Last updated on July 21st, 2022
Cost of moving a gas meter
Why move a gas meter?
Gas meters serve an important role in measuring the volume of gas used in your home. Meter readings are then taken by your gas supplier, or yourself, to determine the amount of your monthly gas bill. Unfortunately, sometimes the placement of your meter can make it difficult to take readings and gain access.
Moving your gas meter can be a difficult and time-consuming process but may be essential during renovations, or if you’re lucky enough to be adding an extension to your home. If your gas meter is in the way of any structural work, then moving it could be the only solution.
Whether you need to move your meter due to accessibility or during building works, the process is much simpler and less invasive if its new position is less than a metre from its original position. Read on to discover up-to-date costs of moving a gas meter, tips for moving electric or smart meters, and important considerations.
What is the cost of moving a gas meter?
For a breakdown of typical costs, we spoke to Steve Courtier at Wessex Water. This guide features the estimated cost of moving a gas meter that they provided.
| Costs of moving meters | Cost + VAT (Range low - high) | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to move a gas meter- materials | £400 - £1,000 | £700 |
| Cost to move a gas meter - labour | £250 - £350 per day | £300 per day |
| Cost of moving an electric meter | £137.50 - £1,062.50 | £600 |
Our costs are ballpark averages – get a local tradesperson to quote now
While there are many factors affecting the cost of moving a gas meter, we will be looking at the range of prices you will most likely pay and average figures. It is important to note that the total you will pay to move your gas meter can be split into two amounts: the materials and the labour.
The cost to move a gas meter ranges from £400 - £1,000 for materials and £250 - £350 per day. The average cost to move a gas meter is, therefore, £700 + £300 per day.
Costs can increase by around 25% if a new meter box is needed and to fill the old space.
Why the distance you want to move your meter is important
As previously mentioned, it is much easier to move a gas meter up to 1 metre away than to move it further. The same applies to electric meters, anything over 3 metres is much more complicated than a distance of fewer than 3 metres.
Gas meters
- If moving less than 1 metre, the meter can probably be moved by your gas supplier.
- If moving over 1 metre you will need to contact your gas transporter.
Electric meters
- If moving less than 3 metres, the meter can probably be moved by your electricity supplier.
- If moving over 3 metres you will need to contact your electricity distributor.
Factors affecting the cost of moving a gas meter
With a wide variety of factors that affect the cost to move a gas meter, it is useful to consider the following when calculating the total amount that you will pay:
- Distance to be moved: Anything over 1 metre is more complex and time-consuming.
- Time to move: The longer it takes to move your meter, the greater the labour cost will be.
- Changing connections or setting up new connections: Installing new connections is always more costly than changing current connections.
- Who is moving the meter: Depending on how far you are moving your meter, different companies will be needed. The cost of moving a gas meter will be affected by their rates.
- Plasterer or decorator cost to make good: Once your meter has been moved you will need to make good the space. This goes beyond standard painting and plastering, as you’ll also need brick/blockwork to be completed.
- Meter housing: If the meter box and housing are not suitable to be moved you will need to have a new one installed.
- Location: Your location can affect the amount charged by your gas professional. Areas with greater living costs such as London will have higher costs for any work completed by tradespeople.
Moving a smart meter
Although smart meters work in a slightly different way to traditional gas and electric meters, the process of moving them is quite similar. Due to this, the cost of moving a smart meter is comparable to moving a gas meter.
If you are planning to install a new smart meter it is worth giving careful consideration to where this should be placed. If you are planning to extend or renovate your home in the future, it is wise to install your new meter somewhere it will not be in the way of any building works.
Cost of moving an electric meter
Similarly to moving a gas meter, the cost of moving an electric meter is affected by the same important factors. In certain circumstances, it can be cheaper to move an electric meter and the total cost of moving an electric meter will usually fall into the range of £75 - £1,000, with an average cost of £537.50.
Can I move a gas meter myself?
You should never attempt to move a gas meter yourself as this is not only illegal but very dangerous.
With dangers of gas leakage including fire and gas poisoning, you will need to hire a professional if you need to move a gas meter. To find a local, reputable, tradesperson in your area and get a personalised gas meter moving quote use our free search feature.
FAQs
How long does it take to move a meter?
It can take up to 4 – 6 weeks to move a meter due to application and preparation time.
Can I get my gas or electric meter moved free of charge?
In certain circumstances, if you are having trouble with the placement of your meter, you may be eligible to have this moved at no charge. The following are some of the groups of people who are exempt:
- Those on the Priority Services Register.
- Those who are at an age to receive their pensions.
- Those who have a disability.
Can I move my meter outside?
It is usually possible to move a gas meter from inside to outside, but it can be expensive if you are moving the meter more than 1 metre.
Useful gas meter moving checklist
- You may wish to move your gas meter if it is difficult to access or in the way of renovations.
- The cost of moving a gas meter is affected by the distance it will be moved, the time taken and whether you wish to make good use of the space.
- It is also possible to move electric and smart meters.
- Attempting to move a gas meter is incredibly dangerous and risky, so this should only be attempted by qualified professionals.
- You may be eligible to have your meter moved for free.
Checkatrade
Hi Kathy, I recommend filling in our request a quote form to get quotes from three Gas Safe engineers near you.
Kathy Nardone
I wanted to move my meter that is outside Not very far just out of the way so I could fix that area up. I wonder if that could be done and how much that would cost
Checkatrade
Hi Derek, thank you for your comment. To get you the accurate advice you need on this I recommend filling in our request a quote form. That way you can get in touch with 3 tradespeople that your neighbours recommend for the job. They can then come out, take a look and advise.
Derek Heeps
I will shortly be moving house ; there is a garden area down the side of the house which I wish to develop into a driveway and erect a garage in the back garden . Trouble is the width from the wall of the house to the neighbours fence is only 10” more than the width of my car , so space is tight ; then there is a gas meter on the side wall which leaves no clearance at all . Since the feed pipe must come in from the street and down the side of the house, I would like to relocate the meter either to the front wall of the house or to the cupboard under the stairs , which is the other side of the same wall and where the gas boiler is ; the only two gas appliances are the boiler and the gas cooker , which are both against the same wall and must be connected by a link pipe already . How difficult is this likely to be ?
Checkatrade
Hi Celia, thank you for your comment. To get a quote, I recommend filling in our request a quote form. We will then send this to three tradespeople near you who will be in touch with a quote or to ask for more information. I hope this helps.
Celia Garnett
I am 80 and moving into a house where the electric meter is in a bedroom and difficult to read as it is placed low down this is inappropriate as I am arthritic. It looks ugly as the fuse box is above it. I would like it moving directly below where the mains come in onto the outside wall. Also the gas meter which is placed below in the basement directly underneath and difficult to read.
Checkatrade
Hi Sandra, thanks for your comment. I recommend entering your postcode in the search bar to find tradespeople near you. Alternatively, fill in our request a quote form to get quotes from three tradespeople near you.
Sandra Carter
I need a gas meter moved from the corner of my living room. want to move it from inside wall to outside wall, it would move only the width of an external wall.
Checkatrade
Hi Valerie, to get quotes to move your gas meter, I recommend filling in our request a quote form. Simply fill in the form with details about your gas meter and we will send it to three tradespeople near you.
Valerie Hyde
Hi, we have an old style gas meter stuck halfway between the lounge and the dinning room, are we able to get it removed for free or at a lower cost Many thanks
Checkatrade
Hi Arefa, I recommend filling out our request a quote form with details of your job to get quotes from tradespeople near you.
Arefa
My gas meter is in the corner of my living room, and currently it’s in the way. I want to move it from inside wall to outside wall, it would move only the width of an external wall.
Checkatrade
Hi Samantha, thanks for the comment. I recommend you speak with one of our members to weigh up your options. If you submit a Post a job form we'll send your details on to 3 of our members who come recommended by your neighbours. Then our chosen members will reach out to you with questions, a quote, or to arrange a time to come and visit you.
Samantha Humphreys
My gas meter is in the corner of my living room, it’s an old one so it would be good to bring it up to date and currently it’s in the way. I want to move it outside, it would move only the width of an external wall.
Checkatrade
Hi Martin, thanks for the comment. If you submit our Post a job form we'll send your details on to 3 relevant tradespeople who come recommended by your neighbours. Then our chosen members will reach out to you with a quote.
Martin Witcombe
I require my gas meter moving from inside my garage to an outside wall the distance is 3 metres.
Checkatrade
Hi Sam, I recommend entering your postcode into the search bar to find a Gas Safe engineer near you. Alternatively, simply fill out our request a quote form to get quotes from three tradespeople near you.
Sam
need to move my property's gas and electricity meter outside. The distance that needs to be moved is around 3 - 4 meters, could you please recommend me of someone that is able to do this?
Checkatrade
Hi Mary, if you enter your postcode in the search bar, it will bring up a list of tradespeople near you. Alternatively, you can fill in our request a quote form to get quotes from four tradespeople near you.
Mary
I need to move my property's gas and electricity meter outside. The distance that needs to be moved is around 3 - 4 meters, could you please recommend me of someone that is able to do this?