How can I compare PAT testing prices fairly?
Compare PAT testing prices by checking what each quote includes, not just the cost per appliance: visit time, testing, labelling, results and the final report can differ. Give every provider the same details about your premises and appliances, then compare like-for-like quotes that clearly state any extra charges.
The fairest comparison is based on the total cost of achieving the same level of inspection, not the lowest price per appliance. Two quotes may use the same words but cover different checks, appliance numbers, access arrangements and follow-up work.
Start by giving every provider the same information. Include the premises type, number of appliances, locations, access restrictions and whether equipment is spread across several buildings. Explain if appliances are used in kitchens, workshops, rented accommodation or other higher-risk areas. A provider who quotes without understanding these details may revise the price later.
Compare the scope of the inspection
Ask what happens to each appliance. A suitable PAT inspection normally includes:
- A visual check for damage, unsuitable plugs, loose cables, heat damage and other obvious faults.
- The electrical tests appropriate to the appliance and its construction.
- A record of the result for each item.
- A clear label or other identification showing that the item has been inspected.
- Advice on items that need repair, removal from service or closer investigation.
The test itself may differ between appliance types. A Class I appliance, such as equipment with an earth connection, needs different checks from a Class II double-insulated appliance. Battery-powered items may not need the same electrical testing as mains equipment. A low quote may reflect a visual-only inspection, so ask precisely which tests are included.
Check what the price is based on
Some providers charge per appliance. Others charge a visit fee, a day rate or a combination of both. Compare the complete charge for the work rather than multiplying a headline unit price.
For example, check whether the quotation includes:
- Set-up and travel between buildings.
- Moving equipment or reconnecting appliances after inspection.
- Testing items in cupboards, offices, communal areas or occupied rooms.
- Repeat visits for rooms that could not be accessed.
- Labels, results records and the final report.
- VAT, where applicable.
A provider may quote a low appliance rate but add a minimum charge or separate administration fee. Another may appear more expensive because it includes the whole visit. Only a like-for-like total shows which price is lower.
Separate testing from remedial work
PAT testing should identify the condition of the appliance. It does not automatically include repairs. Ask how failed items will be handled before the inspection begins.
Clarify whether the provider will:
- Record the failure and leave the appliance for someone else to deal with.
- Make minor repairs only with your approval.
- Charge separately for replacement plugs, fuses, cables or other parts.
- Charge for a retest after a repair.
- Dispose of unsafe equipment or return it to the responsible person.
Keeping these costs separate makes the comparison clearer. It also prevents a provider from carrying out chargeable repairs without an agreed limit.
Look at the records you will receive
A useful result should allow someone to identify each appliance and understand what happened during the inspection. The records should link the result to an appliance location or asset reference, rather than listing only a total number tested.
Ask whether the report shows failed items, the reason for failure and any action recommended. If a property manager or landlord will use the records later, confirm that the format can be stored and searched easily. Labels alone are not a substitute for a complete results record.
Check the provider’s competence and equipment
Ask who will carry out the inspection and what experience they have with the equipment on the premises. A domestic office kettle, a workshop tool and commercial catering equipment may present different risks.
The tester should use suitable equipment and keep it maintained and calibrated in line with the manufacturer’s requirements. Ask when the test equipment was last checked if the quote is for a larger commercial site or a technically varied group of appliances.
Electrical competence matters most when an appliance fails, has been modified or shows a fault that needs further investigation. A tester should know when to stop, isolate the item and recommend assessment by a suitably qualified electrician.
Use the same information to compare the totals
Put each quotation into the same simple structure:
- Number of appliances included.
- Inspection and testing method.
- Visit, travel and access charges.
- Labels, records and report format.
- Excluded items and possible extra charges.
- Repair, retest and disposal arrangements.
- VAT and the final expected total.
Then calculate the effective cost for the planned work. This is more useful than comparing a per-item figure when one provider includes administration, travel and reporting in the main price.
Watch for assumptions in unusually low quotes
A low price is not automatically unsuitable. It may be reasonable where appliances are concentrated in one accessible building and the scope is clearly limited. The concern is an unexplained price that leaves out important parts of the inspection.
Ask before accepting a quote if it does not state the number of appliances, the testing method, the records supplied or the treatment of failed items. Also check whether the provider assumes that every appliance will be unplugged and ready to test. Preparing equipment in advance may reduce labour, but the responsibility for doing so should be clear.
Choose on risk and usable information
PAT inspection intervals are not determined by a fixed universal timetable. The appropriate approach depends on the equipment, how it is used, the environment, previous results and the people who use it. A provider should help you understand the inspection scope rather than recommending unnecessary testing solely to increase the appliance count.
For a landlord, business owner or property manager, the best quote is the one that leaves a clear record of what was inspected and what needs action. That record supports a sensible maintenance decision and makes later checks easier.
We can assess the appliance numbers, locations and access arrangements before pricing the work. Our quotation separates the inspection from any repairs, so you can compare the proposal with other quotes and approve further work only when the findings justify it.
When several quotes look similar, ask for a line-by-line schedule rather than a single appliance total. It should show the number of items in each area or equipment group, the charge for the inspection, and any fixed costs. That makes it easier to spot different assumptions, such as one provider including extension leads or chargers while another excludes them.
If the appliance list changes before the visit, ask how the final price will be agreed. We confirm additions or omissions before carrying out extra work, so the amount you approve remains linked to the inspection actually required.
