Trade guides
How to Compare Electrical Quotes
Updated 11 June 2026 · 5 min read · Written for Australian homeowners and builders
Electrical quotes look simple until you compare them. Switchboard upgrades, cabling lengths, data points and certification can each shift a quote by thousands. Here's the breakdown.
The non-negotiables on every electrical quote
- ☐Electrical contractor licence number (and state)
- ☐Scope: number of circuits, GPOs, light points, data points
- ☐Switchboard work (RCDs, surge protection, replacement vs upgrade)
- ☐Cable type and run length where relevant
- ☐Make-good (patching, painting) — included or excluded
- ☐Certificate of Electrical Safety / CCEW lodgement
- ☐Workmanship warranty (minimum 12 months)
Side-by-side: switchboard upgrade + 6 new GPOs
| Item | Sparky A | Sparky B |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard upgrade | $1,950 | $1,400 |
| 6 × new GPOs | $1,080 | $960 |
| RCDs (qty) | 4 (included) | 2 (included), +$220 ea extra |
| Make-good | Included | Excluded |
| CCEW / Cert. | Included | $110 |
| True total | $3,030 | $3,170+ |
Watch for data and comms creep
Data cabling, EV charger pre-wires, and solar isolators are commonly excluded. If you're planning ahead, ask for them as priced options.
Also read 7 Red Flags in Tradie Quotes.
Frequently asked questions
- Should every electrician give a fixed price?
- For defined work (e.g. install 6 GPOs), yes. Diagnostic and fault-finding is usually hourly and that's appropriate.
- What licence should I check?
- Each state has its own register (Service NSW, ESV in VIC, EWR in QLD). Search by the contractor's name or licence number before paying any deposit.
- Is solar quoting different?
- Yes — CEC accreditation, panel & inverter brand/model, and STC rebate handling all matter. Treat solar as a separate comparison.
Stop guessing whether a quote is fair
QuoteSift reads up to five quotes at once and produces a plain-English report: what's missing, what's inflated, what the best-value option actually is.