By Emily Rivers
Last updated 4th March 2026

An outdoor socket is super handy to have, whether it's for plugging in the lawnmower or for an outdoor heater for those slightly chillier summer nights. The average outdoor socket installation cost is around £120, but we'll go into detail about the factors that affect the price.

How much does it cost to fit an outside socket in the UK?

It costs an average of £120 to fit an outside socket in the UK, but it will depend on the type of socket you choose and where you are in the country. HaMuch has a large database of rates for installing outdoor sockets across the UK, but here's a breakdown of the average costs based on socket type:

Socket type

Average cost

Single socket

£120

Double socket

£150

Socket with RCD

£170

Socket with timer

£185

Image Name Cost
British General 13A 2-Gang Outdoor Switched Socket - IP66 British General 13A 2-Gang Outdoor Switched Socket - IP66 £10.00
Knightsbridge 13 Amp 2 Gang Outdoor Socket - IP66 Black Knightsbridge 13 Amp 2 Gang Outdoor Socket - IP66 Black£11.00
BG 13A Outdoor Weatherproof Double Smart Socket IP66 BG 13A Outdoor Weatherproof Double Smart Socket IP66£25.00
BG IP66 Outdoor Power Kit 2 Gang Switched with Cable and Plug for Indoor Socket BG IP66 Outdoor Power Kit 2 Gang Switched with Cable and Plug for Indoor Socket£35.00
Enerj 13A 2 Gang Weatherproof Wi-Fi Socket with USB IP66 Part Code: SHA5275  Stock Enerj 13A 2 Gang Weatherproof Wi-Fi Socket with USB IP66 Part Code: SHA5275 Stock £40.00
Lightwave Outdoor Smart Socket IP66 Lightwave Outdoor Smart Socket IP66£115.00

The biggest cost of installing an outside power outlet is the electrician's time. However, in most cases it's a simple job and shouldn't take any more than 2 hours. If you want your outdoor socket installed in a location that will be difficult for the electrician to reach or requires cabling, this will increase the cost since it will take longer to complete.

Cost to install an outside RCD socket

Factors affecting the cost of installing an outside socket

  1. Type of socket - If you go for a socket with RCD, this will cost more than a standard socket. However, you might save on installation costs in the long run as your electrician won’t have to connect to another RCD in your home.
  2. Whether your home’s electrics are old - If they are, your electrician may suggest that you have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) conducted. This is to check that your consumer unit can cope with an extra outlet being added.
  3. Where you want your socket to be installed - It will be cheaper to install an outdoor socket close to other sockets inside your home, as the electrician can run off that cabling. The further away from other sockets, the more cabling required - and therefore the more it will cost.
  4. How you want to use your socket - If you want to use your outside socket for heating or Christmas lights, you might want a socket with a timer so you can turn them on and off at certain times. These types of outdoor sockets tend to be the most expensive.
  5. The number of sockets you want - It will always be cheaper to install a double socket than two singles. Even if you have no need for two outdoor plug sockets right now, but you think you might in the future, it’s worth considering a double socket to save you money in the long term.

Why should I install an outdoor socket?

An outdoor socket is a great way to use electrical equipment safely outside your home. It’s much more convenient than having to run long extension cables from inside your home just to switch the lawnmower on, and it means you’ll reduce trip hazards too.

It also means that if you have any permanent outdoor features, like hot tubs or outdoor lighting, you’ll have a dedicated power source that you can run them from. This is much safer than running a cable through an open window as it keeps your home secure but also ensures that the power source is waterproof.

What is an outdoor socket with RCD?

An outdoor socket with an RCD, or ‘residual current device’, is a useful thing to have. It means that the socket will cut off electricity if there is fault, such as if you cut through your strimmer cable. This protects you and your family from electric shocks, which can be fatal. RCD sockets also include a cover that holds the cable in place, so there’s no risk of you pulling out the cable accidentally.

While an outdoor power outlet with RCD is more expensive to buy, it could work out cheaper as it may take an electrician less time to install. With a standard outdoor socket, your electrician will need to connect to an RCD elsewhere in your home, which could take more time and require more cabling.

Can I install an outside socket myself?

You should not install an outside socket yourself. Fitting an outdoor power outlet means working with your electrics, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, you could cause a fatal accident.

Also, if you decide to have any major building work done on your home in the future, you will have to have building regulations approval. While your outdoor socket won’t need to be inspected at the time of fitting, if you have any building work done in the future the socket will be checked. If you haven’t installed it correctly, it could cost you more to have it replaced than it would have done to have it fitted properly in the first place.

Overall, we think it’s a brilliant idea to get outdoor power sockets installed as they give you much more flexibility when using electrical appliances in your garden. Just remember that you should always get a registered electrician to install your outside sockets. Use HaMuch to get a range of quotes from qualified electricians in your area.


Estimates for common electrician jobs;

Rates for other trades

Install an outside power socket cost in the UK
Estimate Install an outside power socket cost in the UK, including Outdoor Plug Socket valued at £10, based on hourly/daily rate (excluding VAT or callout charges)
Location in UKInstall an outside power socket cost
Install an outside power socket near London£104
Install an outside power socket near Birmingham£78
Install an outside power socket near Glasgow£78
Install an outside power socket near Leeds£74
Install an outside power socket near Liverpool£76
Install an outside power socket near Sheffield£72
Install an outside power socket near Edinburgh£78
Install an outside power socket near Manchester£76
Install an outside power socket near Belfast£60
Install an outside power socket near Bristol£80
Install an outside power socket near Leicester£76
Install an outside power socket near Cardiff£74
Install an outside power socket near Coventry£76
Install an outside power socket near Bradford£74
Install an outside power socket near Nottingham£74
Install an outside power socket near Newcastle Upon Tyne£76
Install an outside power socket near Brighton and Hove£82
Install an outside power socket near Derby£72
Install an outside power socket near Hull£72
Install an outside power socket near Plymouth£72
Install an outside power socket near Stoke-on-Trent£70
Install an outside power socket near Southampton£82
Install an outside power socket near Northampton£82
Install an outside power socket near Wolverhampton£76
Install an outside power socket near Luton£98
Install an outside power socket near Portsmouth£82
Install an outside power socket near Reading£98
Install an outside power socket near Norwich£78
Install an outside power socket near Milton Keynes£92
Install an outside power socket near Bournemouth£78
Install an outside power socket near Aberdeen£72
Install an outside power socket near Peterborough£82
Install an outside power socket near Bolton£74
Install an outside power socket near Swindon£84
Install an outside power socket near Southend-on-Sea£94
Install an outside power socket near Warrington£76
Install an outside power socket near Oxford£90
Install an outside power socket near Swansea£72
Install an outside power socket near Sunderland£76
Install an outside power socket near Slough£104
Install an outside power socket near Kingswood£80
Install an outside power socket near Telford£74
Install an outside power socket near Cambridge£88
Install an outside power socket near Ipswich£84
Install an outside power socket near Blackpool£74
Install an outside power socket near Middlesbrough£74
Install an outside power socket near Dundee£74
Install an outside power socket near Huddersfield£74
Install an outside power socket near York£74
Install an outside power socket near Poole£76
Install an outside power socket near Watford£102
Install an outside power socket near Newport£74
Install an outside power socket near Colchester£88
Install an outside power socket near Exeter£70
Install an outside power socket near Blackburn£74
Install an outside power socket near Crawley£96
Install an outside power socket near Gloucester£74
Install an outside power socket near Stockport£74
Install an outside power socket near Basingstoke£96
Install an outside power socket near Basildon£98
Install an outside power socket near Cheltenham£74
Install an outside power socket near Gateshead£76
Install an outside power socket near Worthing£80
Install an outside power socket near Rochdale£74
Install an outside power socket near Oldham£74
Install an outside power socket near Chelmsford£94
Install an outside power socket near Birkenhead£76
Install an outside power socket near Maidstone£96
Install an outside power socket near Gillingham£96
Install an outside power socket near Salford£74
Install an outside power socket near Solihull£76
Install an outside power socket near St Helens£76
Install an outside power socket near Worcester£76
Install an outside power socket near Lincoln£76
Install an outside power socket near West Bromwich£76
Install an outside power socket near Eastbourne£82
Install an outside power socket near Wakefield£74
Install an outside power socket near Wythenshawe£76
Install an outside power socket near Bedford£90
Install an outside power socket near Hemel Hempstead£102
Install an outside power socket near Preston£74
Install an outside power socket near Stevenage£96
Install an outside power socket near Southport£74
Install an outside power socket near Bath£80
Install an outside power socket near Harlow£100
Install an outside power socket near Sutton Coldfield£76
Install an outside power socket near Darlington£74
Install an outside power socket near Chester£74
Install an outside power socket near Hastings£84
Install an outside power socket near Nuneaton£76
Install an outside power socket near Halifax£74
Install an outside power socket near Hartlepool£76
Install an outside power socket near Aylesbury£96
Install an outside power socket near Doncaster£72
Install an outside power socket near Grimsby£72
Install an outside power socket near Wallasey£76
Install an outside power socket near Londonderry£56
Install an outside power socket near Stockton-on-Tees£74
Install an outside power socket near Weston-super-Mare£80
Install an outside power socket near High Wycombe£100
Install an outside power socket near Ashford£84
Install an outside power socket near Redditch£76
Install an outside power socket near Wigan£74
Install an outside power socket near Scunthorpe£72
Install an outside power socket near Bury£74
Install an outside power socket near Paisley£78
Install an outside power socket near Bracknell£98
Install an outside power socket near Burnley£74
Install an outside power socket near Rugby£76
Install an outside power socket near Guildford£100
Install an outside power socket near Carlisle£70
Install an outside power socket near Chatham£96
Install an outside power socket near East Kilbride£78
Install an outside power socket near Newcastle-under-Lyme£70
Install an outside power socket near Chesterfield£72
Install an outside power socket near Burton upon Trent£74
Install an outside power socket near Tamworth£76
Install an outside power socket near Shrewsbury£70
Install an outside power socket near Woking£100
Install an outside power socket near St Albans£102
Install an outside power socket near Harrogate£74
Install an outside power socket near Crewe£70
Install an outside power socket near South Shields£76
Install an outside power socket near Craigavon£58
Install an outside power socket near Stafford£72
Install an outside power socket near Rotherham£72
Install an outside power socket near Barnsley£72
Install an outside power socket near Lowestoft£78
Install an outside power socket near Walsall£76
Install an outside power socket near Gosport£82
Install an outside power socket near Dartford£102
Install an outside power socket near Bognor Regis£80
Install an outside power socket near Corby£78
Install an outside power socket near Paignton£68
Install an outside power socket near Maidenhead£100
Install an outside power socket near Rochester£96
Install an outside power socket near Ellesmere Port£74
Install an outside power socket near Loughborough£72
Install an outside power socket near Dudley£76
Install an outside power socket near Bangor£58
Install an outside power socket near Dewsbury£74
Install an outside power socket near Mansfield£72
Install an outside power socket near Margate£74
Install an outside power socket near Kettering£80
Install an outside power socket near Cannock£76
Install an outside power socket near Sale£76
Install an outside power socket near Taunton£76
Install an outside power socket near Runcorn£76
Install an outside power socket near Farnborough£98
Install an outside power socket near Tynemouth£76
Install an outside power socket near Hereford£72
Install an outside power socket near Halesowen£78
Install an outside power socket near Widnes£76
Install an outside power socket near Huyton with Roby£76
Install an outside power socket near Scarborough£72
Install an outside power socket near Gravesend£98
Install an outside power socket near Bebington£76
Install an outside power socket near Kidderminster£78
Install an outside power socket near Stourbridge£76
Install an outside power socket near Barry£74
Install an outside power socket near Smethwick£78
Install an outside power socket near Dunfermline£76
Install an outside power socket near Livingston£78
Install an outside power socket near Weymouth£76
Install an outside power socket near Brentwood£100
Install an outside power socket near Barrow-in-Furness£72
Install an outside power socket near Hamilton£76
Install an outside power socket near Canterbury£76
Install an outside power socket near Wellingborough£86
Install an outside power socket near Sittingbourne£90
Install an outside power socket near Macclesfield£72
Install an outside power socket near Bootle£76
Install an outside power socket near Carlton£74
Install an outside power socket near Esher£104
Install an outside power socket near Clacton-on-Sea£84
Install an outside power socket near Lancaster£74
Install an outside power socket near Beeston£74
Install an outside power socket near Banbury£84
Install an outside power socket near Torquay£68
Install an outside power socket near Folkestone£76
Install an outside power socket near Kingswinford£76
Install an outside power socket near Bloxwich£76
Install an outside power socket near Bridgend£72
Install an outside power socket near Welwyn Garden City£104
Install an outside power socket near Lisburn£58
Install an outside power socket near Leamington Spa£76
Install an outside power socket near Washington£76
Install an outside power socket near Tunbridge Wells£96
Install an outside power socket near Kirkcaldy£76
Install an outside power socket near Hinckley£76
Install an outside power socket near Durham£80
Install an outside power socket near Cumbernauld£80
Install an outside power socket near Wokingham£100
Install an outside power socket near Horsham£88
Install an outside power socket near Crosby£76
Install an outside power socket near Yeovil£78
Install an outside power socket near Thundersley£94
Install an outside power socket near Altrincham£76
Install an outside power socket near Willenhall£76
Install an outside power socket near Christchurch£76