Every figure below comes from a third party and is attributed to it. They are not our prices, and some come from a single source, so treat them as a rough guide. For a fixed price on your job, send us photos or book a visit and we will give you a written, itemised quote.
Pricing an EV charger install?
Book OnlinePublished hourly rates
Hourly rates vary by source and by when they were published. Refresh Renovations, in an undated guide, says most registered electricians charge between $45 and $90 per hour, with apprentices charged out at around half that and specialist work such as automation programming at up to $140 per hour.
The Refresh Renovations range does not show a date, so it may be older, and rates differ between businesses. Many electricians also charge a call-out fee or a minimum charge for the first hour, and after-hours emergency work usually costs more. Always ask how a quote or charge-out rate is made up.
- Registered electricians: $45 to $90 per hour; apprentices around half; specialist work up to $140 per hour (Refresh Renovations, undated)
- Call-out fees, minimum charges and after-hours rates vary by business; ask before booking
Published price ranges for common jobs
Rewiring is one of the largest electrical jobs in a home. Refresh Renovations gives a basic budget of $8,000 to $10,000 for rewiring, a new switchboard and new LED lighting throughout an average three-bedroom home, and says to expect around $1,000 for a modern flush-mount switchboard, plus labour.
For EV chargers, Wise Move's June 2026 guide lists $500 to $800 for a standard wall charger plus about $500 to install it, and $1,000 to $1,500 for a smart charger plus $500 to $1,000 to install. AMP says to expect $500 to $2,000 to install a home EV charger, and notes the price usually rises the further the charger is from the switchboard.
- Rewire, new switchboard and LED lighting, average three-bedroom home: $8,000 to $10,000 (Refresh Renovations)
- Modern flush-mount switchboard: around $1,000 plus labour (Refresh Renovations)
- Standard EV wall charger: $500 to $800, plus about $500 to install (Wise Move, June 2026)
- Smart EV charger: $1,000 to $1,500, plus $500 to $1,000 to install (Wise Move, June 2026)
- EV charger installation only: $500 to $2,000 (AMP)
Jobs with no reliable published price
We have not found a reliable published NZ range for many everyday jobs, including new power points, extractor fans, oven and cooktop connections, smoke alarm installation, outdoor lighting and fault finding. Prices for these depend heavily on access, wall type, cable route and the state of the switchboard.
Small jobs like these can often be quoted from a few photos of the area and your switchboard. That gives you a fixed price before anyone arrives, rather than an open-ended hourly bill.
- New power points and outdoor sockets
- Bathroom and kitchen extractor fans
- Oven, cooktop and rangehood connections
- Hard-wired and long-life battery smoke alarms
- Outdoor, garden and security lighting
- Fault finding and repairs
What changes the price
Access is the biggest variable. Cable has to get from the switchboard to where it is needed, and an open subfloor or roomy ceiling space makes that quick, while a concrete slab, a low roof space or a second storey slows it down. Old wiring adds time too: rubber-insulated cable should be replaced rather than extended, so a small job can grow if it touches an old circuit.
The switchboard is the other common surprise. New and altered circuits need RCD protection, and an old board may have no space or no suitable protection. Work on the main switchboard is high-risk work that must be inspected, which adds an inspection cost.
- Access: open subfloor and ceiling space versus slab floors, tight roof spaces and second storeys
- Wall type: timber framing versus brick, block, concrete or lath and plaster
- Old wiring that has to be replaced rather than extended
- Switchboard space, RCD protection and any upgrade needed
- Cable distance, for example from the switchboard to a garage for an EV charger
- Out-of-hours and emergency call-outs
Compliance costs to budget for
Electricians must issue a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for prescribed electrical work, which includes any fixed wiring work such as a new power point. A CoC is not needed for maintenance, such as replacing a socket or light fitting like for like. Once an installation is connected and safe to use, the person who did the work issues an Electrical Safety Certificate.
Some work, especially on the main switchboard, the main cable and the main earth, must be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector, and a record of inspection is issued. That inspection is usually a separate cost on the quote. Keep all of these documents, because insurers and future buyers may ask for them.
- Certificate of Compliance for prescribed electrical work
- Electrical Safety Certificate once the work is connected
- Licensed inspector's fee for high-risk work such as switchboard and mains work
How to compare quotes
Check whether each quote is a fixed price or an estimate. A fixed price is for a defined scope, while an estimate can change once work starts. Compare what is included, not just the total: certificates, inspection fees, making good, switchboard work and the brand of any fittings.
WorkSafe advises asking to see the electrician's practising licence and checking its expiry date. The Electrical Workers Registration Board can confirm registration on 0800 66 10 00.
- Fixed price or estimate, and what happens if something unexpected turns up
- Certificates and inspection fees included or extra
- Fittings and brands named, not just 'supply and install'
- Switchboard upgrade or RCD work included if needed
- A current practising licence for whoever does the work
Electrician Prices FAQs
How much does an electrician cost per hour in NZ?
Refresh Renovations, in an undated guide, gives $45 to $90 per hour for most registered electricians, with apprentices charged out at around half that. Rates vary between businesses, and call-out fees and after-hours rates are extra, so ask before booking.
How much does it cost to rewire a house in Christchurch?
Refresh Renovations gives a basic budget of $8,000 to $10,000 for rewiring, a new switchboard and new LED lighting throughout an average three-bedroom home. Size, access, wall type and whether walls are already open all change the price, so we give a fixed price after a visit.
How much does it cost to install a home EV charger?
Wise Move's June 2026 guide gives $500 to $800 for a standard wall charger plus about $500 to install, or $1,000 to $1,500 for a smart charger plus $500 to $1,000 to install. AMP puts installation at $500 to $2,000. A switchboard upgrade or long cable run adds to that.
Is a fixed price better than an hourly rate?
For most homeowners, yes. A fixed price for a written scope means you know the cost before work starts. Ask what happens if something hidden turns up, and make sure any extra is agreed in writing first.
Do I pay extra for a Certificate of Compliance?
A CoC is part of doing prescribed electrical work properly, so it should be included. Inspection by a licensed inspector for high-risk work, such as switchboard work, is often listed separately.
Can I get a quote from photos?
For small jobs such as power points, lights and fans, often yes. Send a photo of the area and your switchboard, and we can usually give you a fixed price without a visit.