PAT testing, or Portable Appliance Testing, is used to examine electrical equipment and appliance to find out whether they are safe to use.
PAT testing isn’t required by legislation, but it is the easiest way to satisfy the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and other regulations. Therefore, they are conducted regularly in business premises and a PAT testing certificate is issued upon completion along with every serial number of the appliances tested.
This article will cover what you can expect to pay for PAT testing and factors that affect the cost of it.
Average Cost
We contacted a number of different companies for quotes. Most companies charge a flat fee for the first batch of appliances, then a small fee for each appliance tested after that. The more
Generally, the flat fee is from £50 – £100 which covers the first 10 – 50 items, then between £1.00 – £2.50 after that. The more appliances tested, the lower the cost per appliance.
If a full day is required, expect to pay around £400 – £450 including VAT.
A table with average figures for various numbers of appliances is given below. Prices include VAT.
| Number of Appliances | Initial Fee (Up to 10 Devices) | 10 - 50 Devices (@£2.50/appliance) | 50 - 100 Devices (@£1.50/appliance) | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | £75 | / | / | £75 |
| 30 | £75 | £55 | / | £130 |
| 50 | £75 | £105 | / | £180 |
| 70 | £75 | £105 | £35 | £215 |
| 100 | £75 | £105 | £80 | £260 |
Factors Affecting the Cost
Location of Appliances
One factor is whether appliances are located in one area or spread out like in a major office, building or school.
Because the electrician will need more time to reach all the appliances, they will charge more to cover their labour costs.
Location of Contractor
Labour costs in London and the south of England are generally more expensive than elsewhere.
If the contractor needs to travel beyond a certain radius, then they may add an extra fee on top.
A good proportion of electricians don’t offer PAT testing. If your premises are located in a more remote area, then you may need to get a quote further afield.
Additional Services Offered
Professional testing companies may offer work beyond the initial PAT testing. Pass and Fail labelling is usually included in the initial pricing along with the PAT Testing Certificate and every appliance test result.
However, if you want any devices that have failed to pass, they’ll need to add that in. Work like fuse replacements (25p – 50p per item), rewiring existing plugs (£1.50 – £2.00 per item) and fitting a replacement plug (£4.00 – £5.00 per item) are common extras.
Get Prices on PAT Testing Near You
We’ve done our best to give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay for a PAT testing.
However, our guides are not a substitute for a fixed written quote specifically for you.
We work with all the best PAT testing electricians ready to price your job. Get free, no-obligation quotes in your local area and compare prices using the form below.
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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.