Electric shower installed from £257
- How much does it cost to buy and install a new electric shower?
- Factors affecting the cost of electric shower installation
- Mira and Aqualisa electric shower costs
- Which electric wattage should I choose?
- How does an electric shower work?
- Advantages of electric showers
- What are the disadvantages of electric showers?
- Is it worth paying more for thermostatic electric showers?
- Do you need a plumber to install an electric shower?
- Things to consider when installing an electric shower
- Electric shower installation cost in the UK
Electric showers are a great option if you only have access to your mains water supply or your home has a high demand for water heated by your boiler. They work by heating your cold mains water, which can make them cheaper to run than mixer showers or power showers.
So how much will it cost to have one installed? We’ll go through labour prices for electric shower installation as well as the cost of popular electric shower brands.
How much does it cost to buy and install a new electric shower?
Electric showers cost as little as £75, but luxury ones can reach £500 or more. With professional installation, the cost can range between £200-£800 depending on the unit you choose.
|
Item/service |
Average cost |
|
Electric shower installation labour |
£200 |
|
Typical electric shower installation - supply and fit |
£320 |
|
Typical Triton shower |
£120 |
|
Typical Mira shower |
£250 |
|
Typical Aqualisa shower |
£300 |
Factors affecting the cost of electric shower installation
- Type and brand of electric shower: Electric shower brands range in price. Take a look at our Mira electric shower cost table and our Aqualisa cost table to get an idea of the range of prices.
- Job complexity: Some electric showers will take only 2-3 hours to install, especially if you are replacing an existing one. If you need new wiring or other additional work, installation could take up to a day.
- Your location: Electrician rates are usually higher in London and the south east compared with the rest of the UK, and you’ll usually pay more in labour in urban areas.
At HaMuch, we use our database of hourly and daily rates from our electricians to help you get an accurate estimate for your local area. Take a look at our electric shower installation cost table and find your nearest town or city to get an idea of the price for your home.
Mira and Aqualisa electric shower costs
To help your research, here’s a cost guide and an overview of the latest electric showers from Aqualisa and Mira brands.
Mira electric showers cost
| Mira Electric Showers | Trade cost, excluding VAT |
|---|---|
| Mira Vie 8.5kW | £127.99 |
| Mira Vie 9.5kW | £137.99 |
| Mira Jump 8.5 kW | £146.99 |
| Mira Jump 9.5 kW | £155.99 |
| Mira Sport 9kW | £239.99 |
| Mira Sport Multi Fit 9kW | £249.99 |
| Mira Sport Thermostatic 9kW | £269.99 |
| Mira Sport Max with Airboost 10.8kW | £291.99 |
| Mira Advance 9kW | £316.99 |
| Mira Advance Flex 9.8kW | £402.99 |
Mira Vie (8.5kW and 9.5kW) electric showers: Vie provides a choice of 3 flow settings, it is very easy to use and easy to clean. Also, it has built in limescale-reducing technology, which extends the showers’ longevity.
Mira Jump Multi Fit (8.5.kW and 9.5kW): This model is an ideal replacement shower because it has multiple cable and water entry points.
Mira Sport 9kW: popular choice, one of UK's best-selling electric showers. It is easy to clean and comes with a 4 spray showerhead.
Mira Sport 9kW Multi Fit: As the other multi-fit models, it is perfect for installing in place of your existing shower because of its multiple cable and water entry points, making it cheaper to install.
Mira Sport Thermostatic: this shower comes with temperature control, which makes it safer to use because it reduces the risk of scalding. Ideal if you don’t want to worry about the changes in water temperature.
Mira Sport Max with Airboost 10.8kW: offers powerful performance. The Airboost™ technology can increase the water flow up to 30% - and it can achieve this without using any more water.
Mira Advance (9.8kW): this model is particularly suitable for anybody who is visually impaired because of its high contrast design on the controls.
Mira Advance Flex (9.8kW): the beeps on this model tell you when it’s turning on or off. You’ll also be able to hear when the water has reached the temperature you want. This model is very user-friendly, safe and easy to use, making it particularly suitable for vulnerable users.
Aqualisa electric showers cost
| Aqualisa Electric Showers | Trade cost, excluding VAT |
|---|---|
| eMerge 9.5kW - White/Chrome | £188.99 |
| eMerge 8.5kW - Chrome | £189.99 |
Aqualisa showers have great reviews and come in many designs, making them suitable for a variety of bathrooms. They are efficient and very easy to use.
Which electric wattage should I choose?
The higher the wattage, the more water can be heated and delivered through the showerhead in one go.
The good news is that you don’t have to go for the most powerful and expensive electric shower models - a consumer test conducted by Which found very little difference in water spray pressure between different models. Talk to your electrician first to get their opinion on which model is suited for your home.
How does an electric shower work?
An electric shower works on the same principle as a kettle: cold water from the mains is heated by an element in the shower unit to a required temperature.
The power of electric showers is measured in kilowatts (kW) - the higher the number, the more powerful your shower will be. The power rating for different types of electric shower units can vary between 7kW and 10.5kW.
Advantages of electric showers
There are many advantages of electric showers that have made them so popular in homes across the UK:
Cheap to run
Electric showers are economical to run because they only heat the water you’re going to use. This is different to power or mixer showers that will draw hot water from your boiler’s hot water tank if you have one.
Easy to install
The big advantage of electric showers is that they use cold mains water, which can make them easier (and cheaper) to install because there’s no need to move around hot water pipes. This also makes them very suitable for outbuildings.
Use them anytime
Because electric showers use your mains water, you don’t need to wait for your boiler to heat the water in your hot water tank before you have a shower. You can use them anytime without planning ahead. This makes them great for homes with lots of people - gone are the days where you’d jump in the shower only to find the last person used all the hot water!
And, if your boiler breaks down, you’ll still be able to have a hot shower as they only pull cold water from the mains.
What are the disadvantages of electric showers?
Like any product, there are some disadvantages of electric showers that it’s worth knowing about:
- Water flow rate: If you’re looking for a very high water flow rate, a mixer or power shower will give you better results
- Limescale: If you live in a hard water area, the heating element in your electric shower could be affected by limescale, just like a kettle is. You can check if you have hard water online.
- Looks: Because electric showers have a heating element built into the shower unit, they can be quite big. However, there are many designs of electric showers available to suit your bathroom or your tastes.
Is it worth paying more for thermostatic electric showers?
Thermostatic electric showers are designed to stop the water going from hot to cold when somebody draws mains water from somewhere else - for example, they run a tap or flush the toilet while the shower is in use.
There are mixed opinions on whether thermostatic showers are worth the money. Consumer tests have shown that some thermostatic shower models still change the water temperature when a tap is turned on elsewhere.
Before investing in a thermostatic shower, read the reviews for the specific model you have in mind to be sure it’s worth the extra cost.
Do you need a plumber to install an electric shower?
Electric showers require both electrical and plumbing skills. The crucial thing is that you use a tradesperson that is Part P certified, which allows them to self-certify that the wiring is safe for your bathroom.
Plumbers can be Part P certified (although many are not), so you could use a plumber to install an electric shower. However, if you choose an electrician to do the work, they should have the necessary plumbing skills to carry out the installation.
You’ll only need one professional to install your electric shower. It’s up to you whether you choose an electrician or a Part P-certified plumber, but the safer option is to choose an electrician.
Things to consider when installing an electric shower
Your water pressure and condition of your electrics
Water pressure in your home is an important consideration. More powerful models require higher water pressure, for example, a 7kW shower requires a minimum water pressure of 1 bar, but a 10.5kW model may require 1.5 bar.
You also need to consider electrics in your home: for a 7kW shower it’s sufficient to have a 32A fuse or circuit breaker, however, a more powerful 10.5kW model may require 45A.
Another consideration is the size of the electric cable running to the shower. And if you are replacing an existing electric shower, check that the wiring on the new model is suitable.
Whether you already have an electric shower
Replacing an existing electric shower is likely to be cheaper than fitting an electric shower for the first time. Expect to pay £80-£160 in labour.
The distance between the consumer unit and a shower
Sometimes it can be difficult to get a cable from the consumer unit to the shower, so you may have to factor in the cost of the cable and chasing cables through the walls, or removing flooring or carpets.
The wattage (kW output) of your shower unit
Showers are powered by kilowatts (kW) which can vary from 7kW to 10.5kW. More powerful showers require a bigger cable. A 6mm cable will be sufficient for a 7kW model but you may have to upgrade to a 10mm cable for a 10.5kW shower unit.
You may want to opt for a 10mm cable for a less powerful shower. This means that if you decide to upgrade in the future, you won’t have the extra cost of having to replace the cable.
The amount of required plumbing work
An electrician will be able to carry out all electrical work related to installing an electric shower. However, you may also need a plumber for any work related to water, for example if you need new pipes added into the wall.
Ready to get quotes for your electric shower? Post your job on HaMuch now to get in touch with local electricians who can help.
*All prices are estimates based on the hourly or day rate of electricians in %zzz%, electric shower offers and materials.