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What changes the cost of moving a gas meter?
The cost of moving a gas meter depends on how far it is going, whether your supplier can do the work or the gas network operator has to, and what digging, meter box and pipework inside the house are needed. You cannot legally move it yourself, and this guide does not print a price.
Last reviewed:Why do people move a gas meter?
People ask to move a gas meter when it is in the way of a kitchen refit or an extension, when it is hard to reach or read, or when it sits somewhere awkward such as a cupboard that is being knocked through. QuoteZila starts in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach first, and anyone in the UK can post a job or register. This guide explains who moves a meter, what makes the job bigger or smaller, and what to ask.
Citizens Advice says you might be able to have your gas or electricity meter moved if you are finding it difficult to read or access, or if you are doing building work [S1]. It also says who can move your meter depends on the work involved [S1].
This guide does not print a price. The cost depends on who does the work and how much work there is, and the only way to know is to ask the people who would do it.
Who is allowed to move a gas meter?
Not you. Citizens Advice says you cannot move the meter yourself, and that it is illegal [S1]. That applies even if you own the meter: it says you can arrange to have it moved but you cannot do it yourself legally [S1].
The meter is usually owned by your current supplier, and Citizens Advice says you will have to ask them to move it [S1]. It says only your current supplier can move your meter, and that if you want another supplier to do it you have to switch your supply to them first [S1]. Switching changes your prices, so it says to check that it is worth it overall [S1].
If your supplier cannot do the work, Citizens Advice says you must contact your local gas network operator, which is listed as the gas transporter on the Find My Supplier website [S1].
Separately, any gas work inside your home, such as extending or rerouting pipework to the new meter position and reconnecting appliances, is work for a Gas Safe registered engineer. HSE says anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be Gas Safe registered and competent in that area of gas work [S2]. Check any engineer on the Gas Safe Register.
Gas Safe Register. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
Supplier or network operator: which one will do it?
Citizens Advice says your supplier will tell you whether it can do the work, and that this depends on where your meter is now, how far you want to move it, the type of connector, and why you want to move it [S1]. It says suppliers might not be able to do the work if your meter is outside, or if you want to move it a longer distance, for example to another room [S1].
If your supplier can do it, Citizens Advice says the supplier will give you a price, and that prices vary, so you should also get prices from other suppliers and compare them [S1]. Remember that only your current supplier can move the meter, so comparing means weighing up a switch.
If your supplier cannot, the network operator does the work. Citizens Advice says the network operator's charge depends on how much work needs to be done [S1]. That work can include changing the service pipe that brings gas to your home.
Extra trades. Citizens Advice says you might still need a registered gas engineer or electrician for other work, for example preparatory digging, fitting a meter box, or reconnecting your supply inside your home [S1]. It says to get a number of different quotes before choosing [S1].
What changes the cost?
| Factor | What to ask | Why it moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Who does it | Supplier, or the gas network operator | Citizens Advice says it depends on the work involved [S1] |
| Distance | How far the meter will move | Longer moves may be beyond what a supplier does [S1] |
| Current position | Inside, outside, cupboard, under stairs | An outside meter may need the network operator [S1] |
| Connector type | What connects your meter now | Citizens Advice lists it as a deciding factor [S1] |
| Service pipe | Whether the pipe into the house must change | Network work and digging |
| Digging and meter box | Who digs, who fits the box, who reinstates | Often a separate trade [S1] |
| Pipework inside | Rerouting from the new meter to appliances | Gas Safe engineer's work |
| Making good | Plaster, flooring, paving after the move | Often left out of a gas quote |
| Smart meter instead | Whether a smart meter solves the reading problem | No charge for installation, says Citizens Advice [S1] |
| VAT | Included or extra on engineer and builder work. Registration applies above £90,000 of taxable turnover [S4] | Changes the total |
Sometimes the meter does not need to move at all. If the problem is reading the meter, ask about a smart meter first.
Moving a meter for an extension or kitchen
If an extension or a new kitchen layout is the reason, raise the meter early. The supplier or network operator will have its own lead time, and builders cannot cover or build round a meter that has not moved yet.
Tell the builder where the meter is now and where you would like it. Ask whether they will coordinate with the supplier or network operator, or whether that falls to you. Ask who will dig any trench for a new service pipe, who will fit the meter box, and who will put the ground or the wall back afterwards.
GOV.UK says the Building Regulations 2010 cover the construction and extension of buildings, and that approval is different from planning permission [S5]. Your builder or designer will deal with the extension itself. The meter move is a separate piece of work with its own people, so get it on the timeline. Kitchen extension costs and house extension costs explain those projects.
Booking the appointment
Citizens Advice says your supplier should offer you an appointment as soon as it can, depending on how urgent it is and how busy the supplier is [S1]. It says appointments are usually within normal working hours, between 9am and 5pm, and that you usually choose a time slot of between 2 and 4 hours [S1]. If the slot does not work, it says ask for a different date and time [S1].
It also says your supplier must pay you compensation if it misses the appointment, changes it without your agreement with less than 1 working day's warning, or sends someone without the right qualifications or tools [S1]. Keep a note of the appointment date and who you spoke to.
Gas safety while work is going on
HSE says it is illegal for anyone to use a gas appliance if they suspect it is unsafe, and that you should turn it off and leave it until a Gas Safe registered engineer has checked it [S2]. If you suspect a gas leak, HSE says to call the National Grid gas emergency number on 0800 111 999, open all the doors and windows, and shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve if you know where it is [S2].
Do not try to move, loosen or box in a meter or its pipework yourself. Do not let anyone without the right registration work on it. Builders should leave the meter and pipes alone until the supplier, network operator or Gas Safe engineer has done their part.
How do you compare quotes?
For the meter move itself, you are usually dealing with your supplier or the network operator. Ask them for a written price, what it includes, and what you must arrange yourself.
For the other work, ask gas engineers, electricians and builders to quote for the same scope: digging, meter box, pipework inside, reconnection of appliances, and making good. Citizens Advice suggests getting written quotes from at least 3 different traders, and says a quote is a fixed price while an estimate is just a rough guess [S3]. It says a quote should include a breakdown of the work and materials and say whether VAT is included [S3].
Our heating engineers and plumbers pages cover gas pipework, and our builders page covers digging and making good.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Supplier is moving our gas meter to the outside wall for a kitchen extension. Need a Gas Safe engineer to reroute the pipe to the boiler and hob."
- "Network operator is laying a new service pipe. Need a builder to dig the trench to their spec and reinstate the drive afterwards."
- "Meter box on the front wall is broken. Please quote to fit a new box and make good, if that is work you can do."
Posting a gas meter job
Say where the meter is now, where you would like it, and who has already been in touch. Your job goes to up to five matched local businesses [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
Questions about moving a gas meter
How much does it cost to move a gas meter?
This guide does not print a figure. Citizens Advice says your supplier will give you a price if it can do the work, that prices vary and you should compare, and that a network operator's charge depends on how much work is needed. Ask for every part of the job in writing.
Can I move my gas meter myself?
No. Citizens Advice says you cannot move the meter yourself and that it is illegal. Even if you own the meter, it says you can arrange to have it moved but cannot legally do it yourself. This guide gives no steps for gas work.
Who do I contact first?
Your current energy supplier. Citizens Advice says the meter is usually owned by your current supplier and you will have to ask them to move it. If they cannot, it says you must contact your local gas network operator, shown as the gas transporter on the Find My Supplier website.
Can a different supplier move it instead?
Citizens Advice says only your current supplier can move your meter, so to use another supplier you would have to switch your supply first. It says that will change your gas and electricity prices, so check that the switch is worth it overall.
I just cannot reach my meter to read it. Do I need to move it?
Maybe not. Citizens Advice says you can ask your supplier for a smart meter, which sends readings automatically, and that you do not have to pay to have one installed. Smart meter installation explains more.
What if I have a prepayment meter that needs moving?
Citizens Advice says that if your prepayment meter needs moving and you are on the Priority Services Register, your energy supplier should move it for free. Check whether you are eligible to join the register.
Does VAT change the price?
It can on the gas engineer's or builder's part of the job. A business must register for VAT if its taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000. Ask whether VAT is included in each quote.
Does QuoteZila check gas engineers?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
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Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila pricing line.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ How does getting quotes work.
- S1: Move your gas or electricity meter, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/move-your-gas-or-electricity-meter/
- S2: Gas safety: home owners, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqownerocc.htm
- S3: Before you get building work done, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S4: Register for VAT, GOV.UK (HMRC). Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat
- S5: When you need building regulations approval, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.gov.uk/building-regulations-approval