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What changes the cost of PAT testing?
The cost of PAT testing depends mostly on how many appliances need checking, what kind they are, how they are used, and whether you want labels, records or repairs included. HSE says PAT is not compulsory, so check what your situation needs before you book, and this guide does not print a price.
Last reviewed:What is PAT testing?
PAT testing is asked about by small businesses, landlords, holiday let owners, clubs and event organisers, and by some homeowners. QuoteZila starts in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach first, and anyone in the UK can post a job or register. This guide explains what PAT testing is, what the law says, and what makes one quote higher than another.
HSE describes portable appliance testing as the examination of electrical appliances and equipment to make sure they are safe to use [S1]. It says most electrical safety defects can be found by visual examination, but some can only be found by testing, and that visual examination is essential because some defects cannot be found by testing alone [S1].
In practice a PAT visit usually means a person with a tester going round each plug-in item, looking at the plug, flex and casing, running the tests that suit that item, and recording the result. Kettles, extension leads, heaters, computers, power tools and vacuum cleaners are typical items.
This guide does not print a price per item or a price per visit. The variation is too wide, and a figure that looks right for an office would be wrong for a workshop.
Do you actually need PAT testing?
Start here, because the answer changes how much you buy.
HSE says PAT is not compulsory [S1]. It says the law simply requires an employer to make sure electrical equipment is maintained in order to prevent danger, and does not say how this should be done or how often [S1]. It also says the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 do not make inspection or testing a legal requirement, or require it annually [S1].
What HSE recommends is a risk-based approach. It says employers should consider the type of equipment and what it is used for, and that for equipment used regularly and moved a lot, such as a floor cleaner or a kettle, testing alongside visual checks can be an important part of maintenance [S1]. It gives a case study of a low-risk shop where most items only needed visual checks, and says annual testing is not always necessary in low-risk environments [S1].
HSE says there is no legal requirement to label tested equipment or to keep records, but that labels and records can be a useful way to manage and show your maintenance scheme [S1].
So before you ask for quotes, list what you have, how often it is moved, and where it is used. You may need fewer full tests than you think, and more simple checks.
What about landlords and rented homes?
Rented homes have their own rules, and they are mostly about the fixed wiring. GOV.UK says all landlords must have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every 5 years, and must get a report and give a copy to their tenants [S2]. That report is usually an Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR [S2]. EICR costs explains that job.
For appliances, GOV.UK says social landlords must also have the electrical equipment they provide under the tenancy checked by a qualified person at least every 5 years, and give a copy of the record to their tenants [S2]. It gives cookers, fridges and microwaves as examples [S2]. It says tenants are responsible for making sure their own electrical equipment is safe [S2].
If you are a private landlord, read the GOV.UK guidance for your situation and ask your electrician what they suggest for the appliances you provide. You could ask for them to be checked when the installation is inspected, which can save a second visit.
What changes the cost?
| Factor | What to ask | Why it moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Number of items | Price for your list, not a per-item guess | More items take more time |
| Type of equipment | Which items need a full test and which a visual check | HSE says frequency depends on the type of equipment [S1] |
| How it is used | Moved a lot, or stays put | Items used regularly and moved a lot benefit most from testing [S1] |
| Environment | Office, home, workshop, building site, kitchen | A site tool needs checking more often than a hotel lamp [S1] |
| Number of sites | One address or several | Travel and set-up time |
| Access | Equipment in use, locked rooms, out-of-hours | Waiting time or evening work |
| Labels and records | Whether labels and a written record are included | Not legally required, but useful [S1] |
| Repairs found | Price for new plugs, fuses or leads if items fail | Usually extra to the test |
| Combined visit | Whether an EICR or other work is done at the same time | One visit can cover more |
| VAT | Included or extra. Registration applies above £90,000 of taxable turnover [S5] | Changes the total |
The biggest single driver is the count. A tester can only price fairly if they know how many items there are and what they are.
How often should equipment be checked?
HSE says the frequency of inspection and testing depends on the type of equipment and the environment it is used in [S1]. It points to its guidance, Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment, for suggested frequencies [S1].
The HSE case study is a useful model. A shop manager listed the equipment, thought about how likely each item was to be damaged, and chose different checks for each: long gaps for computers that stayed put, more frequent checks for a heavily used vacuum cleaner [S1]. HSE says it reviewed its own office approach in 2011 and decided further tests were not needed for certain types of equipment, while it continued with user checks and visual inspections [S1].
New equipment is a special case. HSE says it should be supplied in a safe condition and not need a formal inspection or test, though a simple visual check is recommended [S1].
Who can do PAT testing?
HSE says the person doing testing work needs to be competent [S1]. In many low-risk workplaces, it says a sensible member of staff can do visual inspections if they have enough knowledge and training [S1]. For combined inspection and testing, it says the person needs the right equipment, the ability to use it properly, and the ability to understand the results [S1].
Many electricians offer PAT testing, and some firms do nothing else. If you also need work on the fixed wiring, such as sockets, a fuse box or an EICR, use a registered electrician. Find one through Electrical Safety First, and see our electricians page.
Electrical Safety First: find a registered electrician; NICEIC; NAPIT. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
Electrical Safety First recommends periodic inspection of the fixed installation at least every 10 years for an owner-occupied home and at least every 5 years for a business [S3]. That is a different job from PAT, but it is worth knowing which one you are being offered.
Everyday checks that cut down on testing
Simple checks between tests cost little and catch a lot. HSE says a short user check, based on simple training and perhaps a short list of points to look at, can be a very useful part of an electrical maintenance regime [S1]. Look for damaged plugs, cracked casings, scorch marks, frayed or taped flexes, and loose cables at the plug.
Electrical Safety First says not to ignore burn marks, buzzing or crackling sounds, fuses blowing, circuit-breakers tripping, or a plug that feels hot, and to unplug and contact the retailer, manufacturer or a qualified repair technician [S3]. It also says not to plug one extension lead into another [S3].
Take any damaged item out of use until it has been checked or replaced. This guide gives no steps for repairing wiring yourself.
How do you compare PAT testing quotes?
Send every tester the same list: how many items, what they are, where they are, and whether any are used on building sites, in kitchens or outdoors. Say whether you want labels, a written record, and minor repairs such as new fuses or plugs priced in.
Citizens Advice suggests getting written quotes from at least 3 different traders, and says a quote should give a fixed total price rather than a daily rate [S4]. It also says a quote should list how long the price is valid and whether it includes VAT [S4].
Ask what happens to an item that fails: whether it is labelled as failed, taken out of use, repaired on the spot, or left for you to deal with.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Small office with desks, computers, a kitchen and two heaters. Please quote for PAT testing with labels and a written record."
- "Two holiday lets with kitchen appliances, lamps and TVs. Please quote to test both in one visit and send the records."
- "Social housing provider needs landlord-supplied cookers and fridges checked alongside the electrical installation report."
Posting a PAT testing job
Count your items, say where they are used, and say what paperwork you need. 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 PAT testing costs
How much does PAT testing cost?
This guide does not print a figure. Testers price by the number of items, the type of equipment, the site and what paperwork you want. Count your appliances before you ask, and ask each tester to quote for the same list.
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
Not as such. HSE says PAT is not compulsory, and that the law requires employers to make sure electrical equipment is maintained to prevent danger without saying how or how often. Testing can be an important part of maintenance for equipment that is used a lot and moved around.
Do I have to test every year?
No. HSE says the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 do not make annual testing a legal requirement, and that how often depends on the type of equipment and where it is used. A power tool on a building site needs checking more often than a lamp in a hotel room, it says.
Do landlords need PAT testing?
GOV.UK says all landlords must have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years. It says social landlords must also have the electrical equipment they provide under the tenancy checked by a qualified person at least every 5 years. Private landlords should check the guidance for their own case.
Does new equipment need testing?
HSE says new equipment should be supplied in a safe condition and should not need a formal portable appliance inspection or test, but a simple visual check is recommended to make sure it is not damaged.
Does the tester have to be an electrician?
Not always. HSE says the person needs to be competent, and that combined inspection and testing needs the right equipment, the ability to use it properly and the ability to understand the results. Many electricians do PAT testing, and some firms specialise in it.
Does VAT change the price?
It can. A business must register for VAT if its taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000. Ask whether VAT is included.
Does QuoteZila check electricians?
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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- Replacing a Plug Socket: What Changes the Quote. What moves the quote to replace a plug socket: a straight swap, a damaged back box, a move, extra sockets, outdoors or a bathroom. No price per socket printed.
- Rewiring a house: what the quote covers. A house rewire in Cheshire replaces cables and usually the consumer unit. No rewire price is printed. See what to ask an electrician to put in writing.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila pricing line.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ How does getting quotes work.
- S1: PAT (portable appliance testing): answers to popular questions, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm
- S2: Electrical safety standards in the private and social rented sectors: guidance, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-and-social-rented-sectors-guidance/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-and-social-rented-sectors-guidance
- S3: Overloading sockets, Electrical Safety First. Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/safety-advice/home-and-people/house-maintenance/overloading-sockets/
- S4: 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/
- S5: Register for VAT, GOV.UK (HMRC). Accessed 2026-10-31. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat