How to Price PAT Testing
PAT testing is priced per item or per day — and the trick is choosing the right model for the site so you cover your time without pricing yourself out of the contract.
Portable appliance testing (properly, in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment) is steady, repeatable work that suits electricians looking for recurring revenue. But it is easy to misprice: quote per item on a site full of IT leads and you clean up, quote per item on a handful of heavy appliances and you barely cover the visit.
This guide covers the two pricing models, how to estimate the appliance count, the costs people forget, and how to win the repeat business that makes PAT worthwhile. It assumes testing in line with the IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
Key takeaways
- Choose between per-item and day-rate pricing based on the appliance count and mix.
- Per-item suits high-volume sites; day-rate protects you on low-count or awkward sites.
- Estimate the appliance count before quoting — walk the site or ask for a schedule.
- Travel, setup, labelling and the report are all part of the cost, not extras.
- PAT is repeat business — price to win the annual contract, not just this visit.
Per-item versus day rate
The per-item model charges a set fee for each appliance tested, often on a sliding scale (a lower rate above a threshold). It rewards efficiency and suits offices, schools and other high-volume sites. The day-rate model charges for your time regardless of count, and protects you where appliances are few, heavy, or spread across a large or awkward site.
The mistake is applying one model everywhere. A savvy PAT tester quotes per item where volume is high and falls back to a day rate — or a minimum call-out — where it isn't.
Set a minimum charge
Always carry a minimum call-out figure. It stops a ten-appliance job from costing you a half-day of travel and setup for a handful of pounds in per-item fees.
Estimating the appliance count
Your price stands or falls on the count. Ask the client for an asset schedule if they have one, or walk the site and estimate by area: a typical office desk carries several items (monitor, PC, lamp, charger, kettle in the kitchen). Overestimating loses the quote; underestimating costs you the day.
Factor the mix, too. A room of IT leads tests in seconds each; a workshop of Class I power tools with long leads and visual scrutiny takes far longer per item. Price the effort, not just the number.
Doing this on a job? Day rate calculator — part of TradePlanr. Free to start, no card needed.
The costs people forget
Beyond your testing time, price in travel, setup and pack-down, labelling every appliance, and producing the report and register at the end. The paperwork is not free — a proper asset register and pass/fail certificate is what the client is actually buying, and it takes time to produce well.
Consumables (labels), any repairs to failed items (priced separately), and the wear on your tester all belong in your rate too.
Produce the register on site
TradePlanr lets you log each appliance and issue the PAT testing certificate and asset register as you go, so the client gets their documentation the same day and you don't lose an evening writing it up.
Pricing for repeat business
PAT is not a one-off. Most sites need re-testing at intervals set by their risk assessment, so a fair first quote that wins the site is worth more than a high one that wins nothing. Offer the annual or biennial return visit at a known rate, and you build a book of recurring work that fills the quiet weeks.
From guidance to action
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge per item or per day for PAT?
Per item suits high-volume sites like offices and schools; a day rate or minimum call-out protects you on low-count or awkward sites. Match the model to the appliance count and mix rather than using one everywhere.
How do I estimate how many appliances there are?
Ask the client for an asset schedule, or walk the site and estimate by area. Factor the mix — IT leads test quickly, while Class I power tools with long leads take far longer per item.
What am I actually selling with PAT?
The client is buying the documentation as much as the test: a pass/fail certificate and an asset register they can show to insurers and auditors. Price the reporting time in, don't give it away.
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