ATS provide a national service with over 20 years experience and local qualified ATS technicians in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT and NT .
Our ATS technicians will inspect, test and tag your items at your workplace normally on a per unit test rate. Included in our test and tag unit rate is labour, test tags and reporting.
As all facilities are different, we recommend you contact us for a customised test and tag quote based on your specific requirements.
How Much Does Test and Tag Cost in Australia?
The honest answer is: it depends — on the number of items you have, your location, the type of equipment, and the provider you choose. But to give you a useful starting point:
Typical test and tag pricing in Australia:
| Pricing Factor | Typical Range (+ GST) |
| Call-out / minimum fee | $200 – $250 |
| Per item — small jobs (< 50 items) | $5.00 – $9.50 per item |
| Per item — medium jobs (50–200 items) | $3.50 – $6.00 per item |
| Per item — large jobs (200+ items) | $2.50 – $4.00 per item |
| RCD testing | $10 – $20 per RCD |
| After-hours / weekend premium | Various |
What this means in practice:
- A small office with 40 items might pay $200–$250 all up (minimum call-out covers most of it)
- A hospitality venue with 150 items might pay $500–$800 + GST
- A construction site with 300 items might pay $750–$1,200 + GST
- A large facility with 1,000+ items benefits from significantly reduced per-item rates
| Business Type | Typical Item Count | Estimated Cost |
| Small office | 40 items | $200 – $250 all up |
| Hospitality venue / café | 150 items | $500 – $800 |
| Construction site | 300 items | $750 – $1,200 |
| Large facility / multi-floor / multi-site | 1,000+ items | Volume rate likely applicable |
The best way to get an accurate figure is a free quote. ATS provides free, no-obligation quotes tailored to your site — usually within 24 hours.
What Affects the Cost of Test and Tag?
1. Number of items
This is the biggest driver. Most providers, including ATS, charge a lower per-item rate as volume increases. A site with 500 items pays significantly less per item than one with 20. Clients with large volumes of testing such as multi-site or large national operators typically are charged a lower per unit rate.
2. Location
All providers factor in travel time, particularly for regional and remote sites. Metro sites (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide) attract lower rates. ATS has technicians in hundreds of locations nationally, minimising travel costs.
3. Type and complexity of equipment
Standard portable appliances (power tools, leads, office equipment) are quick to test. Specialised equipment, three-phase appliances, or items requiring additional tests attract higher per-item rates.
4. Environment and access requirements
Sites requiring PPE, complex inductions, height access, or after-hours visits involve additional cost. Construction, mining, and healthcare facilities often have access requirements that can affect pricing.
5. Frequency of testing
Regular scheduled testing programs typically attract lower rates than ad-hoc one-off visits. If your equipment requires testing every 3 or 6 months, a scheduled contracted service agreement with ATS can reduce your overall cost per item.
6. Additional services
Combining RCD testing, exit and emergency light testing, or fire equipment testing into the same visit is more cost-effective than separate bookings. ATS can bundle multiple compliance services into a single visit to reduce your overall safety compliance costs.
In-House vs Specialist Provider Cost Comparison
There is a misconception that completing your testing and tagging “in-house” is cheaper than using a specialist contractor. In fact, it is quite the opposite!
It’s not just the cost of the equipment and tags you need to consider. Just think of the time it takes to train, and retrain an in-house competent person alone. Then consider the cost of compliance reporting, data management, and ongoing management of your program. When you add it all up you will be amazed at how much your program is truly costing.
It’s not just the cost of the equipment and tags you need to consider. Just think of the time it takes to train, and retrain an in-house competent person alone. Then consider the cost of compliance reporting, data management, and ongoing management of your program. When you add it all up you will be amazed at how much your program is truly costing.
We welcome you to contact the one of our team to discuss how engaging a specialist service provider to test and tag your appliances will not only save you money, but will improve your program outcomes.
For a no obligation quote, please complete the form below, or feel free to give us a call to talk about your specific requirements so we can customise a quotation for you.
Example Test and Tag Program – 2000 Tests on one Site |
||
|---|---|---|
| Year One – Includes Program Set Up and Testing of 2000 Items | In House Cost | Specialist Provider Cost |
| Portable Appliance Tester | $ 3,300.00 | – |
| Thermal Printer | $ 2,200.00 | – |
| Bar Code Scanner | $ 600.00 | – |
| PAT Software | $ 1,600.00 | – |
| Wax Thermal Ribbon | $ 75.00 | – |
| Serial Cable for Download | $ 115.00 | – |
| RCD/ Microwave Manager Tester | $ 600.00 | – |
| Firmware/Software Upgrades / Logo Suite | $ 175.00 | – |
| Mobile Trolley / Carry Unit | $ 700.00 | – |
| Test Adaptors Rigs | $ 450.00 | – |
| Additional Tools / Equipment required | $ 175.00 | – |
| Tags and Overlays | $ 210.00 | – |
| Reporting Set-up / Code Changes | $ 150.00 | – |
| Yearly Calibration | $ 250.00 | – |
| Staff Training Course – one person | $ 400.00 | – |
| Australian Standard | $ 130.00 | – |
| Labour 250 hours @ $30.00 / hour | $ 7,500.00 | – |
| Test and tag of items by specialist provider at $ 3.50 + GST per test | – | $ 7,000.00 |
| Approximate Weeks to Complete Program | 5 – 6 weeks | 1 – 2 weeks |
| TOTAL YEAR ONE COST | $ 18,680.00 | $ 7,000.00 |
| Year 2 – Retesting of 2000 Items | In House Cost | Specialist Provider Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Labour 250 hours @ $30.00 / hour | $ 7,500.00 | – |
| Repairs / Maintenance / Upgrades | $ 250.00 | – |
| Equipment Calibration | $ 250.00 | – |
| Tags/ Overlays/ Consumables | $ 450.00 | – |
| Test and tag of items by specialist provider at $ 3.50 + GST per test | – | $ 7,000.00 |
| TOTAL YEAR TWO COST | $ 8,450.00 | $ 7,000.00 |
| Year 3 – Retesting of 2000 Items | In House Cost | Specialist Provider Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Labour 250 hours @ $30.00 / hour | $ 7,500.00 | – |
| Repairs / Maintenance / Upgrades | $ 250.00 | – |
| Equipment Calibration | $ 250.00 | – |
| Tags/ Overlays/ Consumables | $ 450.00 | – |
| Test and tag of items by specialist provider at $ 3.50 + GST per test | – | $ 7,000.00 |
| TOTAL YEAR THREE COST | $ 8,450.00 | $ 7,000.00 |
| In House Cost | Specialist Provider Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL INVESTMENT OVER THREE YEARS | $ 35,580.00 | $ 21,000.00 |
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What’s Included When You Use ATS?
When you book a test and tag service with ATS, here’s what’s included in the price — with no hidden extras:
- Visual inspection of every appliance — cord, plug, body, and socket outlet
- Electrical testing using calibrated PAT equipment to AS/NZS 3760:2022
- Printed tags applied on-site (PASS or FAIL) with test date, retest date, and technician ID
- Digital asset register uploaded to the AIM portal in real time
- Compliance documentation available immediately after the visit
- Retest reminders — we track your due dates and notify you when testing is coming up
- Minor repair assessment — failed items assessed for on-site repair where possible (excl QLD)
- Public liability and Professional indemnity insurance — ATS carries full cover on every job
Quoted separately (not in standard price):
- Minor repairs — plug or cord replacement, quoted on request
- RCD testing — can be combined into the same visit at reduced cost
- After-hours or weekend visits — quoted on request
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does test and tag cost per item in Australia?
Per-item pricing typically ranges from $2.50 to $9.50 + GST, depending on the number of items, location, and provider. Most providers also charge a call-out or minimum fee of $100–$250 + GST. The per-item rate decreases as volume increases. ATS provides free, tailored quotes — get yours here!
Is there a minimum charge for test and tag?
Yes — most providers apply a minimum service fee to cover technician travel, setup, and administration. This typically ranges from $200–$250 + GST across the industry and usually covers the first 30–50 items. If you only have a small number of items, the minimum fee is often the most relevant figure.
Is it cheaper to do test and tag in-house or use a specialist?
For most businesses, using a specialist is cheaper once you account for the true cost of in-house testing: calibrated equipment ($1,500–$3,000 capital), annual calibration ($200–$400), staff training ($500–$1,000), consumables, staff time, and record-keeping software. See our detailed comparison above.
Does the price include compliance records and reporting?
Yes — with ATS, digital records, your asset register, and compliance documentation are all included in the service price via the AIM reporting portal. There is no additional charge for documentation.
Do prices vary by state in Australia?
Yes, to some degree. Remote and regional locations typically attract higher rates due to travel time. Metro pricing is broadly consistent across capital cities. ATS has technicians across Australia which helps keep rates competitive in most areas.
Can I get a better rate for multiple sites or large item counts?
Yes. Businesses with multiple sites or large item counts can typically negotiate lower per-item rates. ATS works with many national and multi-site clients — contact us to discuss a program tailored to your business.
Is test and tag pricing per visit or per item?
Most providers (including ATS) use a per-item pricing model, plus a call-out or minimum fee. This makes pricing transparent and easy to budget for — you know exactly what each item costs before the technician arrives.
What if some of my items fail? Is there an extra charge?
Fail-tagged items are documented in your compliance report at no extra charge. If a failed item can be repaired on-site — plug replacement or cord repair — ATS technicians can often do this during the visit and will then test the item again to ensure its safety. Minor repairs are quoted separately at a flat rate per repair. Due to QLD licencing requirements, minor repairs are not offered in QLD.
what our clients say…
The technicians were friendly and patient. They worked around our staff requirements on the day. Highly recommend!
Sydney Trains, Sydney
ATS were fantastic. Self directed and understood the need to be very flexible in a hospital environment. Excellent thank you.
Frances Perry House, Melbourne
Very efficient and a pleasure to work with. Excellent scheduling communication. Highly recommend the service.
Zuster, Melbourne