Switchboard Upgrade Quote Template
Free switchboard upgrade quote template for Australian electricians. Covers new switchboard, safety switches, circuit breakers, and compliance testing.
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Or try it on the web →This switchboard upgrade quote template is for sparkies doing residential upgrades, from replacing old ceramic fuse boxes to prepping for a solar install. Most quotes go wrong in two places: underestimating the time for mandatory testing and labelling of every circuit, and forgetting to factor in the cost of asbestos panel removal and disposal. A solid template stops you from quoting on guesswork and losing your margin. It makes sure every part, from the main switch to the compliance certificate, is on the invoice so you get paid for the whole job.
How to Price the Labour and Parts for a Standard Switchboard Swap
The main cost is your time. A straight swap of a small board in an accessible spot takes 3-4 hours. At $95/hour, that's $285-$380 in labour. For materials, a standard 12-pole Clipsal Resi MAX enclosure from a wholesaler like TLE is about $90. Six RCBOs (combo RCD/MCB) at $40 each adds another $240. Add a main switch ($30) and sundries ($40). Your base cost is around $685 before GST and your margin. Using a tool like QuoteMate to pull real-time supplier pricing is crucial, as a 5% price jump on components can wipe out your profit on a small job.
What Sparkies Leave Off a Switchboard Quote
The biggest miss is asbestos. If the board is mounted on an old fibro sheet, you must quote for specialist removal and disposal, which can be $500 or more. Don't touch it otherwise. Second is making good. If the new enclosure is smaller than the old one, you'll have wall patching and painting to do. Quote this as an optional extra or clearly exclude it. Finally, don't forget the Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES) lodgement fee, which varies by state but is your responsibility. This is a mandatory cost under the AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules and must be included.
Materials Included
- New switchboard enclosure
- RCDs / safety switches
- Circuit breakers (MCBs)
- Main switch
- Cable and conduit
- Labels and compliance stickers
Quoting Steps
- 1Inspect existing switchboard and circuits
- 2Determine number of circuits and RCD requirements
- 3Select switchboard size and brand
- 4Quote circuit breakers and safety switches
- 5Include labour and compliance testing
- 6Add certificate of compliance to quote
Frequently Asked Questions
For a standard residential switchboard upgrade, a flat rate of $40-$60 for sundries is usually safe. This covers consumables like cable, conduit offcuts, neutral and earth bars, labels, and mounting screws. For larger or more complex commercial boards, calculating this as 5% of the total material cost is a better approach. Make sure your template lists this as a line item.
Yes, you must quote for replacing the main switch. Even if the old one seems to work, AS/NZS 3000 requires a main switch for effective isolation on all new installations and major alterations like a board upgrade. It's a critical safety component. A new 63A main switch from Clipsal costs about $30-$40 from most electrical wholesalers.
The quote must clearly define the scope. State that the price covers the switchboard replacement only. Include a clause that any pre-existing wiring faults discovered during mandatory testing will be documented and quoted as a separate variation. This protects you from fixing a house full of bad wiring for free. Your compliance testing is governed by AS/NZS 3000.
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