhaps by replacing a plug, but many may need to be replaced or repaired by the manufacturer.
• The removal of built-in appliances where it’s not practical to do so (i.e it’s up to you to ensure all of the items can be accessed).
• The dismantling of any appliances.

Minimum Charges

As the cost of PAT testing is between £1.50 and £2.20 per item, most of the 26 electricians we contacted charged a minimum price that was equal to one hour’s labour or their call-out fee.

It’s unlikely that any electrician would charge £10 just to test 5 items as it wouldn’t be profitable.

Our data suggests that the average minimum charge is between £40 and £70.

How Often Should Electrical Items Be PAT Tested?

There is no universal timetable as every item is different, and wear-and-tear should also be considered.

For example, a kettle will experience more wear-and-tear in an office with fifty people than one with only two people.

Moving items also carries the risk of damage, so even if the item was PAT tested recently, it might not be safe now.

Rather than focusing on a fixed timetable, we suggest you conduct a risk assessment of your electrical items with a focus on:

• The potential risk of a shock (i.e. low voltage items are by their very nature safer than more powerful items).
• How old the item is.
• Where it’s located.
• Expected wear-and-tear and usage etc.

Here’s an approximate guide to how often electrical items should be PAT tested:

Do You Have Further Questions About PAT Testing?

Our FAQs section provides answers to common questions.

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PAT Testing FAQs

Below you’ll find answers to questions about PAT testing and our price guide: