Cost to add plug sockets in Market Harborough (2026)
Short answerAdding a new double socket fed from an existing circuit typically costs around £100 to £200 per socket in 2026, and less per socket if you have several done at once. An outdoor socket is usually £100 to £350 depending on the cable run. A socket that needs a brand new circuit can cost £300 to £600 or more.
The cost to add plug sockets in Market Harborough is typically around £100 to £200 per new double socket, based on 2026 UK cost guides, when it can be run from an existing circuit nearby. Several sockets in one visit usually works out cheaper per socket. Outdoor sockets and anything needing a new circuit cost more. These are typical ranges, not quotes. Your actual price comes from the electrician.
We're a local family who renovated a house in Market Harborough. We don't take commission. We just pass you to the electrician we trust.
Typical socket prices in 2026
New indoor double socket
- Checkatrade (May 2026): about £100 to £200 per socket, average around £150
- Fantastic Services: £100 to £200 for a socket needing new cabling or a spur outside London, £150 to £250 in London
- Less.co.uk: £80 to £150 for adding a double socket
- MyBuilder: £75 to £135 for a standard double socket, taking two to three hours
Socket on a new circuit
Where a socket can't be taken from an existing circuit and needs a new one from the consumer unit, guides suggest roughly £300 to £600 or more. That's common for things like a home office, garage or a dedicated appliance.
Outdoor socket
- Checkatrade: about £85 to £135 for a simple job (guide last updated January 2025)
- Trade2Base (June 2026): £100 to £180 for a short spur from an existing socket, £180 to £350 or more for a longer run from the consumer unit, plus £40 to £120 if extra RCD protection is needed
- Less.co.uk: £150 to £250
We didn't find Leicestershire-specific socket prices. Regional cost pages suggest local prices sit within roughly 15% either side of the national average, and the East Midlands tends to be around or slightly below it.
What drives the cost
Where the power comes from
The cheapest job is a new socket next to, or directly behind, an existing one on the same circuit. The further the cable has to travel, and the more walls, floors and ceilings it crosses, the higher the cost.
Chasing into walls versus surface mounting
Hiding the cable in the wall (chasing) looks better but means cutting plaster and filling it again. Surface trunking is quicker and cheaper but more visible. In a renovation, chased cable followed by the plasterer is usually the neat option. Our plasterers page and the cost to skim a room guide cover making good.
Wall and floor type
Solid brick, stone and concrete floors take longer than plasterboard and suspended timber floors.
Older ceilings
If you have textured Artex applied before 2000, it may contain asbestos. Get it tested before anyone drills or cuts through it. See plastering over Artex.
Socket type
USB sockets, smart sockets, metal or decorative finishes, and outdoor weatherproof sockets cost more than a basic white double.
Testing and certification
A proper job includes testing the circuit afterwards. If the existing circuit is overloaded, old, or fails testing, the electrician may recommend a new circuit or other work first.
Do I need a registered electrician to add a socket?
Under Part P of the Building Regulations in England:
- Adding a socket to an existing circuit outside a bathroom or shower room is generally not notifiable, but must still be done safely to BS 7671
- Adding a new circuit is notifiable
- Any addition or alteration in a special location, such as a bathroom, is notifiable
A registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma) can self-certify notifiable work. Even for non-notifiable work, a qualified electrician should give you a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate. Outdoor sockets need RCD protection. Our guide on how to check an electrician is registered explains how to look someone up.
Adding sockets during a renovation
If you're planning a bigger project, sockets are much cheaper to add at first fix, before plastering. Think about where furniture, TVs, beds and desks will go, and add more than you think you'll need. If your wiring is old, adding sockets might be the moment to consider a full rewire instead. The renovation order of trades guide explains when the electrician should come in.
How to keep costs down
- Do several sockets in one visit
- Put new sockets near existing ones where it makes sense
- Accept surface trunking in garages, lofts and utility rooms
- Book the electrician before the plasterer during a renovation
How to get an accurate quote
Message us with:
- How many sockets, and roughly where
- Photos of each wall and the nearest existing socket
- A photo of your consumer unit
- For outdoor sockets, a photo of where you want it and the inside wall behind it
Message us about an electricianFree. We pass you straight to the tradesperson we trust.
Questions to ask
- Will the sockets come off an existing circuit or need a new one?
- Is the cable chased in, or surface mounted?
- Is making good the plaster included?
- Will I get a certificate?
- Is the existing circuit RCD protected?
For a feel for labour rates, see our electrician hourly rate guide.
How many sockets do you really need?
There's no single rule, but most people find they want more than they have. Walk round each room and think about:
- Living room: TV, router, games console, lamps, phone chargers and a spare for the vacuum
- Kitchen: every appliance on the worktop, plus a spare or two. Avoid putting sockets directly above the hob or sink.
- Bedrooms: both sides of the bed, a desk if there is one, and one by the mirror
- Home office: more than you think. A double socket with USB can replace a trailing extension lead.
- Hallway and landing: at least one for the vacuum
Extension leads and adaptors daisy-chained together are a common fire risk. Adding proper sockets is usually a better long-term answer.
We're not paid for recommendations. We just pass you to people we trust. See our electricians page.
Message us about an electricianFree. We pass you straight to the tradesperson we trust.
Typical prices
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New double socket from existing circuit | £100–£200 per job | Per socket. Checkatrade May 2026 (average about £150), Fantastic Services. Simple jobs from about £75 (MyBuilder). Not a quote. |
| Socket on a new circuit from the consumer unit | £300–£600 per job | Can be more for long runs. Notifiable under Part P. |
| Outdoor socket, short spur from inside socket | £100–£180 per job | Trade2Base June 2026. Must be weatherproof and RCD protected. |
| Outdoor socket, longer run from consumer unit | £180–£350 per job | Trade2Base June 2026. Extra RCD protection £40 to £120. |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to add a new double socket?
Most 2026 UK cost guides put a new double socket fed from an existing circuit at around £100 to £200, with Checkatrade giving an average of about £150. Simple jobs can be cheaper, from about £75. A socket that needs a new circuit from the consumer unit can cost £300 to £600 or more. Your exact price comes from a quote.
How much does an outdoor socket cost to install?
A simple outdoor socket taken from an inside socket on the other side of the wall usually costs around £100 to £180. A longer run from the consumer unit can be £180 to £350 or more, and extra RCD protection can add £40 to £120. Outdoor sockets must be weatherproof and RCD protected. Your electrician will confirm the price.
Do I need a certificate for adding a socket?
Adding a socket to an existing circuit outside a bathroom is not usually notifiable under Part P, but it still has to meet the wiring regulations, and a qualified electrician should give you a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate. A new circuit, or any work in a bathroom, is notifiable and should be certified by a registered electrician.
Can I add a socket to an existing circuit?
Often, yes. An electrician can usually extend an existing ring or radial circuit to add a socket, as long as the circuit is in good condition and not overloaded. They should test the circuit before and after. If the circuit is old, overloaded or serves a lot of high-power appliances, they may recommend a new circuit instead.
How long does it take to fit a new plug socket?
A single new socket near an existing one often takes around two to three hours, including testing. Several sockets in one room can usually be done in a day. Jobs involving long cable runs, solid walls or a new circuit take longer. Allow extra time afterwards for making good the plaster if the cable is chased into the wall.