The standard 5m allowance
Every OZEV-approved installer quotes against a baseline of 5m of 6mm or 10mm armoured cable from the consumer unit to the charger. That's enough to reach a garage on the side of the house, or a driveway directly behind the meter cupboard. For anything further, expect a line item on your quote.
Per-metre rates in 2026
The rate depends entirely on how the cable is routed:
- Surface-mounted on an outside wall — clipped along existing brickwork. £12–£18 per metre. Fastest, ugliest.
- In white plastic trunking — tidier than bare clips, a bit more labour. £18–£25 per metre.
- Through internal voids or loft — fished through walls and ceilings, much cleaner finish. £25–£40 per metre.
- Buried in conduit across a garden — trench at 450mm depth with warning tape. £35–£60 per metre, plus reinstatement.
- Under a driveway — either core-drilled at one end and dragged through existing ducting, or a fresh trench cut. £60–£120 per metre including resurfacing.
Worked examples
Example A: 8m run, clipped on outside wall
3 extra metres × £15/m = £45 add-on. Effectively rounding error — most installers absorb runs this short.
Example B: 12m run through the loft to a garage
7 extra metres × £30/m = £210 add-on. Common scenario for detached houses where the meter is at the front and parking is at the back.
Example C: 18m buried run across a lawn
13 extra metres × £45/m = £585 add-on, plus £150–£300 for reinstating the grass or paving. The single most expensive routing decision most homeowners face.
Three ways to bring the cable cost down
- Move the charger, not the cable. A wall-mount on the side of the house rather than the back can halve the cable distance.
- Reuse existing ducting. If you've already had broadband or outdoor lighting trenched, the installer may be able to pull cable through the existing duct.
- Dig the trench yourself. Some installers will discount £150–£300 if you have the trench dug, lined and ready before they arrive. Confirm depth requirements first — 450mm minimum with warning tape at 300mm.
What about voltage drop on very long runs?
Past about 25m on 6mm cable, voltage drop becomes a real issue for a 7kW charger. Your installer will either step up to 10mm armoured (more expensive cable but the same labour) or, in extreme cases, recommend a sub-main and isolator nearer the charger. Both add to the bill but protect performance.