Adding Extra Sockets and USB Sockets: Cost and Rules (UK)
How adding sockets works in a UK home: typical costs, spurs and ring circuits explained simply, USB socket options and when the work is notifiable.
Few homes have enough sockets where they are needed. Adding more is one of the most common electrical requests, and one where a little planning avoids a lot of cost. This guide explains how sockets are added in principle, what it typically costs and where the regulations come in. It is not a wiring guide.
How new sockets are usually provided
An electrician will look at what is already there and choose the most suitable option.
- Replace a single socket with a double. Often the simplest and cheapest, if the back box and wiring are in good condition.
- Add a spur. A branch taken from an existing socket or the circuit, with its own limitations on how many can be added and how the load is spread.
- Extend the circuit. New cable runs from an existing point, which may need chasing into walls.
- Add a new circuit. Needed for heavy loads such as a cooker, shower or EV charger, or where the existing circuit is already full.
The right choice depends on how the circuit is wired, the loads on it and the protection at the consumer unit.
Typical costs
As a rough guide, upgrading a single socket to a double often falls around £60 to £120. A new socket on an existing circuit typically costs somewhere around £100 to £250 depending on access, distance and making good. Each extra socket in the same visit tends to cost less. Regional variation applies, and London and the South East are typically higher. For wider context, see how much an electrician costs.
USB sockets
Combined sockets with built-in USB charging points are widely available and popular in kitchens, bedrooms and home offices. Points to know:
- They are fixed wiring accessories, so fitting one is the same type of job as fitting any socket.
- Check the output rating, because small USB outlets may charge slowly for tablets or laptops.
- Quality varies, and a poorly made unit can run warm. Choose a reputable product that meets UK standards.
- A USB socket still counts as a socket for load calculations on the circuit.
Is it notifiable?
Adding a socket to an existing circuit is generally not notifiable in England in homes outside special locations, but it must still comply with the wiring regulations, and the work should be tested. Adding a new circuit, or any work in a bathroom or other special location, is typically notifiable and should go through a registered electrician. See which electrical work needs a registered electrician.
Planning your new sockets
Before the electrician arrives, walk around and think about how you live.
- Mark where each device sits: TV, router, lamps, desk, bedside charging.
- Decide the height. Higher sockets suit kitchen worktops and accessible living, lower ones suit behind furniture.
- Think about outdoor and garage needs separately.
- Consider future needs, such as extra screens or appliances.
- Decide on faceplate finish so the order is right first time.
Good planning avoids extension leads, which can become overloaded. Extension leads and overloaded sockets explains the risks.
Choosing who does it
For anything involving new cable, ask the electrician about testing and certification, and about making good any chased walls. Ask whether the price covers plastering and redecorating or only the electrical part.
A worked example
Take a typical living room with two double sockets and a TV, console, soundbar, lamp and router crowded onto one extension block. The household wants four more outlets. An electrician finds the room is on a ring circuit with spare capacity, so they replace one double with a fitted double, add two new doubles on spurs from existing points and tidy the TV area with a pair of sockets on the same wall. Because nothing new has to run back to the consumer unit, the visit is short. A similar job in a solid-walled period house with chasing and replastering would take longer and cost more. Figures vary by region and property, so ask for an itemised quote.
Points that catch people out
- Back boxes. Old shallow metal or plastic boxes may not suit modern fittings and can need replacing.
- Overloaded circuits. If a kitchen circuit already serves several heating appliances, extra sockets do not add extra capacity.
- Flooring and walls. Skirting-height sockets in solid walls and routes under fitted floors raise labour.
- Pairing with decoration. Plan sockets before painting or tiling, since making good afterwards is costly.
- Rented homes. You will normally need the landlord's consent before any fixed wiring changes.
When to call a professional
Any new cable, spur or circuit is work for a registered electrician. Before anyone touches fixed wiring, power should be isolated at the consumer unit and proved dead. Do not rely on a plug-in USB adaptor as a substitute for a proper socket if the load is high.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just add a socket to an existing one myself?
Fixed wiring is not a safe place for guesswork. The circuit's capacity, protection and cable route all need to be right. A registered electrician can do the job and test it.
Why does it cost more to add a socket in a solid wall?
Cutting channels in brick or concrete takes longer and creates more mess to repair, so the labour and making good both cost more.
How many sockets can be on one circuit?
It depends on the circuit's design and loads, not a fixed number. That is why an electrician needs to look at the actual installation.
Is a USB socket safe to leave charging overnight?
A well-made, correctly fitted USB socket from a reputable maker is designed for continuous use. As with any charger, avoid covering devices while charging and replace any unit that runs noticeably hot or shows damage.