Doing any type of electrical work requires expertise and judgement to make the right decisions. That’s why even if you feel confident to do residential electrical projects on your own, we highly recommend you hire a licensed electrician. A qualified and licensed electrician in Vancouver will know intricate details about electrical work that you might miss. Attempting to do your electrical work can be highly dangerous for the safety of your household. In Vancouver, you have to hire an electrician who has obtained a license or permit from Technical Safety BC to perform any residential electrical work.
The following electrical project cost guide is based on 49 verified reviews from homeowners in Vancouver. Using this guide, you can estimate costs for your next big or small electrical project. You can also get a custom quote from an electrician based on the type of project you want to do.
Cost for Various Electrical Jobs in Vancouver
| Job | Average Cost\ ¹ | Lowest Reported\ ¹ | Highest Reported\ ¹ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling Fan Installation | $488 | $100 | $924 |
| Appliance Installation and Wiring | $935 | $140 | $5,000 |
| Light Fixture Installation | $415 | $140 | $1,200 |
| Knob and Tube Rewiring | $7,134 | $150 | $20,000 |
Costs as of October 2020*
Common Electrical Projects in Vancouver
Ceiling Fan Installation:
- Many Vancouverites prefer ceiling fans over air conditioning as it consumes less electricity which helps lower their utility bills. A local electrician who has the right tools to complete the job can install or replace a ceiling fan in your house.
- You must hire an electrician who has expertise in installing a ceiling fan box and brackets without damaging your ceiling. An electrician will assess the type of ceiling fan, dimensions of the room, wiring conditions and the number of ceiling fans to be installed before starting the job. Based on these parameters, the electrician will provide you with cost and time estimates.
- A journeyman electrician may take 5 hours to install multiple ceiling fans which may cost you $488 on average.
Appliance Installation:
- When installing an expensive appliance, following proper installation instructions is crucial for the longevity of the machine. Even a small mistake or missed step in the process can damage your appliance. We recommend you hire an expert electrician who has experience in installing different types and brands of appliances without any hassle.
- An electrician can assist and help you if any additional material is required. They can help you mount or fix an appliance in the specific area of your house by procuring extra wires or any other extra parts.
- Based on the type of appliance it may take an electrician 3-5 hours for installation. The average cost for appliance installation in Vancouver is $935.
Light Fixture Installation:
- To complete a light fixture installation, you will have to follow certain steps. If not done with caution, it may result in heavy damages to your home.
- An experienced electrician will install the light fixtures after carefully assessing the type of light fixture, the room dimensions, existing wiring positions and the number of light fixtures you want to install.
- An electrician will also be able to help you if there is a problem with the short wiring, securing a safe electrical outlet and ceiling damages.
- A journeyman or an apprentice electrician may charge you anywhere from $140 to $1200 to install the light fixtures, depending on the number of lights and complexity of the installation.
Knob and Tube Rewire:
- Knob and tube wiring can be found in older Vancouver homes which were built before the 1950s. This type of wiring is known as dangerous and a safety hazard because it has exposed metal conductors. This wiring is not grounded which makes it vulnerable to electrocution and fire. Replacing this type of wiring with contemporary wiring will provide you with a safe and secure household.
- As per the Safety Standards Act BC, a licensed or permit holder electrical contractor can work on a knob and tube rewiring project. These contractors have gone through safety training and workshops to complete your wiring project without any mishaps. The qualified electrician can also help you to apply for a safety certificate after the rewiring is completed.
- Based on the size of your property and the labourers at work, it may take up to 2 weeks to finish a knob and tube rewiring job in Vancouver. Choosing to do the complete rewiring will go a long way instead of doing a partial replacement or a quick fix. An insurance provider in BC will only approve your homeowner’s insurance if you have the contemporary wiring installed.
- A master electrician is a perfect contractor to complete such a delicate yet complicated job. The master electrician will have a team of apprentices and journeymen to finish the job. It may cost you up to $20,000 excluding the fees of the permit application, overhead costs and labour costs.
Factors Impacting Electrician Costs in Vancouver
Types of Electricians
You can hire three different types of electricians in Vancouver: apprentice, journeyman and master electrician. They will offer you different quotes based on their experience, expertise and licenses. You can make a decision when hiring an electrician based on your budget and project requirements.
- An apprentice can be hired to complete any small electrical project. An apprentice usually assists a journeyman or master electrician and is allowed to work on only small electrical projects. An apprentice is a student learning the electrical trade and is in the process of obtaining necessary licenses from Technical Safety BC. You can easily hire an apprentice if you have a tight budget and a small task.
- An electrician who has recently completed their formal training and obtained all the necessary licenses is known as a journeyman electrician. They work independently or assist master electricians in major residential projects. Whether you want to install a ceiling fan or a light fixture, a professionally trained journeyman in Vancouver can do the job for you.
- Master electricians are the masters of any and all types of electrical work. They have vast experience, all the licenses, they understand residential wiring better than any other electrician and most importantly, if something goes wrong, they can make the correct judgement call. Be it rewiring the entire house or installing a fleet of major appliances, a master electrician can help you with anything. They might charge you more for a job as compared to an apprentice or journeyman, but you can trust you’re getting the best service possible.
Material and Labour Cost
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Some electrical jobs require additional materials or extra assistance to complete the project safely and on time. An electrician will be able to give you the details of these overhead costs after understanding the project requirements and creating a workflow accordingly. Make sure that you ask for a budget estimate from your electrician before they start working on the project.
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The budget given by an electrician at the beginning of the project is only an estimate, not the final cost. Remember that the estimated costs may fluctuate by 10% to 15% when you receive the final invoice.
Emergencies and Off-Hour Services
- Electrical emergencies are unpredictable and extremely dangerous. If not taken care of immediately, they can endanger your life and result in heavy damages such as electrocution and fire. You must hire only licensed and experienced electricians to resolve any emergency problems in Vancouver.
- HomeStars offers you a platform where you can quickly choose a local electrician, chat with them and hire an available expert in your area quickly and easily.
- When you get in touch with the electrician, inform them that you need emergency services and the nature of your emergency. Additionally, don’t forget to ask them for their emergency or off-hour services fees.
- An emergency or off-hour service fee is double the cost of usual electrician fees. To avoid any surprise billings, we suggest you have clear communication with the electrician about the fees before hiring them.
Tips to Hire an Electrician in Vancouver
Check the HomeStars Tools
- There are 3 unique tools at HomeStars which you can use to make a confident hiring decision when it comes to hiring a local professional electrician in Vancouver. After you complete the service request form, HomeStars will match you with 3 different electrical pros in your area based on your requirements. If you prefer to do the research yourself, you can also skim through the list of electricians in Vancouver to choose a pro.
- You can chat with these pros, discuss your project details and ask for a custom quote. You can compare those quotes with the costs given in this guide. To make a final and informed decision, you can also check the service provider’s Star Score, verification badge and homeowner reviews.
Confirm the Callout Fees
- When it comes to electricians, one of the common industry practices is charging for call-out fees. When you talk to an electrician and ask them to visit the property to discuss the project details, electricians charge you for this first visit. Even if nothing is fixed, installed or replaced, homeowners still have to pay these fees which are reflected in the final invoice.
- That’s why we highly recommend that you ask about the details of the call-out fees before booking an appointment with the electricians. Call-out fees are based on an electrician’s experience and their licenses.
Ask for Insurance and Damage Cover
- Any type of electrical job involves a certain amount of risk. The electrician must have insurance to do the job. Electricians who work under the employment of master electrician or electrical contractors are covered by their employer. Many electricians also provide a certain amount of damage cover to the homeowners as well.
- When you talk to your electrician, make sure to ask them specifically about the damage cover. If they do provide it, don’t forget to document the details of the same.
Check for Technical Safety BC License
- Technical Safety BC is an independent, self-funded organization that oversees the safe installation and operation of technical systems and equipment across the province. The organization also provides licenses and certifications to electricians as per their safety standards.
- In Vancouver, the only electricians that are legally permitted to work on electrical jobs are those who have successfully completed the Electrical Contractor License by Technical Safety BC. These licenses are issued as per the Safety Standards Act, BC.
- As a resident of Vancouver, it’s within your rights to ask an electrician to provide proof of their Electrical Contractor License before hiring them. If an electrician fails to provide a valid license, we highly recommend against hiring them. For the safety and security of your house, you must hire only licensed electricians.
To book an appointment with a local licensed electrician click here.