Cost of PAT Testing
Whether it’s in a workplace, business, or your home it is good practice to get any electrical equipment or appliance PAT tested. PAT stands for portable appliance testing, which is the process of ensuring that electrical equipment and appliances are safe for use.
Although PAT is not a legal requirement, it is recommended to get any electrical appliances tested as certain hidden defects can only be discovered through this kind of testing. Frequent PAT testing also keeps your equipment and appliances in good working condition, can help it last longer and can lower the risk of dangerous hazards.
If you want to know everything involved with PAT testing including costs and timescales continue reading this guide on the cost of PAT testing.
How much does it cost to PAT appliances?
How much PAT testing electrical equipment and appliances mainly depends on how many items you need testing. It is likely that the more items you need testing in a single job, the lower the cost per item as it will save the electrician time if all the items are testing in one sitting.
Below details the average costs for PAT testing including a breakdown of the costs depending on the number of items that need PAT testing:
| NUMBER OF ITEMS | AVERAGE COST PER ITEM | AVERAGE TOTAL COST |
| 10 | £5 to £10 | £50 to £100 |
| 50 | £2 to £4 | £100 to £200 |
| 100 | £1 to £3 | £100 to £300 |
| 200 | £1 to £2 | £200 |
Labour Costs and Timescales
Both electricians and PAT testing engineers can carry out PAT testing on electrical equipment and appliances. Prices are usually calculated in one of three ways: charged per hour, as a fixed rate or per item.
An electrician will typically charge between £40 to £60 per hour to carry out PAT testing whereas a PAT testing engineer will more likely charge between £40 to £45 per hour. For larger jobs with either large items or a high quantity of items to be tested, then the cost of PAT testing may be charge as a daily rate which generally ranges between £200 to £250 per day. For smaller jobs with, for example, less than 10 items that need to be PAT tested, then the tradesperson you hire will typically charge minimum fee of around £50 to cover labour, VAT, and transport costs.
Timescales can vary when PAT testing electrical equipment and appliances as both the number of items and the size of items can affect how long it will take to complete the job. Smaller items, such as a computer or TV, usually take up to 5 minutes to test whereas larger items can take considerably longer. On average, around 40 to 45 items can be tested within an hour, but this depends on the size of the items. For over 100 items it could take between 4 to 8 hours to fully test all items whereas 200 items will take around 6 to 8+ hours to complete.
Cost Factors of PAT Testing
PAT testing costs can be affected by several factors. Below is a list of the most common factors:
Type of Item
As previously mentioned, the type of item that needs testing can affect the total cost of PAT. Smaller items, such as computers and TVs, are quicker to test then larger items which will therefore result in lower labour costs. The longer a job is, the more you are likely to pay.
Number of Items
Although PAT testing can be priced per hour or as a fixed rate, some engineers or electricians pay charge per tested item. Depending on the number of items tested, the cost per item typically ranges between £2 to £5. If the job is priced per hour, then the more items tested means that it will take longer to test which will hike up labour costs.
Location
Your location can be a big factor in how much a job will cost. Those in and around London and the South of England are likely to pay more than those in the North of England.
Additional Work
In some cases, additional work may need to be carried out. This can include appliance repairs, extra parts needed or rewiring to ensure that the electrical equipment or appliance tested to pass. These added extras with add more costs on top of the cost for PAT testing.
Additional Costs
PAT testing can come with a variety of additional costs. Some additional work you may need to consider before having an electrician or engineer undertake PAT testing includes:
Home Rewiring
If your home needs rewiring, then this can be quite a costly job. As it is quite a complex and time-consuming process, rewiring an average 2-bedroom house can cost anywhere between £2300 and £3500. 3-bedroom houses cost can cost up to £4500 whereas 4-bedroom houses can cost up to £5500. Prices will increase if you have a bigger home as it will longer to rewire the whole house.
Electrical Safety Certificate
An electrical safety check is mainly used to check whether a property’s electrics and wirings are safe and if deemed so, the property will be presented with an electrical safety certificate. This test is mainly used for tenanted properties by landlords but can be used for any type of property. Although it is not a legal requirement, it is recommended that a property should have an electrical safety check at least every 10 years to ensure that your homes wiring, and electrics are safe. An electrical safety check should only be undertaken by a professional electrician. An electrical safety certificate usually costs between £110 to £130.
How often should I PAT test my appliance or electrical equipment?
Although not a legal requirement, PAT testing is essential if you want to keep your appliances in perfect working order, last longer and decrease any hazardous risks. Class 1 electrical equipment such as microwaves, fridges, and toasters, should be tested at least every 4 years to ensure they are working safely and properly. Extension leads, charging cords and other types of portable equipment should be tested around every 2 years whereas handheld and frequently used equipment such as laptops, TVs and hairdryers should be tested once a year as they are more likely to be damaged as they are used more often.
Can I PAT test appliances or electrical equipment myself?
If you have the knowledge to carry out a test, then it is possible to PAT test your appliances with a basic kit. The knowledge needed for this type of job would be an in-depth knowledge and experience working with electrics and an understanding on how to use the equipment and read the results. Reading the results of a PAT test is quite straightforward as it gives a simple pass or fail result, so it is possible to conduct a PAT test yourself. Keep in mind that whoever performs the testing is certifying the equipment is safe for others to use. So, if you have any doubts about undertaking this job, then it is best to leave it to the professionals who have the knowledge and experience to undertake this job safely.
