PAT Testing Prices Guide – What does PAT testing cost?

We operate in all kinds of workplace environment but most of our work is in our local areas for SME’s, and in schools. We specialise in the inspection and testing of IT equipment, but can also cover all other types of electrical appliance.

We’re confident we can deliver the service you require – if you want something that isn’t quite ‘normal’ then please get in touch so we can put together a personal price for you, or perhaps it would be best to get together to discuss your requirements first anyway.

• As standard we provide every client with thorough visual inspections and appropriate testing, of all electrical equipment, free minor repairs and guidance on retest periods and ways to improve safety. Following completion of the inspection our engineer will collate a comprehensive report for you (including electrical test results) and we send that to you as a PDF attached to email within 5 days of the job being done.
• We also book you in now, for your next phase of testing, so you know you will always be compliant, and we remind you nearer the time. To ensure you also comply with latest guidance we not only update the inspection process every time we do it, but keep our clients up to date with appropriate safety updates.
• The price we quote is per item, as is the industry standard, but pricing is based on us achieving the desired hourly / day rates we offer. The table below shows our initial fees, price per item and expected time the job will take.
• Our prices quoted below are based on equipment being standard 230v ’13a’ plugs or similar, in normal workplaces like offices, shops, cafe’s, schools etc. We do and can also operate in different environments such as building sites, factories, industrial sites and we also can do commando plugs such as 110v and 3-phase 400v, but these do come at a slightly higher rate – also outlined below, further down.

We’re serious about electrical safety and provide an outstanding service – we don’t cut corners, we don’t rush the job, we are expects in PAT testing. We are appropriately experienced and qualified, and can provide you with the services you require including fixed and portable appliance testing, mains testing, emergency lighting etc.

PAT testing prices are based on the assumption that the electrical equipment to be tested is standard, in a standard workplace under standard conditions. This basically means it’s got a 3-pin plug like you have on all your appliances at home, that the workplace is normal like an office or shop, and the working conditions are normal – such as no need for PPE; it’s not a building site, there’s not loads of dangerous equipment in use, that sort of thing.

Every client gets a comprehensive PAT Testing Certificate Report – this includes:

• an itemised list of every appliance tested including electrical results and location within your workplace;
• information on any repairs carried out
• reference of any further actions needed
• reference to any failed appliances – if anything can’t be repaired it fails the inspection – you get a report to tell you why and what to do next
• The report has a professional front cover
• You get a certificate to display in your reception, health and safety logbook, etc.

Our reports include everything you need, and match the formats required by the likes of local authorities, CQC, Ofsted, CHAS, Safe Contractor, NHS, etc. Furthermore our reports have stood up against scrutiny from the HSE and the Fire Brigade.

We also do minor repairs for free, to ensure an appliance passes including:

• Repairs to the existing plug including replacing screws, cable grips, changing fuses
• Repairing cut cables by removing the plug and rewiring it at a safe location
• Replacing the plug.

We charge an initial fee which covers our travel costs and includes the first 20 items to test, for all jobs in North Tyneside this is £60.00 (for elsewhere in Tyne and Wear or within 30 minute drive (shaded area on map) this is £75.00 for up to 20 items); then £1.50 per extra item thereafter; plus VAT.

• Jobs in North Tyneside – £60.00 for first 20 items
• Jobs elsewhere within 30 mins drive – £75.00 for first 20 items
• Jobs further afield – request a Quote.

• Job bookings for Over 100 items we drop the initial fee and revert to a flat rate of £1.50 per item
• For Over 500 items that discounts to £1.25 per item
• For Over 1000  items that discounts further to £1.10 per item
• Any environments where PPE is required the rate is always £1.50 per item
• Commando Plugs £2.50 per item
• Microwave Emissions Tests £5.00 per item
• Microwave Emissions, Power and Temperature Inspection £15.00 per item

We always charge an initial fee, this covers the travel time, fuel etc and the first 10 items to test. This rate is currently £75.00 based on the travel being within 30 minutes of our engineer’s starting point (all shaded areas on the map); If you are based elsewhere we will quote a price including the extra travel time.

On average we expect to complete around 200 items per day; some environments this figure will be higher, and in others it will be lower. We have a team of engineers so may be able to allocate more than one engineer to job, or maybe it’ll take a few days to complete.

• Minor repairs to ’13a’ / BS1363 items will be completed free of charge including repairing the existing plug with new parts, replacing fuses and rewires. Replacement ’13amp’ plugs are supplied and fitted free of charge.
• Fixed Appliances will be visually inspected and tested for earth continuity
• Microwave ovens will also have the interlock inspected and be tested for emissions leakage.
• Prices are exclusive of VAT which will be added to estimates and invoices.

The standard price above is based on workplaces being of the standard environment with standard equipment. This is normal stuff, such as shops, offices, schools etc. When we quote we may quote higher or lower than the standard price depending on the job; for example discounts may be applied for offices or for schools in the holidays. Higher prices or day rates may be quoted for industrial locations or when PPE is required.

• Building sites for example, are dirty environments, and we have to consider what job we can do after if the engineer gets clothes dirty, so we have a fixed price of £150.00 for the first 50 items to test.
• Any environments where PPE is required, will command a higher rate or day rate
• Commando Plugs such as 110v or 230v blue plugs will be charged for at £1.95 each; repairs will also be charged for.
• For landlords, if you book us for multiple properties we will give you a fixed price with discount.
• Fixed appliances will be tested in full (with power isolation) at the hourly rate of £55.00 after initial fee.
• Our day rate is £382.50.
• We are available for appointments 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
• Weekend day rate is £582.50 as our engineers are paid double time.
• Prices quoted are exclusive of VAT which will be added to estimates and invoices.

DRA PAT Testing – There’s no shocks with us! 

You can save 5% off your PAT testing price by paying up front. We agree a rate for the job and you pay for it before to reserve the appointment; when the job is done there is nothing to pay – unless we do more items than you were quoted for, in which case we’ll charge for the extras.

The price we quote for appliance testing varies depending on the job – we have to take various factors into consideration.

• We have to travel to the job before we get paid, so we have to take that time into account. Our cheapest travel rates are for up to 30 minutes, and we charge a bit extra from then on, because the more time we spend travelling the less time we spend getting paid for testing.
• If you are based closer to us, we may offer a discount.
• For example if we do 2 jobs in a day that’s twice as much paperwork to do, so we have to cover the admin time for that too.
• If we can put two or more engineers on the same job, travelling together the travel costs are reduced so we pass this saving on to you.
• If we’re on a job all week at the same place, there is a lot less admin to do as it’s just one report, so you get the saving there too.
• A job in an industrial unit is likely to mean a lot more repairs than say in an office, so we have to take that into account.
• A job in a big empty office on a Saturday makes our work so much easier, so we’re more inclined to give a discount. And so on.

Speak to us about a personal price by getting your own PAT Testing quotation.

PAT testing is carried out in workplaces such as offices, salons, restaurants and so on to make sure electrical equipment is as safe now as when it was purchased; to make sure no issues have been allowed to develop, to make sure the appliance is still safe to use. Regular PAT Tests help business owners to meet the requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations.

Everybody seems to want the cheapest PAT testing price – that’s the wrong way to look at it. What happens if you pay peanuts? Well that definitely applies in this industry. We have same some awful work by cheap companies.

If you organise someone to check your electrical equipment is safe, you want the peace of mind of knowing that it really is.

You have passed on this work to someone because you are not competent to do it yourself, but are you? Could you do your PAT testing yourself? If you’re considering paying less than about 75p to £1.00 per item, yes, you could do it yourself. For 75p we’re talking big numbers in low risk environments by the way.

If your chosen PAT company is charging you less than 75p per item you want to have a think about what you’re getting. From our experience, and we have witnessed their work, we know that you are not getting much.

The companies that charge you that amount, pay their ‘engineers’ peanuts. If they’re lucky they’ll get 25p per item. If that’s all they’re getting they need to test 44 items per hour to make minimum wage. Whereas a company charging you £1.00 per item can be paying their engineer £15.00 per hour or higher. The engineer on an hourly rate isn’t in a rush to do his job, so he does it right – he checks every plug, every lead, every appliance. He opens every plug, he checks the fuses and the terminals, he makes sure the appliance functions, that switches work, that microwave seals are in place, and so on. He has the time. He does repairs as needed, he’ll replace plugs. When you work with us this is what you get, and we don’t charge extras for the repairs.

The cheap company’s engineer doesn’t have time to do all that, as he has to label and record 44 items to make minimum wage, so he’ll label as many items as he can, ideally more than 44. He’s actually targeted about 500 items each day, which is more like 66 items an hour. He’ll like make up the test results, and he’ll not bother unplugging items and doesn’t have time for visual inspections. He could be missing some very dangerous appliances, but he doesn’t care.

We care about you, and your business, which is why we do our job right. We charge proper prices, that are sensible, cost effective and guarantee you a competent engineer who will do a good job and give you peace of mind that your appliances are safe.

Industrial appliances – if your plugs are ‘commando’ type like the one pictured then we charge a bit more.

Whether it’s 110v, 230v or 400v the process of the inspection takes a lot longer than a normal plug. It’s a lot harder to open the plug and usually there will be more repairs to do. Basic repairs such as tightening screws or rewiring are done automatically included in the price, but if we have to supply replacement plugs or repair the cable and do a full rewire we will have to charge for parts.

We can test:

• 110v appliances
• 230v appliances
• 400v appliances

For repairs there is more work to do – a repair takes longer, and the parts are more expensive so it’s not included in the price.

• For flexible cable repairs: When the cable is damaged we’ll remove the plug, cut it back to a safe location and re-attach the plug – this costs £5.00*
• To replace the full plug: There is a charge of £10.00 to supply and fit the plug, either ‘male’ or ‘female’.*

Please note: We only replace 16a and 32a plugs; we don’t replace full cables. Wee don’t do full rewires or replacements for 400v as these are specialist and you need a qualified industrial electrician to do this.

*We do not do cost able repairs automatically – we will collect up all items that need this repair, put them in one place and leave until end of the job. We’ll quote you for the work, then it’s up to you if the repairs are done. 

Microwave Ovens will be checked:

• internally for rust,
• the door locking system will be checked and
• a test will be carried out using a radiation checker to make sure no excessive emissions are leaking from the unit.

This process takes a few minutes to complete and comes with a standard charge of £5.00 per oven. This is done automatically; although the first is included in the initial fee.

See here for more information on the microwave emissions leakage test.

Not all portable appliances have plugs – some have had the plug removed and have been ‘hard wired’. For example integrated kitchen appliances, hand driers in toilets, hair driers in hotels, electric heaters on your office wall. These also need checking.

When we do your PAT test we will visually inspect these, and if they have ‘earth’ we’ll do a continuity test between the appliance and ‘spur’. This costs the same as the normal PAT test.

However, they also need a formal ‘fixed appliance test‘ carried out every 5 years from installation. To do this we need to turn off the power, open the spur and check the internal wiring. This takes longer to do and due to the constraints this is an added service which commands additional costs. We charge £55.00 per hour + vat to carry this out. This is not part of the PAT test.

Not everybody wants a per item rate; in fact for almost every job we would recommend an hourly or day rate – it would work out much cheaper on many occasions, but for reasons unknown clients want a per item rate.

If however, you want to pay by the hour or the day, or to potentially save money we recommend choosing this option.

All costs are included – it’s a fixed price, whether we do 10 items an hour or 50 items, it doesn’t matter. You get our first class service, all repairs etc included in the price.

I just want to make sure you are aware of what you may not get from a ‘50p per item supplier’.

As director for a national association trying to raise awareness of the ethics of these companies, I want to make sure you’re aware of the risks.

This is based on a real live example – we have worked with this client a few years now, a school in Newcastle upon Tyne. They’d had a bad experience with their previous supplier and so we got the job.

The previous supplier’s engineer managed to test over 600 items in less than a day on site; he missed loads of appliances that were damaged – found throughout the following term by teachers and children at school.

That scares me, that someone cares so little about children in school he’d knowingly cut corners putting them at risk.

These companies charging 50p or about that, to PAT test, are cowboys, and the people that work for them are cowboys too. They could get a much better job working for an ethical company. They get paid about 20p per item, so do the maths – they have to test 500 items a day to make £100.00. Then quite often they don’t get paid travel time or fuel either so that comes off what they earn. I have heard of guys ‘testing’ 1000 items in a day!

What do they actually do – the slap their stickers on and do little else. Quite often they write down the appliance in a book and later on make up the test results whilst watching the TV sat on their sofa at home.

When we did the inspection last year at this school, we had 3 of our best guys on the job all day.

I have seen too many issues arise from companies that cut corners and it scares me the most when it’s children that could suffer.

If the PAT tester misses dangerous things that puts school children (or other users in other workplaces) at risk of electric shock, or the appliance at risk of overheating and catching fire, risking other items, the building, the business, etc.

They also have high charges for repairs, when they do them – quite often the engineer will skip them completely, simply fail the item and move on or pretend he didn’t see it, because he doesn’t get paid for a fail or to repair. But when they do charge, they’ll charge astronomical rates like £10 to change a plug. They also do ‘socket tests’ for an added fee – you don’t need to get sockets tested, they’re done by the electrician as part of your EICR.

We don’t pay our engineers per item rates like most, we pay proper wages and encourage them to take time to ensure every appliance is carefully checked and any repairs needed are done.

We pay them travel time and fuel allowance and don’t have targets, except to do a great job and to be sure they have left every workplace safer than how they found it.

We provide you with certificates that itemise every item tested, and their electrical readings – if something happens that requires you to give evidence in court you’ll need that information as evidence you have taken all possible action to ensure you have maintained safe equipment. 50p companies don’t tend to provide this information – I’ve seen paperwork so bad it was in illegible handwriting, I’ve seen other reports where the data provided differed from page to page, others where just a tick confirms something had been checked.

I have watched PAT testers wave their phone at an appliance to claim it was tested, and not get a tester or screwdriver out of their tool bag, ever.

Check out this video from the PAT Testing Network that shows you What is Not PAT Testing.

If you have more than 100 items the price drops, and if you’re local we often don’t charge the initial £55.00 fee. Quite often we’ll charge around £125 for 100 items then £1.00 per item after that – it all depends on the job really.

If we’re going to be at the same place a day, or longer we offer further discounts, as travel is less, we can put more people on the job and there is less admin as we’re only doing one site.

There are so many possibilities to consider we always recommend you contact us for your own PAT testing price.

PAT testing companies are like high street shops where prices are concerned; there’s the big national chains offering rock bottom prices for a quick fix – the quality isn’t great but you know you get something “that’ll do” until it goes wrong. There’s the middle ground company charging an average rate, who is safe, and going to do a good job and then there is the premium priced stores who must people just won’t shop in.

PAT testing prices are like this – you can pay..

Rock bottom prices – 50 to 70p per item (or less) and you get a range of the service, from nothing more than a few stickers slapped on your appliances to a quick job done to minimum standard.. The latter end of this price range ticks the boxes and is going to be acceptable to minimal scrutiny and you may get a report saying “pass”, whilst if you go for the cheapest price you’ll likely get an engineer who has to sprint everywhere to make a basic salary, who won’t have time to open your plugs or do repairs.

Middle of the road – 75p (for the high numbers) through £1 to around £1.20 per item for most jobs. For this price you can expect to receive a good service in the most part, there are some who still cut corners, but if you do your homework and choose a supplier with plenty of good reviews and credentials to back up their work, you shouldn’t go too wrong in your choice. You can expect to get peace of mind that your equipment is safe, repairs should be carried out though expect a charge, and you’ll get a comprehensive report which should include electrical readings.

High end Prices – If you go for the high end prices, the electrician rates at £5.00 an item or £60 an hour you expect to get the best product AND service. This is what you should get here, but what you actually get is a mix of the other 2, usually carried out by people with less experience and less PAT knowledge than the the other two.

When you use us – we offer middle of the road prices – for most jobs everything is a pound; sometimes we may discount that if we can put a team on the job thus reducing our travel costs and admin time. Sometimes, such as when we’re testing lots of tools or in industrial areas we may charge more. In fact we recommend you pay us an hourly rate, as that is always better for you. For your money you get peace of mind; our engineers are paid by the hour, so they’re not in a rush, they’re encouraged to remove old labels, find faults and take the time to do good repairs – most of the time the repair costs are NOT passed on to the customer, as by charging a little bit more, they’re covered in the initial fee.

Our staff are also encouraged to build rapport with their customer, to get to know your business so we can offer the best possible service. We also talk to you about retest periods so you’re not spending money when it’s not necessary, and set up a reminder service for you so you’re always compliant. We provide itemised reports that include electrical readings, which have stood up to the test of court-room scrutiny, and meet HSE PAT testing, CQC, Ofsted and CHAS etc scrutiny.

We ask all our clients to review our service on Google, so other prospective clients can see first hand what our customers think of our work, giving us complete transparency.

You can contact us for a personal PAT testing price, or you can just book an appointment at our standard rates, it’s up to you whichever you prefer. Once we have done the job we’ll likely offer you a better price to retain your work long term anyway.

On average we expect to test 25 to 30 items per hour; when conditions are good we may do more. In an average day at one location we’d expect to test 200 to 250 items.

If you choose a day rate, if conditions are good (like you’re office based), we may be able to test 250 items in the day – if you’re paying per item you’d pay more than you would paying day rate.