Cost guide
How much do electric showers cost?
A like for like replacement is £200 to £450 including a mid range unit. An upgrade in rating that needs new cable runs £450 to £900. A first installation where no shower circuit exists is £500 to £1,100.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on your room.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Like for like swap, same rating | £200 to £450 |
| Upgrade in rating, new cable required | £450 to £900 |
| First installation, no existing circuit | £500 to £1,100 |
| Pull cord isolator replaced | £70 to £140 |
| Shower pump wired on a new spur | £120 to £280 |
| Making good after a wall chase | £80 to £250 |
Read the rating off the front of the existing unit before you shop. Every price on this page changes depending on whether that number stays the same.
What moves the price
- Whether the rating stays the same, which decides whether the cable is reused.
- Cable route from the consumer unit, and whether it goes through a loft or up a wall.
- Whether a spare way exists in the board or a device has to be added.
- Tiling. A different inlet position means tiles come off and the price changes.
- Whether the pull cord isolator is being replaced and what its rating is.
- Making good after chasing, which is plaster and paint rather than electrical work.
Who quotes for it
Questions about electric showers
Why is the switch on the ceiling?
Because a switch has to be out of reach of anybody in the bath or the shower. A pull cord at the ceiling satisfies that; a wall switch inside the room does not.
Does a shower need its own circuit?
Yes. An electric shower draws far more than a socket circuit is designed for and always has a dedicated circuit and its own protective device back at the board.