Skip to main content
Sparky

Electric Cooker & Hob Installation

Professional electric cooker installation by qualified electricians. Dedicated 32A circuit, cooker control unit, and correct cable sizing. Qualified and insured.

Get a quote
Book electric cooker & hob installation online
Electrician

Electric Cooker & Hob Installation

Qualified electrician

Book Now

Same-day service

Most jobs matched within hours.

Upfront pricing

Clear quotes before work starts.

Qualified pros

NICEIC & NAPIT registered.

Pay when done

Funds held until you're happy.

How it works

1

Assessment and circuit design

The electrician checks the cooker's maximum power rating and uses the diversity allowance in BS 7671 (Appendix A) to calculate the actual design current. They verify the consumer unit has a spare way and adequate capacity for the new 32A circuit.

2

Cable run

6mm² twin-and-earth cable is run from the consumer unit to the cooker control unit position. The cable is routed through ceiling voids, under floors, or surface-mounted in trunking — following safe zones as required by BS 7671. For long cable runs, the electrician calculates voltage drop to confirm 6mm² is adequate.

3

Cooker control unit installation

A cooker control unit (also called a cooker switch) is mounted on the wall within 2 metres of the appliance. It provides a 45A double-pole switch with a neon indicator, and optionally a 13A socket outlet for a kettle or small appliance. The supply cable is connected to the unit.

4

Appliance connection

The cooker is connected to the cooker control unit via a cooker outlet plate (for freestanding cookers) or directly hardwired (for built-in ovens and hobs). Built-in hobs and ovens can sometimes share a single 32A circuit using a dual connection plate or junction box — the electrician calculates whether the combined load allows this.

5

Testing and certification

The complete circuit is tested for insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, polarity, and RCD operation (if applicable). The cooker is powered on and tested at full load. An Electrical Installation Certificate is issued and the work is notified to Building Control via the competent person scheme.

What's included

Circuit design with diversity calculations per BS 7671
Dedicated 32A radial circuit from consumer unit
6mm² twin-and-earth cable run to kitchen
32A MCB or RCBO at the consumer unit
Cooker control unit (45A switch, with or without 13A socket)
Cooker outlet plate or direct hardwired connection
Full circuit testing to BS 7671 standards
Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)
Part P Building Control notification

What's involved

An electric cooker (oven, hob, or range) requires a dedicated 32A circuit from the consumer unit, wired in 6mm² cable to a cooker control unit (with or without a 13A socket outlet) mounted on the wall behind or beside the appliance. The cooker control unit provides a local means of isolation — you can turn the cooker circuit off without going to the consumer unit. The installation covers the circuit design, cable run, cooker control unit, and final connection. Whether you are installing a new cooker in a kitchen renovation or replacing an existing unit, the circuit must be correctly rated for the appliance's maximum demand.

Electric cookers draw between 2kW (a single built-in oven) and 15kW (a large range cooker). A dedicated 32A circuit is required to handle this load safely. The circuit must be correctly designed using the diversity calculations in BS 7671 to determine the appropriate cable size and MCB rating. Connecting a cooker to an existing socket circuit is dangerous — it would overload the circuit and create a serious fire risk. A new circuit from the consumer unit is notifiable under Part P.

Get a personalised quote

Typical cost: £100–£300per installation

Every job is different — pricing depends on your property, location, and specific requirements. Describe what you need and a qualified electrician will quote you directly.

How long does it take?

1-2 hours for a like-for-like cooker replacement on an existing circuit. Half a day for a new 32A circuit from the consumer unit including cooker control unit installation. Add 1-2 hours if a separate oven and hob need connecting on a shared or split circuit.

Regulations & safety

Safety notice

Electric cookers must be on a dedicated circuit — never connected to a ring main socket via a plug. Even a small built-in oven can draw 13A at full power, and a cooker hob can draw 30A+. A dedicated 32A circuit with a cooker control unit is the only safe arrangement.

The cooker control unit must be positioned where it can be reached quickly in an emergency — within 2 metres of the cooker, not behind it or obstructed by kitchen units. It provides the only means of isolating the cooker circuit without going to the consumer unit.

If installing both a separate oven and hob on the same circuit, the combined maximum demand must be calculated using diversity. Two full-size ovens plus a hob may exceed the capacity of a single 32A circuit — in this case, separate circuits are required.

Part P of the Building Regulations (Approved Document P)

A new cooker circuit is notifiable electrical work, particularly as it involves work in a kitchen (a special location under Part P). It must be carried out by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme.

BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 (IET Wiring Regulations)

The cooker circuit must comply with the Wiring Regulations, including Appendix A (diversity calculations for cooker circuits), cable sizing, and the requirement for a local means of isolation (cooker control unit) within 2 metres of the appliance.

IET On-Site Guide — Cooker Circuit Design

The IET On-Site Guide provides worked examples for cooker circuit design, including the diversity formula: first 10A of total current plus 30% of the remainder, plus 5A if the cooker control unit includes a socket outlet.

What to expect

The most common scenario is a like-for-like replacement — the existing circuit, cable, and cooker control unit are reused. If the existing circuit is adequate for the new cooker's rating, the electrician only needs to disconnect the old appliance, connect the new one, and test. This is the cheapest option at £100-150.
If there is no existing cooker circuit (e.g., converting from a gas cooker to electric), a new circuit must be run from the consumer unit to the kitchen. The cable run distance — and whether the consumer unit has a spare way — are the main cost factors. Budget £200-300 for a new circuit.
Built-in separate ovens and hobs are increasingly popular. If both are within 2 metres of the cooker control unit, they can often share a single 32A circuit using a dual cooker outlet plate. The electrician applies the diversity calculation from BS 7671 Appendix A to confirm the circuit can handle the combined load.
Range cookers (Rangemaster, Aga, etc.) may have a higher maximum demand than a standard cooker. Large range cookers can draw 60A+ at full power, requiring a 45A circuit with 10mm² cable. Check the appliance data plate before the electrician visits so they can specify the correct circuit.

Frequently asked questions

Can I plug an electric cooker into a normal 13A socket?
Only small countertop or tabletop ovens rated under 3kW can use a 13A plug. Full-size electric cookers, built-in ovens, and induction hobs require a dedicated circuit with a cooker control unit. A standard 13A socket cannot safely supply the current a full-size cooker demands.
Do I need a new circuit to replace a gas cooker with electric?
Yes. Gas cookers typically only have a standard 3-pin plug for the ignition and clock. An electric cooker needs a dedicated 32A circuit with a cooker control unit. This requires a new cable run from the consumer unit. Your electrician can usually complete this in half a day.
Can a built-in oven and hob share the same cooker circuit?
Usually yes, provided the combined maximum demand (after applying diversity) does not exceed the circuit rating. The diversity formula in BS 7671 typically allows a separate oven and hob to share a 32A circuit. However, two full-size ovens plus a large induction hob may require separate circuits.
What is a cooker control unit?
A cooker control unit is a wall-mounted 45A double-pole switch (with a neon indicator light) that provides a local means of isolation for the cooker circuit. Some models include a 13A socket outlet below the switch for a kettle or small appliance. It must be within 2 metres of the cooker.
Do induction hobs need a special circuit?
Induction hobs use the same type of circuit as any electric hob — typically a 32A dedicated circuit with 6mm² cable. However, large induction hobs (especially those with a boost function) can have a maximum rating of 7-11kW. The electrician will check the specific model's rating and may specify 10mm² cable for higher-rated units.

Find electric cooker & hob installation near you

Browse qualified electricians for electric cooker & hob installation by London borough.

Electric Cooker & Hob Installation in CamdenElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in IslingtonElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in City of LondonElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in WestminsterElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in HackneyElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in SouthwarkElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in LambethElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in Tower HamletsElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in Kensington and ChelseaElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in HaringeyElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in BrentElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in LewishamElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in WandsworthElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in NewhamElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in Waltham ForestElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in Hammersmith and FulhamElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in BarnetElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in GreenwichElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in Richmond upon ThamesElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in EnfieldElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in EalingElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in HounslowElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in MertonElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in CroydonElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in BromleyElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in RedbridgeElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in Barking and DagenhamElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in BexleyElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in Kingston upon ThamesElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in Epping ForestElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in BroxbourneElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in SuttonElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in TandridgeElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in Reigate and BansteadElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in Epsom and EwellElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in SevenoaksElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in HaveringElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in BrentwoodElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in ThurrockElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in HillingdonElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in HarrowElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in BuckinghamshireElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in SpelthorneElectric Cooker & Hob Installation in Elmbridge

Need electric cooker & hob installation?

Describe what you need to Sparky and we'll match you with a qualified electrician near you.

Book an Electrician

It's easier in the app

Download Sparky to request help, track your electrician, and pay securely — all from your phone.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
Track your confirmed electrician booking in the Sparky app