Electric showers are great for when you want instant hot water. There may also provide energy savings and are especially popular for homes with combi boilers.
However, because they combine water and electricity, it is essential they are installed correctly and safely. The work needs to be carried out by either a Part-P certified plumber or an electrician.
You may be wondering how much you need to pay to get an accredited professional to install your electric shower.
This article will cover what you can expect to pay to install an electric shower and the factors that affect the cost.
Average Installation Cost
Average prices and ranges below do not include VAT. Most fitters will only quote for the labour work, i.e the installation of the shower itself, meaning you’ll need to pay for the shower itself on top.
| Ranges | Average | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Labour/Installation Only | £350 | £180 - £550 |
| Shower Cost | £220 | £70 - £450 |
| Total | £570 | £250 - £1000 |
Labour can take anywhere from 3 to 8 hours to install.
However, many factors can affect the price of a quote, meaning it’s difficult to get an accurate one without a professional seeing your property.
The price of the shower itself can vary considerably depending on your budget. You can pay as little as £50 for a budget power electric shower usually up to £400 for premium electric showers. However, you can pay even more for one if you want to.
Why You Can Trust this Data
We contacted 37 companies across the UK in 2020 for quotes on installing an electric shower. Since the price of showers can vary considerably, most would quote for the labour costs to install, then expect you to supply the shower yourself.
To get the figures for the showers themselves, we checked a number of shower retailers and aggregated the data. The prices were checked and updated on the 10th January 2022.
Factors That Affect the Cost
There are many issues that can change the average prices. Here are some of the most important things an electrician or plumber will have to bear in mind.
Whether You Already Have an Existing Electric Shower
If you already have an electric shower fitted and simply need a new shower to replace your existing one, expect to pay closer to £70 – £150 for the labour costs, plus the cost of the shower itself.
This is because all the cabling in already and installed and should be able to still be used provided it is in good condition.
The Distance of Shower From Consumer Unit
The next thing to consider is how far and how easy is it to get a cable from the consumer unit to the shower via an isolator. The length of a shower cable costs roughly £3 per metre.
The route itself from your shower to your consumer unit may also be problematic. For example, if carpets or flooring need to be removed, this will add cost. Cables may also need to be chased into the walls.
How Powerful Your Shower Is (kW Output)
Showers are powered by kilowatts (kW). The higher the kW the more powerful the shower and the bigger the cable needs to be. Cable runs are usually 6mm or 10mm.
Generally, 10mm will suffice for an electric shower with 8.5 – 9.5 kW of output. However, it may be worth opting for 10mm cabling even if your electric shower has a lower output in case you replace it with a more powerful shower in the future.
This ensures you don’t have to redo the cabling.
Does Your Consumer Unit Have RCD Protection?
An RCD (residual current device) is a device that stops you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. It can also provide protection against electrical fires.
The shower will need its own circuit which needs to be RCD protected to meet regulations. Your consumer unit should already have RCD’s and hopefully, space for a new circuit.
These costs should be covered with a contractor’s quote. However, a stand-alone RCD unit stand is about £40. It may need a henley block which is roughly £10.
A new consumer unit if updated for dual RCD is about £80 for dual RCD. A surge protection device is an extra £40.
Amount of Plumbing Works
All electricians are certified to install the electrical aspect of the job, but not many plumbers. They need to be part-P certified, which allows them to work with electrical components.
Therefore, if you use an electrician, then you may still need to hire a plumber for that side of the job. They will need to do all the works relating to water (i.e whether you need pipes in the wall).
Location
Labour costs in London and the south of England are generally more expensive than elsewhere. You can expect to pay anywhere somewhere in the region of 10-20% extra.
If the contractor needs to travel beyond a certain radius, then they may add an extra fee on top.
How Does the Material Shortage Affect Prices in 2022?
Prices within the construction industry have continued to rise into 2022. Because certain material costs are fluctuating rapidly, tradespeople pricing up jobs longer than a month away may add extra to mitigate the risk.
Materials that may be used when installing an electric shower that are in low supply at the moment include:
- Electrical components
- Shower enclosures
- Plumbing items
Get Prices on Electric Shower Installations Near You
We’ve done our best to give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay to install an electric shower.
However, our guides are not a substitute for a fixed quote specifically for you.
We work with all the best electric shower installers ready to price your job. Get free, no-obligation quotes in your local area and compare prices using the form below.
- Compare Multiple Quotes & Save Up to 40%
- Certified & Vetted Fitters
- Free & No Obligation
- Local Electric Shower Fitting Experts Near You
About the Author
Alex Johnson is a qualified quantity surveyor and writer with a passion for conducting original research and uncovering the true cost of jobs. His cost data has been referenced by EDF Energy and the Scottish Government.
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