Costs & Pricing
How Much Does a New Consumer Unit (Fuse Box) Cost in Manchester?
A new consumer unit in Manchester typically costs £450–£900 fitted. Here is what is included and when it is worth doing.
By Steels Electrical · 4 June 2026 · 4 min read
The short answer
Replacing a consumer unit (fuse box) in Manchester typically costs £450–£900, including the new board, RCBOs or RCDs, testing and certification. The price rises if remedial work is needed to bring circuits up to standard before the new board can be signed off, or if an earthing/bonding upgrade is required.
The consumer unit is the heart of your home’s electrics — it distributes power and provides the protection that keeps you safe. Older boards with rewireable fuses or no RCD protection are well worth upgrading, both for safety and because modern protection trips far faster in a fault.
Typical replacement costs
For a standard domestic consumer-unit change, expect:
- Straight swap, modern board with RCBOs, existing circuits sound: £450–£700
- With minor remedial work or extra circuits: £700–£900
- With an earthing/main-bonding upgrade: add £150–£300
Why the price varies
A consumer-unit change is not always a like-for-like swap. Before signing off a new board, the electrician has to test every existing circuit. If something fails — for example damaged cable, no earth on a lighting circuit, or inadequate main bonding — that has to be put right first, or the new board cannot be certified. A sound installation is a quick job; an older one with issues takes longer and costs more.
Signs you need a new consumer unit
It is worth getting yours looked at if you have any of the following:
- A board with old-style rewireable fuses or cartridge fuses rather than breakers.
- No RCD protection (no “test” button on the board).
- A cracked, scorched or buzzing unit.
- Frequent tripping you cannot explain.
- You are adding an EV charger, electric shower, or rewiring part of the house.
Frequently asked questions
- Is an old fuse box illegal?
- No — an old board is not automatically illegal, but it may not meet the current wiring regulations and an EICR may code it as needing attention. We cover this in our guide on whether an old fuse box is illegal.
- How long does it take to replace?
- A straightforward consumer-unit change is usually a half-day to a full day, including testing and certification. You will be without power for part of that time.
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- How Much Does EV Charger Installation Cost in Manchester? A standard 7kW home charger installed in Manchester is typically £800–£1,500. Here is what changes that figure and which grants still apply.
- How Much Does an EICR Cost in Manchester? An EICR in Manchester typically costs £130–£300 depending on property size. Here is what the price depends on and what you get.