How much does an electrician cost in Melbourne?
Melbourne electricians charge $85–$140 per hour for standard residential work in 2026, with most experienced operators quoting around $95–$120/hr during business hours. Call-out fees range from $70–$140. This makes Melbourne marginally cheaper than Sydney for electrical work, but more expensive than Brisbane, Adelaide, or Perth.
Fixed-price quoting is increasingly common for defined jobs — a powerpoint install, a safety switch retrofit, a ceiling fan. Where you'll encounter hourly billing is in fault-finding (tracking down intermittent tripping, mysterious power losses, or wiring issues in older homes) where the scope is genuinely unknown at the outset.
Melbourne's electrical landscape has some distinct characteristics: a huge stock of post-war homes with aging switchboards, an aggressive push toward solar and battery installations, and new building standards that require more circuits and safety switches than ever before. This guide covers pricing for all of it.
| Service | Low | High | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician (hourly rate) | $84 | $158 | $121 /hr |
| Call-out / service fee | $53 | $158 | $95 flat |
| New powerpoint installation | $158 | $263 | $189 per point |
| Switchboard upgrade | $525 | $1,260 | $840 per job |
| Ceiling fan installation | $158 | $420 | $263 per fan |
| LED downlight installation | $63 | $126 | $89 per light |
| Safety switch installation | $158 | $368 | $242 per switch |
| Smoke alarm (supply + install) | $84 | $210 | $137 per alarm |
| Rewiring (per room) | $1,050 | $3,150 | $1,890 per room |
| Full house rewire (3-bed) | $8,400 | $21,000 | $12,600 total |
| EV charger installation | $1,050 | $3,150 | $2,100 installed |
| Outdoor lighting | $158 | $525 | $315 per light |
| Fault finding / diagnostics | $158 | $420 | $263 per visit |
| Emergency / after-hours | $158 | $525 | $315 per visit |
Prices include GST. Based on Melbourne metro area, Feb 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
Inner Melbourne
South Yarra, Prahran, Fitzroy, Carlton, Collingwood. Victorian-era homes with original wiring in some cases, or 1960s–70s rewires that are now also aging. Knob-and-tube wiring (pre-1940) still exists in some properties — if your home has this, a full rewire is urgent. Apartment work requires strata coordination and sometimes after-hours access.
South-East & Mornington Peninsula
Cranbourne, Dandenong, Frankston, Mornington. Mix of established suburbs and new estates. Newer homes generally have adequate switchboards but may have been built with builder-grade fittings that need upgrading. Peninsula properties near the coast need corrosion-resistant outdoor fittings.
Western Suburbs & Growth Areas
Werribee, Point Cook, Tarneit, Melton. Predominantly new housing stock with modern wiring. More electricians competing for work keeps rates lower. Check builder defect periods before paying for repairs on homes less than 6 years old — electrical faults in new homes should be covered under warranty.
Eastern Suburbs & Outer East
Box Hill, Ringwood, Doncaster, Lilydale. Solid 1960s–1990s housing stock. Most homes in this belt have switchboards that are due for upgrading — if yours still has ceramic fuses or a rewireable fuse board, budget for a modern switchboard. The Dandenong Ranges and outer hills areas may attract travel surcharges of $30–$60.
Total cost for common electrical jobs in Melbourne, including call-out, labour, and materials:
Add a double powerpoint to an existing wall
If there's existing wiring in the wall cavity and the switchboard has capacity, this is a quick job — 20–40 minutes. The powerpoint itself costs $15–$30 for a standard Clipsal or HPM fitting. Adding a powerpoint to a brick wall (common in Melbourne's brick-veneer suburbs) costs more than plasterboard due to the chasing required.
Switchboard upgrade — ceramic fuses to modern RCD/MCB
Marginally cheaper than Sydney due to lower labour rates. A standard upgrade for a 3-bedroom home takes 3–4 hours. This includes a new switchboard enclosure, modern circuit breakers (MCBs), two or more RCDs (safety switches), circuit labelling, and testing. Older homes may need sub-main cable replacement from the meter to the board, adding $400–$800. Since 2019, Victorian regulations require RCDs on all circuits in new installations and renovations — this is not optional.
Smoke alarm compliance upgrade
Victorian regulations require interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms in all bedrooms and hallways for homes being sold or leased. For owner-occupiers, compliance isn't yet mandatory but is strongly recommended. Hardwired interconnected alarms with battery backup cost $120–$200 per unit installed, including cabling between alarms. A typical 3-bedroom home needs 4–5 units. Wireless interconnected alarms are a less expensive retrofit option at $80–$150 per unit but don't need an electrician for the installation.
Install a split-system air conditioner (electrical component)
The electrician installs a dedicated circuit from the switchboard to the outdoor unit location, fits an isolator switch, and connects the indoor and outdoor units. This is separate from the refrigeration/mechanical installation (done by the air con installer). Many split system installers include basic electrical in their price — but for older homes that need a switchboard circuit added, the electrical component is quoted separately. Running a new circuit across a single-storey house is straightforward; two-storey or double-brick homes cost more due to cable routing complexity.
Full house rewire — 3-bedroom brick veneer
Melbourne's vast stock of 1950s–1970s brick veneer homes often has original TPS wiring that's reaching end of life. A full rewire replaces all circuits, upgrades the switchboard, and typically adds more powerpoints and light circuits to meet modern usage. Melbourne's brick veneer construction makes rewiring moderately easier than double-brick or solid masonry — the electrician can access wall cavities from the roof space in most cases. Allow 3–5 days for a typical house. Consider bundling with a data/network cable run and smart home preparation while the walls are accessible.
Switchboard condition
If your switchboard is old (ceramic fuses), most jobs will require an upgrade first — adding $800–$3,500 before the actual work begins.
Cable runs & access
Running new cables through walls, ceilings, or under floors takes time. Single-storey homes with roof access are cheaper than multi-storey or slab-on-ground.
Compliance requirements
Australian electrical standards change regularly. Older homes may need additional work to meet current codes, even for simple jobs.
Number of points
Electricians often discount per-point rates when you're installing multiple powerpoints, lights, or switches in one visit.
Time of day
After-hours electrical work costs 50–100% more. Unless it's a safety issue, book during business hours.
Materials quality
Premium switches, smart home wiring, and commercial-grade components cost more than standard residential fittings.
Electrical work in Victoria is regulated by Energy Safe Victoria (ESV). Key points for homeowners:
Licence verification: All electricians must hold a current Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) licence or be a Licensed Electrical Worker operating under an REC. Verify at the ESV licence search. Never use an unlicensed electrician — the risks include electrical fire, electrocution, voided insurance, and fines.
Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES): This is the Victorian equivalent of NSW's CCEW. After completing prescribed electrical work, the electrician must issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety within the legally mandated timeframe. There are two types: a prescribed certificate (for most work) and a non-prescribed certificate (for minor work). You should always receive your copy. Keep it — it's proof of compliant work.
RCD requirements: All new circuits and renovated areas in Victoria must have RCD (safety switch) protection. If you're renovating and the electrician touches the switchboard, they're generally required to upgrade protection on affected circuits. This is a safety measure that can add $200–$600 to a job, but it's not negotiable — it's the law.
Solar and battery: Any grid-connected solar or battery system must be installed by a CEC-accredited electrician and must comply with the Victorian solar export rules. Since 2023, some distribution areas (particularly United Energy and Powercor zones) have export limits — meaning your inverter may be capped at 5kW export regardless of system size. Your electrician should configure this correctly at install.
Victoria has the highest solar installation rate in Australia, driven by generous state rebates and high electricity prices. Here's what electrical work costs for energy upgrades in Melbourne:
Solar (6.6kW residential system): $4,800–$7,500 installed after the Solar Victoria rebate ($1,400 off eligible systems). Electrical work includes inverter mounting, switchboard connection, meter configuration, and the distributor connection application. Quality brands (Fronius, Enphase, SunGrow inverters; Jinko, Longi, Trina panels) cost more but last longer and maintain better output over 25 years.
Battery storage (10–13kWh): $8,000–$14,000 installed, with the Victorian battery rebate reducing this by up to $2,950 for eligible households. The Tesla Powerwall 2 remains the most popular choice, but alternatives like BYD, Alpha ESS, and Sungrow offer competitive pricing. The electrical work for a battery is substantial — it requires its own circuit, backup gateway configuration, and careful integration with your existing solar.
EV charger (7kW single-phase): $1,200–$3,000 total (unit + installation). The Victorian government offers periodic EV charger subsidies — check the Solar Victoria website for current eligibility. Most Melbourne homes on single-phase power can accommodate a 7kW charger without a supply upgrade, but if your switchboard is already heavily loaded (ducted heating, electric oven, hot water), your electrician may recommend a load management device ($300–$600) to prevent overloading.
Our Methodology
Prices on this page are compiled from publicly available cost guides, tradie marketplaces (ServiceSeeking, hipages, Airtasker, Service.com.au), industry body data (HIA, Master Builders), and individual tradesperson websites across Australia. We cross-reference ranges from multiple sources and adjust for city-specific cost differences based on advertised rates, salary data, and cost-of-living indicators. Our guides are independently produced — we don't employ tradespeople and have no financial incentive to inflate or deflate prices. All prices are estimates and will vary based on your specific job. Always get at least 3 quotes. Last reviewed February 2026. Read our full methodology →