Rewiring a two-bedroom flat—usually called an apartment or condo in the U.S.—typically costs $6,000-$14,000, with an average near $9,500. The final price depends on floor area, access to walls and ceilings, panel capacity, local electrician rates, and how much drywall repair is included.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete rewire | $6,000 | $9,500 | $14,000 | Approx. 800-1,100 sq ft; standard access |
| Price per square foot | $6 | $10 | $15 | Higher for difficult access or expensive labor markets |
| Electrical panel upgrade | $1,500 | $2,800 | $4,500 | May be additional if existing capacity is inadequate |
| Drywall patching and finish | $500 | $1,500 | $3,500 | Painting or extensive plaster repair can cost more |
What a Two-Bedroom Flat Rewire Typically Costs
For an 800-1,100-square-foot apartment with ordinary ceiling heights, accessible wiring routes, and standard-grade materials, a complete rewire commonly runs $6,000-$14,000. A practical planning figure is about $9,500 before unusual building requirements or major finish restoration. This usually covers replacing branch-circuit wiring, connecting typical outlets and switches, and testing the work.
Apartments with open walls and an adequate panel tend toward the lower end; occupied units with plaster walls, restricted access, or panel work tend toward the upper end. The quoted scope matters: some electricians include basic drywall patches, while others price patching, painting, fixtures, or permit fees separately.
At roughly $6-$15 per square foot, the area-based estimate is a useful first check, not a substitute for an inspection. A compact two-bedroom flat can still be expensive if wiring is buried in masonry or the building requires special access arrangements. Conversely, an empty unit undergoing renovation may cost less per square foot because walls and ceilings are already open.
Assumptions: U.S. pricing, standard copper wiring, typical residential outlets and switches, normal working hours, and no major service-line replacement.
How Electrician Labor, Wiring, and Patchwork Split the Quote
Labor is commonly the largest line item. A two-person electrical crew may spend four to seven working days on a full rewire, depending on the layout, access, and inspection schedule. Rates vary by market and contractor; a rough budgeting range is $75-$150 per electrician-hour, with local minimum charges and project pricing also common.
| Quote component | Typical range | What it may include |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician labor | $3,000-$7,500 | Removal or bypass, cable runs, boxes, connections, testing |
| Wire and electrical materials | $800-$2,000 | Copper cable, boxes, connectors, staples, standard devices |
| Panel and circuit work | $500-$4,500 | Minor circuit changes at low end; panel replacement at high end |
| Permit and inspection | $150-$800 | Local permit charges and required inspections |
| Drywall or plaster repair | $500-$3,500 | Cutout patching; extensive skim coating or painting may be extra |
| Removal and disposal | $150-$600 | Hauling old cable, devices, and job debris |
Ask for labor, materials, panel work, permits, and wall repair as separate quote lines. This makes it easier to compare bids that include different amounts of finish work. Fixture upgrades, new recessed lights, and premium switches can add cost beyond the basic rewire.
Why Apartment Size, Access, and Panel Capacity Change Price
Floor area affects cable length and the number of devices, but the number and location of circuits matter too. A 750-square-foot unit with many kitchen appliances or added lighting can require more circuit work than a larger flat with a simple layout. Ask the electrician to state how many outlets, switches, light points, and dedicated appliance circuits are included.
Wall construction can shift the quote sharply. Fishing cable through accessible stud walls is generally less disruptive than opening plaster, tile, concrete, or masonry. If more than about 20%-30% of wall surfaces need to be opened, patching and painting can add $1,500-$5,000 or more, depending on finish quality and local labor.
Panel capacity is a separate price driver, especially when the existing service cannot support the required circuits. A panel replacement may add $1,500-$4,500; a service upgrade, utility coordination, or building-wide electrical work can raise the bill further. In a condo, the unit owner may not control the meter room, riser, or shared electrical equipment, so building approval can affect both price and schedule.
Code requirements vary by location and project scope. Depending on the jurisdiction and the work performed, updates may be required for protected circuits, grounding, smoke alarms, or other safety provisions. A quote should identify assumptions and note whether code-related additions are included or billed if the inspector requires them.
Can a Partial Rewire Cost Less Than Replacing Every Circuit?
A targeted repair or partial rewire can cost substantially less when the problem is limited to a small number of circuits and the existing wiring is otherwise safe and serviceable. Replacing one accessible circuit might cost roughly $800-$2,500; adding a circuit for a range or other appliance may run $500-$1,500, depending on the route and panel space.
Those figures are not a direct substitute for a full-rewire quote. If several circuits have deteriorated insulation, unsafe splices, or outdated wiring throughout the apartment, a patchwork approach can lead to repeated visits and more wall opening. An electrician should inspect the wiring and explain which areas are safe to retain, which require replacement, and whether the panel can support the proposed work.
Choose repair only when the electrician can identify a contained fault and document the condition of the remaining circuits. If the unit is already being renovated, replacing accessible wiring at the same time may avoid paying for demolition and finish work twice. Buyers should also distinguish a full branch-circuit rewire from replacement of the building’s service or shared wiring, which is a different project.
Three Two-Bedroom Rewire Quotes at Different Scopes
These examples show how scope changes the total for a roughly 900-square-foot flat. They are illustrative U.S. estimates, not fixed national rates; local labor, permit rules, and building conditions can produce different bids.
| Scenario | Work and assumptions | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|
| Open-wall renovation | About 70 labor hours at $85-$110 per hour; standard copper cable and devices; panel retained; basic inspection | $6,500-$8,500 |
| Occupied unit, standard full rewire | About 90-115 labor hours at $95-$130 per hour; several access openings; modest patching; permit included | $9,000-$13,000 |
| Older flat with panel and plaster work | About 110-145 labor hours at $110-$150 per hour; panel replacement; extensive patching; difficult cable routes | $14,000-$21,000 |
Compare each bid against the same device count, circuit list, panel scope, permit allowance, and patching standard. For example, a lower quote may exclude painting or leave existing circuits in place, while a higher quote may include a panel upgrade and more wall restoration.
Where U.S. Labor Markets Push Flat Rewiring Prices
Electrician labor and permit charges vary considerably across the country. A flat rewire in a lower-cost suburban or rural market may come in around 10%-20% below a national planning estimate, while major coastal cities and high-cost metro areas can be 20%-40% higher. These are broad comparisons; access, building age, and contractor availability may matter more than the state alone.
Older urban apartment buildings can add costs through narrow work areas, limited elevator access, required building coordination, or rules about work hours. In rural locations, contractor travel or limited availability may instead add a trip charge or extend the wait for scheduling. Ask whether the estimate includes travel, parking, building fees, and after-hours work.
Use local written bids to set the budget rather than applying a national average as a guaranteed price. Two or three electricians who inspect the same unit can explain whether a higher estimate reflects local rates, difficult routing, more included restoration, or simply a different scope.
Which Prep and Finish Choices Can Lower the Rewire Bill
Before work starts, confirm which rooms and circuits are included and avoid adding new lighting, extra outlets, or premium controls unless they solve a real need. Each added point can require cable, labor, and sometimes wall repair. If the flat is undergoing a planned renovation, coordinating the rewire with demolition can reduce the need for electricians to cut through finished surfaces.
Homeowners can clear access to outlets, the panel, and work areas, and arrange building access in advance. They should not remove electrical devices or handle wiring themselves. Ask whether the contractor can leave serviceable fixtures in place, whether standard devices are included, and whether a less costly repair is appropriate for any isolated issue.
Agree on the patching boundary before accepting a bid. A quote for electrical work may only include small rough patches, not smooth plaster, texture matching, primer, or paint. Getting those finish tasks priced separately can reveal whether hiring a drywall contractor directly is less expensive, while preserving clear responsibility for inspection and safe electrical work.
Compare at least three detailed estimates where practical. Check that each specifies copper wire, circuit and device counts, panel work, permit responsibility, testing, cleanup, exclusions, and the price for unexpected concealed damage. A written change-order process helps prevent added work from turning a reasonable estimate into an open-ended bill.