Wall Plates & Switch Covers Price Comparison 2026
Compare 507 wall plates & switch covers from Legrand, GIRA, Berker and more — find the best price across top UK retailers.
Wall plates and switch covers are the unsung heroes of any electrical installation — the finishing touch that can make a room look polished or painfully dated. Our catalogue spans 507 products, from sub-4 £ thermoplastic blanks to premium brushed-aluminium designer frames pushing well past 11 £. The spread tells a story: this is a market where a £1 Legrand blank and a £90 Berker designer plate can sit side by side, and knowing which you actually need is half the battle.
Legrand dominates the volume end of this category with over 100 references, keeping average prices competitive. At the other end, Hager, Berker, and Busch-Jaeger cater to architects and specifiers who treat switch covers as interior design elements — their modular systems allow mixing sockets, USB ports, and data modules within a single frame. GIRA's Standard 55 range sits in an interesting middle ground: genuinely good build quality at prices that don't require a second mortgage. We've seen the GIRA 020903 listed with four competing offers, which is a reliable sign that comparison shopping pays off here.
One thing worth flagging for UK buyers: since Brexit, UKCA marking has progressively replaced CE marking for electrical accessories sold in Great Britain. Most reputable brands have updated their compliance, but it's worth checking — particularly for commercial or landlord installations where building regulations apply. For domestic DIY, the practical priority is matching your existing outlet box dimensions (the standard 86 mm × 86 mm European format is most common) and confirming the gang count before ordering.
Modular systems deserve a special mention. If you're fitting out a home office or a media wall, investing in a compatible modular platform — Legrand Arteor, GIRA Standard 55, or Schneider Electric Unica — means you can swap in keystone modules for HDMI, USB-C, or Cat6 without replacing the entire plate. The upfront cost is higher, but the flexibility is real. For straightforward single or double socket covers, though, there's no need to overthink it — a quality polycarbonate plate from a brand like connektgear or kenable does the job reliably at a fraction of the price. Compare live offers across merchants to make sure you're not overpaying for what is, ultimately, a commodity item.
How to Choose the Right Wall Plate or Switch Cover
With prices ranging from 1 £ to 55 £, the wall plate market is deceptively wide. Most buyers only need to answer three questions: does it fit the box, does it match the room, and does it carry the right certifications? But for modular or commercial installations, the choices get considerably more nuanced — here's what actually matters.
Gang count and module configuration
This is the most fundamental spec and the most common source of ordering mistakes. A 1-gang plate covers a single switch or socket position; 2-gang covers two, and so on up to 4-gang and beyond for modular frames. If you're replacing an existing plate, count the positions on the current one — don't assume. Modular systems like Legrand Arteor or GIRA Standard 55 add another layer: the frame size is fixed, but the internal modules (socket, switch, USB, data) are interchangeable. This is worth the premium if you anticipate changing the function of an outlet in future.
Dimensional fit with your electrical box
The plate must cover the electrical box cleanly, with no gaps at the edges. The dominant format in the UK and Europe is 86 mm × 86 mm for single-gang, but compact 71 mm × 71 mm boxes exist in older properties, and larger 120 mm formats appear in commercial settings. Measure before you order — a plate that's 5 mm too small looks worse than the bare box. Surface-mounted and flush-mounted boxes also have different depth requirements, so check the product datasheet if you're working with a shallow back box.
Material: thermoplastic, polycarbonate, or premium finishes
Standard thermoplastic plates (most Legrand and kenable budget lines) are perfectly adequate for domestic use — they're flame retardant, easy to clean, and cost very little. Polycarbonate offers noticeably better impact resistance and doesn't yellow as quickly under UV, making it the sensible choice for high-traffic areas or anywhere children are likely to make contact. At the premium end, phenolic resin, brushed stainless steel, and ceramic finishes (Berker, Busch-Jaeger) are genuinely different products — harder, more dimensionally stable, and resistant to the kind of surface crazing that makes cheap plates look tired after a few years. Expect to pay from 8 £ upwards for these materials.
Finish and colour consistency
Glossy white is the default, but it shows fingerprints badly and can clash with warm-toned interiors. Matte white and cream (see the GIRA Standard 55 Cream) age more gracefully and blend better with period properties. Brushed stainless and polished chrome are popular in kitchens and bathrooms but require IP-rated versions near water sources. The practical warning here: if you're adding plates to an existing installation, colour-matching between brands is unreliable — what Legrand calls 'white' and what GIRA calls 'white' can look noticeably different side by side. Buy from the same range if consistency matters.
IP rating for wet or outdoor locations
A standard wall plate carries an IP20 rating — fine for dry indoor rooms. Bathrooms require at minimum IP44 (splash-resistant) for zones 2 and 3, and IP65 for zone 1 (directly above a bath or shower). Kitchens near sinks benefit from IP44 as well. This isn't just best practice — it's a requirement under UK wiring regulations (BS 7671). Most budget plates are not IP-rated; check the datasheet explicitly rather than assuming. Brands like Hager and Berker offer IP-rated variants within their ranges, though these sit firmly in the 8 £–11 £ bracket.
Certification: UKCA, CE, and VDE
For any electrical accessory sold or installed in Great Britain, UKCA marking is now the relevant conformity mark (CE remains valid for Northern Ireland and EU markets). In practice, most major brands — Legrand, GIRA, Hager, Berker — carry both. Where it matters most is with grey-market imports or very cheap unbranded plates: absent or fake certification is a genuine safety risk, not a bureaucratic technicality. For landlords and commercial installers, non-compliant accessories can invalidate electrical installation certificates. Stick to named brands and verify the marking is present on the product itself, not just the packaging.
- Blanks and basics (From 1 £ to 4 £) : Legrand, kenable, and Cablenet dominate this tier with standard thermoplastic blanks, single-gang covers, and simple face plates. Perfectly functional for straightforward domestic replacements. Don't expect colour consistency between batches or any IP rating. Fine for a utility room; less ideal if aesthetics matter.
- The practical sweet spot (From 4 £ to 8 £) : Where most domestic buyers should be looking. GIRA Standard 55, mid-range Legrand, AV Link multimedia plates, and connektgear data face plates all sit here. Better material quality, more finish options, and the start of modular compatibility. Good value for living rooms, home offices, and hallways.
- Modular and designer territory (From 8 £ to 11 £) : Legrand Arteor, GIRA premium lines, and entry-level Busch-Jaeger. Polycarbonate or phenolic resin construction, broader finish options including brushed steel and chrome, and genuine modular system compatibility. Worth it for visible rooms or when you need to integrate USB, data, or AV modules into a single plate.
- Specification and premium design (Over 11 £) : Berker, Hager, and Busch-Jaeger at their upper end, plus Kramer Electronics AV integration plates. These are products for architects, high-end refurbishments, and commercial AV installations. The build quality is exceptional, but the price premium is partly for the brand and the system ecosystem. Overkill for most domestic projects — but genuinely the best available if budget isn't the constraint.
Top products
- Legrand 350511 wall plate/switch cover (Legrand) : The most-listed product in the category and a reliable workhorse from Legrand's professional range — solid build, consistent white finish. Not the cheapest option, but the four competing offers mean comparison shopping genuinely pays off here.
- GIRA 020903 wall plate/switch cover White (GIRA) : Excellent entry point into the GIRA Standard 55 ecosystem at a very accessible price. Clean white finish, good dimensional accuracy. The right choice if you're starting a GIRA installation without committing to a large upfront spend.
- GIRA Standard 55 Cream (GIRA) : The cream colourway is genuinely useful for period properties and warm-toned interiors where stark white looks out of place. Build quality is typically GIRA — above average for the price. Four offers available, so check current pricing before buying.
- AV Link 122.500UK wall plate/switch cover White (AV Link) : A practical multimedia face plate aimed at home AV installations. Good value for integrating coaxial or AV connectors into a standard wall plate format. Not a premium product — the finish is functional rather than stylish — but it does the job at a fair price.
- Digitus Face plate for Multimedia / Keystone Modules (Digitus) : The standout choice for structured cabling and home network installations. Accepts standard keystone modules for Cat6, HDMI, USB-C, and more. Slightly utilitarian in appearance — fine for a home office or server cupboard, less ideal for a living room feature wall.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What does '2-gang' mean on a wall plate?
A 2-gang wall plate has two separate module positions — meaning it can house two switches, two sockets, or a combination of both side by side on a single plate. Gang count simply refers to the number of functional positions: 1-gang has one, 3-gang has three, and so on. When replacing an existing plate, always match the gang count to your back box — a 2-gang plate will not fit a 1-gang box without modification.
Do I need UKCA marking on wall plates bought for a UK property?
Yes — for Great Britain, UKCA marking is the required conformity mark for electrical accessories, having progressively replaced CE marking post-Brexit. In practice, most established brands (Legrand, GIRA, Hager) carry both marks. The risk is with very cheap unbranded plates imported without proper certification: these may fail fire-resistance or insulation tests, and using them in a rental property can invalidate your electrical installation certificate. Always check the marking is on the product itself, not just the box.
Can I use any wall plate in a bathroom?
No — bathrooms require IP-rated wall plates, and the required rating depends on the zone. Zone 2 (within 0.6 m of a shower or bath) requires at minimum IP44 (splash-resistant). Zone 1 (directly above the bath or shower tray) requires IP65. Standard domestic plates are rated IP20 and are not suitable for wet areas. This is a requirement under BS 7671 UK wiring regulations, not just a recommendation. Brands like Hager and Berker offer compliant IP-rated variants, though these cost more than standard plates.
Are Legrand and GIRA wall plates interchangeable?
No — Legrand and GIRA plates use proprietary modular systems that are not cross-compatible. A Legrand Arteor module will not clip into a GIRA Standard 55 frame, and vice versa. This is a deliberate design choice by both brands to maintain system integrity. If you're starting a new installation, pick one ecosystem and stick to it. If you're extending an existing one, identify the brand and range already fitted before ordering — mixing systems results in mismatched aesthetics at best and non-fitting parts at worst.
What's the difference between flush-mounted and surface-mounted wall plates?
Flush-mounted plates sit flush with the wall surface because the back box is recessed into the wall; surface-mounted plates sit proud of the wall because the box is fixed on top of it. Flush mounting gives a cleaner, more modern look and is standard in new builds. Surface mounting is easier to retrofit — no chasing required — and is common in older properties or where chasing isn't practical (e.g., solid stone walls). The plates themselves are often the same; it's the back box that differs. Check which type your existing installation uses before ordering.
Is it worth paying more for polycarbonate plates over standard thermoplastic?
For high-traffic areas, yes — polycarbonate is meaningfully better. It resists impact cracking, doesn't yellow under UV exposure, and maintains its surface finish longer than standard thermoplastic. In a hallway, kitchen, or children's bedroom, the difference is noticeable after two or three years. For a rarely-touched plate in a utility room or loft, standard thermoplastic at 1 £–4 £ is perfectly adequate. The upgrade to polycarbonate typically adds a modest cost but extends the useful life considerably.
Which brands should I avoid for cheap wall plates?
Avoid unbranded or unknown-origin plates with no visible UKCA or CE marking, regardless of how low the price is. The risk isn't just poor aesthetics — substandard flame retardancy is a genuine fire hazard in the event of an electrical fault. Within the named brands in this category, even the budget end (kenable, Cablenet) produces compliant products. The danger zone is marketplace listings with no brand, no certification mark, and prices well below 1 £ — these are almost always non-compliant imports. For anything going into a rented property or commercial space, this isn't worth the risk.