Electrician prices in Belgium in 2026: rates and examples

A socket that runs warm, an ageing fuse board or a whole home to rewire: there is no way around the electrician, and not just for comfort. In Belgium, every installation must comply with the RGIE (AREI in Dutch), the regulation governing electrical installations. Here are the 2026 rates to budget without nasty surprises.

Rates in 2026

Here are the brackets observed for an electrician in Belgium:

• Standard hourly rate: €35 to €45/hour excl VAT
• Specialised work (home automation, technically demanding jobs): up to €95/hour
• Bringing a fuse board up to code: €800 to €1,500
• Complete installation in a renovation: €90 to €140/m²
• RGIE inspection: mandatory, carried out by an approved body, to be budgeted separately

Supplies (cables, breakers, sockets, switches) come on top of labour. On a serious quote, they appear line by line.

Many electricians also apply a minimum charge covering the travel and the first hour. For a single socket, that flat fee weighs heavily: group your small jobs so you pay the call-out only once, and always ask for a written quote listing hourly rate, supplies and any inspection.

What makes the price vary

• The scale of the job. Replacing a few sockets is billed by the hour. Rewiring an entire home is priced per m², depending on the number of light points, sockets and circuits.
• The state of the existing installation. In an older house, the electrician deals with worn conduits, mixed-up circuits or faulty earthing. The initial diagnosis weighs on the final bill.
• Technical complexity. Home automation, three-phase power, peak-load management: these specialised services justify the hourly rates that climb to €95/hour.
• The level of finish. Flush-mounted wiring with chases cut into solid walls and replastering costs more than surface-mounted trunking.
• Region and travel. As everywhere, travel charges and the pressure on the local market move prices from one province to another.

Worked examples

Three common situations, built only from the brackets above:

Replacing sockets and switches. At €35 to €45/hour excl VAT, two hours of work represent €70 to €90 in labour, supplies on top. Group small jobs together to make the call-out worthwhile.

Bringing the fuse board up to code. Expect €800 to €1,500 to replace an outdated board: residual-current devices, correctly rated breakers, identified circuits. The RGIE inspection by an approved body then validates the installation.

Rewiring a 100 m² apartment in a renovation. At €90 to €140/m², the budget sits between €9,000 and €14,000 excl VAT, depending on the number of electrical points and the chosen finish.

VAT at 6% or 21%

If your home is a private dwelling more than 10 years old, electrical work invoiced by a contractor qualifies for 6% VAT instead of 21%. On a compliance upgrade or a full rewiring, the difference is far from symbolic.

The conditions to remember:

• The property is a private dwelling, occupied by an owner or a tenant
• It was first occupied more than 10 years ago
• The work is carried out and invoiced by a contractor
• The invoice states the conditions for the reduced rate

The reduced rate is applied directly on the invoice, with no paperwork on your side, but the quote must state it. A more recent dwelling or business premises means the 21% rate. Full conditions are detailed in our guide to 6% VAT in Belgium.

Mistakes to avoid

DIY work on the fuse board. Beyond the immediate danger, non-compliant work can void the RGIE inspection and cause problems with your insurer after an incident. The board is the electrician's territory.

Forgetting the RGIE inspection in the budget. After any significant modification to the installation, a visit from an approved inspection body is mandatory. A rebuilt board that was never inspected remains a non-validated installation.

Choosing on the hourly rate alone. An electrician at €35/hour who is discovering your type of installation can end up costing more than a professional at €45/hour who handles it daily. Compare complete quotes, not rates.

Signing without checking the company. Active BCE number, registered electrical activity, verifiable customer reviews: our checklist to vet a pro before signing takes only a few minutes.

FAQ

What is an electrician's hourly rate in Belgium?

Expect €35 to €45/hour excl VAT for everyday work. Specialised services such as home automation can reach €95/hour.

How much does an electrical compliance upgrade cost?

Replacing the fuse board sits between €800 and €1,500. Add any circuit repairs and the RGIE inspection by an approved body, which is mandatory to validate the installation.

Is the RGIE inspection mandatory?

Yes. Any new or significantly modified installation must be inspected by an approved body before it counts as compliant. Your electrician will tell you when to schedule it.

Find the right electrician at the right price

Rather than calling around at random, describe your project once on Batizzy and receive several quotes from verified electricians, in a format that is easy to compare. You stay in control of the choice of contractor and of your budget. Compare electrician quotes: free and without obligation.