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SV-05 · Supply

Electrical Cable Prices: What Affects the Cost

What sets the electrical cable price? Copper, size, cores, length and drum or cut length. Learn how to compare quotes, then request a free quote near you.

Cut ends of copper cables of different sizes laid out on a supplier's counter for comparison
Cut ends of copper cables of different sizes laid out on a supplier's counter for comparison

Everyone wants to know the electrical cable price before starting a job, but cable is one of the most volatile materials on a building site. Prices follow the copper market, so a quote from last month may already be out of date. ElectricalCable.co.za doesn't sell cable or publish a price list. Instead, we pass your request to an independent cable supplier or electrical contractor near you, who quotes for your actual sizes and lengths at today's price. The request is free and you are never obliged to accept the quote.

What drives the price of electrical cable

  • Copper price: the conductor is most of the cost, and copper moves with world markets and the rand
  • Size: a 16 mm² cable carries far more copper than a 2.5 mm² cable
  • Cores: 4-core costs more than 3-core or 2-core of the same size
  • Construction: armouring, XLPE insulation and special sheaths add cost
  • Conductor: aluminium is cheaper than copper for large feeders but needs a bigger size
  • Length and packaging: drum or roll versus cut length
  • Delivery: distance, drum handling and returnable drums
  • Brand and approval: SANS-approved cable from established makers costs more than unmarked imports

Price per metre, per roll or per drum

An electrical cable price per meter is useful for small jobs, but it is usually the most expensive way to buy. An electrical cable 100m price for a boxed roll of surfix or house wire normally works out cheaper per metre, and full drums of armoured cable cheaper again. Some suppliers charge a cutting fee for odd lengths or a deposit on wooden drums. Ask how the quote is calculated, so you can compare like with like. If you are not sure of the length, ask your electrician to measure the route and add a small allowance for terminations.

Why an online price list can mislead

An electrical cable price list found online may be months old, may exclude VAT or delivery, or may be for a cheaper, non-approved product. Hardware store prices for a few metres don't reflect trade pricing on a drum. Cheap electrical wire price offers sometimes involve undersized conductors or copper-clad aluminium, which can overheat. Cable for fixed wiring should be made to the relevant SANS standard and marked on the sheath. A slightly higher price for genuine, full-size copper cable is cheap insurance against a fire or a failed COC.

Supply versus installed cost

The cable itself is only part of the bill. Installation adds trenching, conduit, cable tray, glands, lugs, terminations, labour, testing and the Certificate of Compliance. If you need cable installed, ask for a supply-and-install quote so nothing is left out. On long trenches and big feeders the installation can cost as much as the cable. Send the cable sizes, lengths and what the cable feeds, and get a free quote.

Comparing electrical cable prices prices

Cable prices change with the copper price, size, brand and quantity. When quotes arrive, check:

  • Exact specification: size in mm², cores, conductor, insulation, armour and voltage rating.
  • Quantity: cut length or full drum, and whether the drum deposit is refundable.
  • Standards: SABS-marked cable to the relevant SANS standard, not unmarked imports.
  • Delivery: lead time, delivery to site and offloading of heavy drums.

What to include in your request

  • Each cable type, size, number of cores and length
  • Copper or aluminium, and armoured or not
  • Supply only, or supply and installation
  • Delivery address and required date
  • A bill of quantities or drawing if you have one

Frequently asked questions

Why don't you show cable prices?
Cable prices follow the copper price and can change from week to week, so a published list would quickly be wrong. Suppliers who receive your request quote at current prices for your exact sizes and lengths, and can tell you how long the quote is valid.
Is it cheaper to buy a full drum of cable?
Usually, yes. Full rolls and drums cost less per metre than cut lengths, and some suppliers charge a cutting fee. Ask about drum deposits, cutting fees and whether leftover cable can be returned before you order.
Why do two cable quotes differ so much?
Quotes can differ in size, number of cores, conductor material, brand, approval to SANS standards, VAT, delivery and whether installation is included. Check each line carefully and ask suppliers to quote on the same specification. The cheapest line total is not always the best value.
Does the cable price include installation?
A supply-only quote covers the cable and possibly delivery. Installation by a registered electrician is quoted separately or as a supply-and-install price, which includes labour, accessories such as glands and lugs, trenching where needed, testing and the COC.

Electrical Cable Prices by province

Electrical Cable Prices by city

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