Electrician Prices in South Africa (2026)

Most South African electricians charge R400 to R950 an hour, plus a call-out fee of R350 to R950. A house Certificate of Compliance (CoC) usually costs R850 to R2,500, and upgrading a DB board costs R3,500 to R8,500.

These ranges come from published 2025 and 2026 price guides and include labour and standard materials. Your quote will depend on your city, the age of your wiring and how urgent the job is.

What electricians charge in 2026

Job Typical price What it includes Call-out fee R350 – R950 Travel and the first diagnosis. Some electricians deduct it from the job. Hourly rate (normal hours) R400 – R950 Labour only After-hours or emergency rate R750 – R1,500 an hour Nights, weekends and public holidays Add a plug point R400 – R950 One double socket on an existing circuit Install a light fitting R350 – R850 Standard fitting. Chandeliers and new circuits cost more. Earth leakage testing or repair R500 – R1,500 Finding the fault and replacing the unit if needed Certificate of Compliance, house R850 – R2,500 Inspection and certificate. Repairs to pass are extra. DB board upgrade R3,500 – R8,500 New breakers and earth leakage in the existing board DB board replacement R5,000 – R14,000 A new board, often needed for older homes or an inverter Prepaid meter installation R1,800 – R3,500 Labour and fitting Inverter installation, electrical work R8,000 – R20,000 Labour for a 3 kW to 10 kW system, plus a solar CoC Rewire one room R3,500 – R8,500 New wiring, plugs and switches Rewire a whole house R20,000 – R65,000 Depends on size, access and finishes

Hourly rates by city

Cape Town and Johannesburg sit at the top of the range. Smaller cities and towns are usually R100 to R200 an hour cheaper.

City Typical hourly rate Cape Town R500 – R900 Johannesburg R450 – R850 Pretoria R400 – R800 Durban R400 – R750 Smaller cities and towns R380 – R650

What pushes a quote up

• Old wiring. Homes wired before the 1990s often fail a CoC on earthing or old breakers.

• Urgency. Emergency and after-hours work costs about 1.5 to 2 times the normal rate.

• Access. Wiring in ceilings, under concrete or in double-storey homes takes longer.

• Load-shedding work. Inverter and backup installs often need a DB board upgrade and a separate solar CoC.

• Materials. Ask whether breakers, cable and fittings are included.

Electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC)

A house CoC costs R850 to R2,500 for the inspection and certificate. Any repairs needed to pass are quoted separately. South African law requires every electrical installation to have a valid CoC, under the Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009.

When you need one

• When you sell a home. The transfer can't go ahead if the CoC is more than 2 years old.

• After any new installation, addition or alteration, which needs a new or supplementary CoC.

• When an inspector asks for it. Many landlords and insurers also ask for one.

How long it lasts: a CoC has no expiry date. The 2-year limit only applies when a property is transferred.

Who may issue it: only a registered person working for an electrical contractor registered with the Department of Employment and Labour. That means an electrical tester for single phase, an installation electrician or a master installation electrician. A CoC from anyone else isn't valid.

How to hire an electrician

1. Ask for their registration number with the Department of Employment and Labour.

2. Get 3 written quotes for anything over R3,000, and check whether materials are included.

3. Ask whether the call-out fee is deducted from the job.

4. Confirm they'll issue a CoC or supplementary CoC when the work is done.

5. Read their reviews and check for recent jobs like yours.

Red flags: no registration number, a large cash deposit before any work, a CoC issued without an inspection, or a quote far below the ranges above.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an electrician charge per hour in South Africa?
Most charge R400 to R950 an hour in normal working hours. Emergency rates run from R750 to R1,500 an hour.

How much is an electrical CoC for a house?
Usually R850 to R2,500 for the inspection and certificate. Repairs are quoted separately.

Is an electrical CoC valid for 2 years?
No. A CoC has no expiry date. When you sell, the transfer needs a CoC that is no more than 2 years old.

How much does it cost to replace a DB board?
R5,000 to R14,000 for a full replacement, or R3,500 to R8,500 to upgrade an existing board.

Do I need a new CoC after installing an inverter?
Yes. Inverter and solar installs need their own CoC, which typically costs R1,500 to R3,000.

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Related: Plumber prices in South Africa

Prices checked 4 October 2026. Sources: Completo, Kandua, Procompare, LocalPros, Energy Bee, the Electrical Installation Regulations 2009 and ECA(SA).