How Much Does House Rewiring Cost in Dublin?
- Stillorgan Electrical
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Rewiring a house in Dublin typically costs between €4,500 and €10,000, depending on the property's size, age, and accessibility. A 2-bed apartment or terrace can start from around €8,500- 12000, while a larger 4-bed detached house can run to €12,000–€18,000 or more. Costs vary based on how much of the existing wiring is reused, wall access, and whether plastering and redecorating are included.
What Does 'Rewiring a House' Actually Involve?
A full rewire means replacing the electrical cabling throughout a property, along with the consumer unit, sockets, switches, and light fittings where needed.
It typically includes:
• Removing old, worn, or unsafe cabling
• Installing new cables to current wiring regulations
• Replacing the consumer unit with a modern RCD-protected unit
• Fitting new sockets, switches, and light fittings
• Testing and certifying the completed installation
Rewiring is different from a partial upgrade, which might address only a fuse board or a single problem circuit.
Costs scale with the size and layout of the property:
• 1–2 bed apartment or small terrace: €4,500–€9,000
• 3-bed semi-detached house: €6,000–€16,000
• 4-bed detached house: €12,000–€18,000+
These figures generally include labour, materials, consumer unit replacement, and certification, but can vary depending on the specific electrician and property condition.
What Factors Affect the Cost of Rewiring?
Several factors influence where your project lands within these ranges:
• Property size – more rooms and circuits mean more cabling and labour
• Wall access – solid walls and finished ceilings take longer to work with than exposed stud walls or floors
• Age and condition of existing wiring – older properties may need more extensive work to bring wiring up to standard
• Number of sockets, switches, and light fittings – more fittings increase both material and labour cost
• Plastering and redecoration – making good after chasing walls is sometimes quoted separately
• Consumer unit upgrade – included in most full rewires, but adds cost if done as a standalone job
Getting a site visit rather than a phone quote gives a far more accurate price, since access and existing wiring condition vary a lot house to house.
What Happens During a House Rewire?
A typical rewiring project follows these stages:
1. Assessment – the electrician reviews the property, existing wiring, and access points
2. Planning – deciding cable routes, socket and switch positions, and consumer unit location
3. First fix – running new cables through walls, floors, and ceilings
4. Second fix – fitting sockets, switches, light fittings, and the new consumer unit
5. Testing and certification – full testing to confirm the installation is safe and compliant
Depending on the size of the property, a full rewire typically takes between 3 and 7 working days.
Do I Need to Move Out During a Rewire?
It's not always essential, but many homeowners choose to stay elsewhere for at least part of the project, particularly during first fix, when walls and floors may be disrupted and power is intermittently off.
Things to expect during the process:
• Some rooms may be without power for periods during the work
• Dust and disruption from chasing walls, if cables can't be run under floors
• Furniture may need to be moved away from walls being worked on
Your electrician can advise on the likely disruption based on your specific property and wiring route.
Common signs a Dublin home may need rewiring include:
• Frequent tripping breakers or blown fuses
• Flickering or dimming lights not linked to a single faulty bulb
• Discoloured sockets or switches, or a burning smell
• Rubber or fabric-insulated cabling, common in homes over 40–50 years old
• A fuse board with rewireable fuses instead of an RCD-protected consumer unit
If you're seeing several of these signs together, an electrical safety inspection is a good first step before committing to a full rewire.
🚨 Considering a Rewire for Your Dublin Home?
A full rewire is a significant investment, and getting an accurate, honest quote up front makes all the difference.
Stillorgan Electrical Services provides:
• Full and partial house rewiring across Dublin
• Free site assessments before quoting
• Consumer unit upgrades with RCD protection
• Testing, certification, and clear documentation on completion
We assess your property in person before quoting, so the price you're given reflects the actual work involved.
At Stillorgan Electrical Services, we help Dublin homeowners rewire their properties safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption.
Our electricians provide:
• Clear, itemised quotes with no hidden costs
• Experience across older period properties and modern builds
• Full testing and certification on every project
• Practical advice on timing and minimising disruption
We focus on doing the job right the first time, so you're not revisiting electrical issues a few years down the line.
Expert Tip
If you're planning other renovation work, such as an extension or a full refurbishment, it's worth timing your rewire alongside it. Doing electrical work before plastering and flooring go in avoids the cost and disruption of chasing finished walls later.
All rewiring work should follow the National Standards Authority of Ireland's wiring rules (I.S. 10101), which set the safety standards for electrical installations in Irish homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to rewire a house?
Most full rewires take between 5 and 14 working days, depending on the size of the property and how easily walls and floors can be accessed.
Is rewiring covered by house insurance?
Rewiring itself generally isn't covered, as it's considered maintenance. However, having safe, up-to-date wiring can help avoid issues with insurance claims related to electrical faults.
Can I stay in my house during a rewire?
It's possible for smaller projects, but many homeowners choose to stay elsewhere during at least part of the work due to disruption and temporary loss of power in some rooms.
How do I know if my house needs a full rewire or just an upgrade?
An electrical safety inspection will identify whether issues are isolated to specific circuits or widespread enough to justify a full rewire.
Does rewiring include a new consumer unit?
Yes, a full rewire typically includes replacing the consumer unit with a modern, RCD-protected unit as standard.
Final Thoughts
House rewiring costs in Dublin vary considerably based on property size, access, and condition, but getting an accurate quote starts with an in-person assessment rather than a general estimate.
If your home is showing signs of ageing wiring, addressing it properly now avoids more disruptive and costly repairs later.
A qualified electrician can assess your property and outline exactly what's involved before any work begins.
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