How much does an electrician cost in Singapore? A transparent breakdown
Electrical pricing in Singapore is all over the place. Here's a transparent breakdown of typical jobs — from a $40 socket swap to a $1,200 DB upgrade — and what to ask when a quote feels off.
Finding out what an electrician should actually cost in Singapore is harder than it should be. Some quotes will surprise you in a good way; others double mid-job. This is our honest breakdown of the going rates for the most common electrical jobs in 2026 — and what red flags to watch for.
What you're actually paying for
Three things bundled into every electrician's quote:
- Callout / minimum visit fee — covers travel, diagnosis, and a baseline of work
- Labour time — usually quoted as a flat job rate, sometimes by the hour for diagnostics
- Parts — sockets, breakers, wiring, fittings; ranges from $5 (a basic switch) to $300+ (RCBOs, premium light fixtures)
Typical job pricing
Single socket / switch replacement — $40–$80
Like-for-like replacement of a faulty 13A socket or light switch. Usually 20–30 minutes on site. Price includes the new fitting if standard.
Light fixture installation — $40–$120
Hanging a new pendant, replacing a downlight, fitting a fan with light. Higher end if drilling new mounting points or working with false ceilings.
Power point addition (new socket on existing circuit) — $80–$180
Tapping into an existing circuit to add a new socket nearby. Includes some wall chasing if neat finish is required.
Dedicated circuit (e.g. for oven, water heater, EV charger) — $200–$450
New cable run from DB box to a new outlet, new MCB in the DB. Price scales with cable length and complexity (false ceiling work, drilling through concrete, etc).
Power tripping diagnostic — $40 callout, $80–$200 to fix
$40 is the diagnosis fee. The fix cost depends entirely on what we find — a faulty appliance is free (just unplug it), a damaged socket is $60, a failing MCB is $80, a wet circuit needing isolation is $150+.
Ceiling fan installation — $80–$180
Like-for-like swap is $80. If we need to install a new fan box, run wiring for a wall control, or wire a 4-speed regulator with a downrod, expect higher.
Water heater electrical (dedicated point) — $150–$300
Dedicated 13A or 20A circuit from DB to water heater location. Higher end if a 20A circuit is required and wiring needs to run through false ceilings.
DB box upgrade — $400–$1,200
Replacing the entire distribution board with modern MCBs and RCBO protection. Price depends on number of circuits. Most 4 and 5-room HDBs land in the $550–$800 range.
Full HDB rewiring — $2,500–$6,000
Replacing every cable in the flat. Major job, almost only done during full renovations. Includes new sockets, new switches, new lighting points, new DB box.
What changes the price
- After hours / weekend work — usually +30–50%
- Same-day emergency — premium on diagnosis fee (~$60–$80 vs $40)
- False ceiling work — adds time, sometimes adds an assistant
- Concrete drilling through structural walls — additional labour + special drill bits
- Brand/quality of parts — premium sockets (e.g. Schneider, MK) cost more than budget
- Working at height — scaffolding adds cost on landed homes
What to watch out for
"Free diagnosis" quotes that feel too cheap
Genuinely free diagnosis usually means the diagnosis isn't thorough — they'll guess at the problem so they can quote a fix. Better to pay $40 for a proper diagnostic and get accurate information.
Vague hourly rates without job estimates
"We charge $40/hour" with no estimate of total hours is how 1-hour jobs turn into 4-hour invoices. Ask for a fixed-price quote on the scope before the work starts.
Wildly low quotes
A $200 DB box upgrade isn't possible if you're using proper RCBO breakers and a Licensed Electrical Worker. Something is being cut — corners, licensing, or parts quality.
No LEW number on the invoice
For HDB electrical work, the Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) number should appear on quote or invoice. Anyone refusing to give it isn't licensed, which voids your home insurance.
How we price
Our pricing philosophy: your quote is your quote. Once we've seen the job and given you a number, we don't change it mid-work unless we find something genuinely unforeseen — and even then, we'll always stop and confirm before continuing.
Photos and a brief description on WhatsApp are usually enough for us to ballpark within 10%. On-site we'll confirm before we start.
The takeaway
Most common electrical jobs in Singapore land between $40 and $300. Anything outside that range is either suspiciously cheap (cut corners) or a major job that deserves a proper site visit before quoting.
Knowing the rough ranges puts you in a much better negotiating position. Hopefully this saves you from a surprise invoice or two.