Best Quoting Software for Electricians in the UK

What is electrician quoting software?

Electrician quoting software is a tool for creating, sending, tracking, and converting electrical quotes. A good system stores customer details, reusable electrical job templates, materials, labour, VAT notes, terms, quote links, deposits, and follow-ups in one workflow.

Electrical quoting is different from other trades. A single underpriced job on a rewire can cost you hundreds of pounds. Overprice and you lose the work to a competitor. Getting it right means understanding your costs, your market, and how to present a quote that wins the job without leaving money on the table.

This guide covers how to quote electrical work in the UK, what software features matter for electricians, and how to compare a specialist quote workflow against spreadsheets or generic accounting tools.

Standard Electrician Day Rates in the UK

Before you can quote accurately, you need to know your baseline. Day rates vary significantly by region:

Region	Typical Day Rate	Hourly Rate (indicative)
London and South East	£350–£500	£45–£65
South West and Wales	£280–£380	£35–£50
Midlands	£270–£370	£34–£48
North England	£250–£350	£32–£45
Scotland	£260–£360	£33–£47

These are labour-only rates. Materials are added on top with your markup. Bear in mind that not every hour on site is a billable hour - travel, quotes, and administration all eat into your day rate. Effective hourly rates are typically 60–70% of your nominal day rate.

Best quoting software features for electricians

Feature	Why it matters for electrical quotes	Jobnix fit
Reusable quote templates	Save common jobs such as consumer unit swaps, socket additions, EV charger installs, lighting upgrades, and rewires.	Build repeatable quote sections and line items.
Photo and scope notes	Electrical work often depends on access, existing wiring, making good, certification, and exclusions.	Add job notes and supporting detail before sending.
Deposits and payment links	Larger electrical jobs often need materials paid before work starts.	Request deposits and track paid balances.
Quote status tracking	Know whether the customer has opened, accepted, or ignored the quote.	Track quote progress and follow up from the dashboard.
Quote-to-invoice handoff	Accepted electrical work should not need retyping into another document.	Turn accepted quotes into invoices.

How to Quote an Electrical Job (Step by Step)

Step 1: Site Visit or Enquiry Assessment

Before quoting, you need to understand the scope. For complex work (rewires, three-phase installations, EV charger points), a site visit is essential. For smaller jobs (socket replacement, light fitting), a detailed description and photos may be enough.

Note: if you're quoting from an enquiry form without a site visit, build in a contingency for discovery work. A fixed price for "additional findings" protects you.

Step 2: Price the Materials

For most electrical jobs, materials are a known cost. Price them individually and add your markup (typically 20–30% for a sole trader). Common items:

• Standard single socket: £3–£8 each + installation time
• Double socket: £5–£12 each + installation time
• LED downlighters: £8–£25 each + installation time
• Consumer unit (16-way): £120–£300 depending on make and RCD requirements
• EV charger point: £150–£350 supply only
• Cat6 cable (per metre): £1–£3
• Conduit and trunking: £2–£8 per metre

Step 3: Estimate Your Labour Time

Time your typical jobs so you can estimate accurately. Some benchmarks:

• Socket replacement (single): 30–45 minutes
• Double socket replacement: 45–60 minutes
• Light switch replacement: 20–30 minutes
• Ceiling light fitting: 30–45 minutes
• Consumer unit swap: 4–6 hours
• 1-bed flat full rewire: 5–8 days
• 3-bed house full rewire: 8–14 days
• EV charger installation: 3–5 hours (including circuit)

Step 4: Calculate Your Overheads and Margin

Your quote needs to cover more than just your time and materials. Factor in:

• Van and fuel
• Insurance (public liability, professional indemnity)
• Tools and consumables
• Admin and accounting
• Retirement and sick pay

A simple rule: add 20–25% to your total cost before markup. If your costs are £500, quote £600–£625 to maintain a sustainable margin.

Step 5: Present It Professionally

The quote itself matters as much as the price. A clean, itemised PDF quote with your branding, scope of work clearly defined, and terms stated upfront performs better than a text message or handwritten note.

Customers compare quotes. If yours is clear, itemised, and professional, they understand what they're paying for. That transparency wins trust and jobs.

Common Electrical Quoting Mistakes

• Not allowing for discovery work: Old wiring can throw up surprises. Add a contingency clause.
• Forgetting trip charges: If you're called out for a diagnosis, charge for it. Even if it's a fix under warranty, your time has value.
• Pricing too low to win: Undercutting rarely works. A slightly higher quote with clear scope beats a low one that leaves you out of pocket.
• Not specifying exclusions: "Does that include the redecoration?" - avoid this by listing what's excluded explicitly.
• Ignoring certification costs: Part P notifications and building control fees add £100–£300 on notifiable work.

How Jobnix makes quoting faster for electricians

With Jobnix for electricians, you can build professional electrical quotes on site and send them before you drive home. Save common line items for consumer unit swaps, socket upgrades, lighting work, EV charger installs, and rewires so each new quote starts from a clear template instead of a blank document.

Customers receive a quote link they can review and accept. You can request a deposit, track whether the quote has been viewed, follow up from the dashboard, and convert accepted work into an invoice. See current plans on the Jobnix pricing page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I quote a full house rewire?

A full rewire for a typical 3-bedroom semi-detached house in the UK costs £3,000–£6,000 depending on location, access, and specification. Break it down room by room: consumer unit, new cabling, switches and sockets, lighting, and accessories. Add 15–20% for unexpected findings and specify what's excluded (redecoration, making good walls).

What should an electrician charge per point?

For a standard socket or switch, labour is typically £40–£80 per point depending on location and complexity. Adding a new circuit for an electric shower or cooker costs £150–£400 depending on the cable run and circuit requirements.

Is a quote legally binding for an electrician?

A quote (as opposed to an estimate) is typically a fixed price for the work described, once accepted. An estimate is indicative. Make clear on your quote which it is and include your terms and conditions.

How long should an electrician quote be valid for?

30 days is standard. After that, material costs or labour rates may change. If you're quoting for a large job scheduled months ahead, build in a price review clause.

Does Jobnix work for electrical subcontractors?

Yes. Jobnix is designed for any trade, including electrical contractors and subcontractors. You can create quotes, track their status, send follow-ups automatically, and manage your customer database - all from your phone.