Where Bright Ideas

How much is an EICR?

How to count the breakers/fuses in your consumer unit (so we can quote your EICR accurately)

For EICR pricing, the key thing we need is how many circuits you have. You don’t need tools or to remove any covers—just a quick count of the breakers/fuses we’ll be testing. Here’s a simple, safe way to do it.

If carried out correctly by a competent Electrician, An EICR typical costs range from £175 up to £355 plus VAT

These costs do vary based on your property size, and number of electrical circuits to be tested, (including further circuits to other areas which could have other circuits attached from a consumer unit or fuse board).

For example, a one bedroom flat with five circuits, will be at the lower end of the pricing range, however a larger house with five bedrooms could cost more.

Please see our Pricing Guide for an EICR

Safety first

• Do not remove the cover of your consumer unit/fuse box.
• If you smell burning, see scorch marks, or the cover is damaged/loose, stop and tell us—don’t touch anything.
• Switch a light on nearby so you can see clearly.

Step-by-step: what to count and what to ignore Count as one circuit each:

• MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers): the small rocker switches with a number like 6A, 16A, 32A printed on the front.
• RCBOs: similar size to an MCB but often marked “RCBO” or have a small test button. Each RCBO is still one circuit.
• Rewireable/older fuses: in older boards, each pull-out fuse carrier counts as one circuit.
• Multi-pole breakers (double or triple-width, e.g., for cookers/showers/three-phase): still count as one circuit even if they occupy two or three spaces.

Do not count:

• Main switch: usually red and marked “Main Switch” or “ON/OFF”.
• RCDs that protect a group of circuits: labelled “RCD” or “Residual Current Device”, with a TEST button. These are not individual circuits.
• SPDs (Surge Protection Devices): small modules often linked near the main switch—do not count.
• Blank spacers: unused spaces with plain covers.

Tips for an accurate count

• Count every individual breaker/fuse that controls something (ignore main switch/RCD/SPD/blank).
• If you have a split-load board (one or two RCDs with a row of MCBs under each), count all the MCBs/RCBOs on both sides.
• If there are two rows in the same enclosure, count both rows.
• If you have more than one consumer unit (e.g., a main board plus a garage/shed/loft/annexe board), count each board separately and tell us the totals per board.

Helpful details to share with us

• Number of consumer units: e.g., “1 main + 1 garage.”
• Circuits per board: e.g., “Main board: 10 circuits, Garage board: 4 circuits.”
• Board type: old rewireable fuses or modern breakers? (If you’re not sure, a photo helps.)
• Anything notable: electric shower, immersion heater, EV charger, hot tub, solar PV/battery, outbuildings.
• Three-phase supply (less common in homes): if you see groups of three linked breakers or “400V/415V” markings, mention it.
• Visible labels: a quick list like “Sockets up, Sockets down, Lights up, Lights down, Cooker, Shower, Boiler, Smoke alarms, Outdoor sockets.”

Quick photo guide (optional but ideal) Please send:

• A clear wide shot of each board with the cover closed.
• A close-up of the breakers so we can read labels/ratings.
• Any sub-boards/outbuildings and their breakers.

Why we ask for this EICR time on site is driven by how many circuits must be inspected and tested. Your count lets us give a fair, transparent quotation and the right appointment length, and ensures we arrive with the right test gear and parts for  potential minor remedials.

Common questions

• Are RCBOs counted separately? Yes—each RCBO is one circuit.
• Do RCDs count? No—RCDs protect groups of circuits but aren’t a circuit by themselves.
• My cooker breaker is double-width—how many is that? One circuit.

If in doubt, don’t worry—send us the photos via our contact page and we’ll do the counting for you. This small step helps us price your EICR accurately and get you booked in faster.