Rewiring a house typically costs $8,000-$20,000 for a 1,500- to 2,000-square-foot home, with difficult access, plaster walls, and extensive repairs pushing the bill higher. House rewiring price depends most on home size, wiring condition, circuit needs, labor rates, and how much wall or ceiling repair is included.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-house rewire | $5,000 | $12,000 | $30,000+ | Typical range for roughly 1,000-2,500 sq ft; complex work can exceed this |
| Per-square-foot price | $4 | $8 | $15+ | Higher when access is difficult or finish repairs are included |
| Electrical panel upgrade | $1,500 | $2,500 | $4,500 | May be separate from the rewire quote |
| Permit and inspection | $100 | $400 | $1,000 | Varies by jurisdiction and project scope |
What a full house rewire costs by home size
For a typical U.S. home, a complete rewire often runs $4-$10 per square foot before unusual access problems or major finish restoration. A small, straightforward house may cost $5,000-$9,000; a mid-size home commonly lands around $9,000-$18,000; and a large or complicated property can reach $20,000-$30,000 or more.
For a 1,500-square-foot house with accessible wiring, budget about $8,000-$16,000, including ordinary labor and materials. The estimate generally assumes standard copper wiring, a licensed electrician, replacement of accessible branch circuits, and a modest number of outlets and switches. It may not include a new service connection, extensive drywall repair, or upgraded fixtures.
Price per square foot is a planning measure, not a guaranteed bid. A compact two-story home can cost more per square foot than a larger open-plan house if crews must open finished walls, work around built-ins, or route circuits through tight attic and crawl-space areas.
Assumptions: U.S. mid-market labor rates, standard copper cable, ordinary access, and no major structural repair.
Where electrician, wire, and permit charges appear
A quote should separate the electrician’s work from materials and related charges. Ask whether the listed total covers patching, cleanup, testing, permit fees, and panel work. Labor and wall access usually account for more of the total than the wire itself.
| Quote component | Typical price | What it may include | Common cost trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician labor | $50-$130 per hour; often $4,000-$12,000 total | Removing or bypassing old wiring, routing circuits, installing devices, testing | Long runs, occupied rooms, limited access |
| Wire and electrical materials | $1,000-$4,000 per home | Copper cable, boxes, breakers, connectors, staples | More circuits, larger house, specialty cable |
| Panel and service work | $1,500-$4,500 | Panel replacement or capacity upgrade, grounding work | Insufficient spaces or outdated equipment |
| Permits and inspections | $100-$1,000 | Local permit, scheduled inspection, administrative charges | Multiple inspections or service changes |
| Wall repair and cleanup | $500-$5,000+ | Patch work, drywall finishing, debris removal | Plaster, large openings, premium finishes |
For labor planning, some projects take roughly 80-160 electrician and helper hours, though crew size and site conditions change the schedule. A useful estimate check is ; the contractor’s labor total may also include supervision, travel, and business overhead, so it will not always equal a simple hourly multiplication.
How square footage, plaster, and circuit needs change bids
Home size is only one driver. The amount of accessible wall cavity, number of floors, ceiling type, and distance between the electrical panel and rooms can shift labor substantially. Two houses with the same square footage can have quotes thousands of dollars apart when one requires extensive opening and repair.
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Plaster or lath walls: Cutting and fishing wire through old plaster can add about $1,000-$5,000 compared with accessible drywall, especially when patching and repainting are part of the contract.
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Home size and layout: A 1,000-square-foot home may need $5,000-$12,000 of work; a 2,500-square-foot home can run $14,000-$30,000 when there are multiple floors or complex routing.
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Number of circuits: A basic rewire may replace existing circuits, while adding dedicated circuits for a range, dryer, HVAC equipment, or workshop tools can add roughly $300-$1,000 per circuit, depending on cable distance and breaker requirements.
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Panel capacity: If a 100-amp panel lacks space or capacity for the planned loads, upgrading to a 200-amp service can add around $1,500-$4,500. Utility-side work or a meter relocation may raise the amount.
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Access and occupancy: Open framing during renovation is generally less expensive to wire than a finished, furnished home. Crawl spaces under 18 inches high or difficult attic access can increase labor time.
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Age and condition: Knob-and-tube wiring, damaged insulation, aluminum branch wiring, or unsafe prior alterations may require extra removal, isolation, or inspection. The electrician should identify these conditions rather than assume all old wiring can be replaced in the same way.
A bid should specify whether it replaces every branch circuit or only selected wiring, and whether old wiring will be removed, abandoned safely, or left in place where removal would damage the structure. Those scope details matter when comparing totals.
How much labor time a rewire takes
A straightforward rewire may take a crew of two or three about 3-7 working days, with another week or longer possible for a large house, difficult routing, or inspections and repairs. The electrical work can be staged room by room, but power may be unavailable in parts of the home during portions of the job.
Labor time rises when electricians must work around finished surfaces instead of open framing. Before work starts, ask the contractor to outline crew size, expected days on site, when power will be shut off, and whether the estimate includes after-hours work. An occupied home may require more protection and room-by-room sequencing than a vacant property.
Labor rates commonly fall around $50-$130 per hour per electrician, with regional and company differences. A low hourly rate does not necessarily mean a lower total if the crew expects more hours, charges separately for helpers, or excludes finish repair. Compare the written scope and projected labor, not just the advertised rate.
How regional electrician rates shift the estimate
Labor markets, housing costs, permitting, and contractor availability make local quotes differ from national planning ranges. Major coastal cities and high-cost metro areas may price a rewire about 15%-35% above a mid-market estimate. Smaller cities and rural areas may come in roughly 5%-20% below it, although fewer available contractors or long travel distances can erase that difference.
Use a local licensed electrician’s site visit to replace national per-square-foot figures with a workable budget. For example, a $12,000 mid-market scope could land near $13,800-$16,200 in a costly metro, while a comparable rural quote might be around $9,600-$11,400 if access and contractor availability are favorable.
These percentages are broad planning comparisons, not fixed regional tariffs. Local permit requirements, union labor, property age, and whether the home is occupied can matter as much as the state. Get at least three bids that describe the same circuits, devices, panel work, and restoration obligations.
Three rewire quotes for common house scenarios
The examples below illustrate how scope changes the total. They assume licensed labor and ordinary weekday scheduling; actual regional bids may differ. Compare the included work before treating a lower total as a better price.
| House and scope | Work estimate | Illustrative total | Cost notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft, one story, accessible attic, standard devices | 70-100 labor hours; about $6-$10 per sq ft | $6,000-$10,000 | Assumes panel is serviceable and wall repair is limited |
| 1,500 sq ft, two stories, plaster walls, panel replacement | 120-180 labor hours; about $9-$15 per sq ft | $14,000-$23,000 | Includes more difficult fishing, patching allowance, and $1,500-$4,000 panel work |
| 2,400 sq ft, finished home, several added circuits | 180-280 labor hours; about $8-$14 per sq ft | $20,000-$34,000 | Final figure depends on access, device count, and finish restoration |
The totals are illustrative rather than price guarantees. One contractor may include drywall patching while another leaves it to a separate trade; likewise, some bids include disposal and permit coordination while others list them as allowances or exclusions.
When partial rewiring costs less than replacing every circuit
Replacing only unsafe or damaged circuits can cost about $1,500-$6,000 for a limited project, depending on the number of rooms and access. That option may suit a targeted repair when an electrician confirms that the remaining wiring is safe and compatible with the home’s electrical needs.
Partial work is not a reliable substitute for a full rewire when old wiring is widespread, deteriorated, or repeatedly failing. A focused job may address one problem area but leave other circuits unchanged. Ask the electrician to document which wiring remains, its condition, and any limitations that could affect insurance, future renovations, or equipment upgrades.
A full rewire generally costs more upfront but provides broader replacement of branch-circuit wiring. A panel upgrade alone does not replace old wires inside the walls, and new outlets do not prove that the circuit feeding them is new. The written scope should say exactly which conductors, devices, grounding connections, and protective components will be replaced.
How to lower a house rewiring quote without cutting safety
Cost control works best when the project scope is clear and electricians can work efficiently. Prepare the house, compare equivalent bids, and avoid paying for upgrades that are not needed or required.
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Schedule during a planned renovation: If walls are already open, electricians can route cable with less cutting and patching. Coordinate the electrical work before drywall installation rather than reopening finished surfaces later.
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Clear access: Move furniture, empty the immediate work area, and make attic or crawl-space access available. Confirm with the contractor which preparation tasks are safe for the homeowner to do.
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Set device locations in advance: Mark outlet, switch, and appliance locations before the quote is finalized. Late changes can add cable runs, labor, and drywall repair.
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Compare identical scopes: Ask each bidder to list the number of circuits, outlets, switches, panel work, permit fees, testing, cleanup, and patching. A cheaper quote may exclude substantial finish work.
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Request itemized options: Separate necessary code corrections and safety work from optional upgrades, such as extra convenience outlets or premium devices. Keep required protection and grounding intact.
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Ask about repair versus replacement: For a localized fault, a licensed electrician can assess whether a limited repair is safe and appropriate. Do not assume a partial fix will resolve hazards in wiring elsewhere.
Permits and inspections should be included or clearly identified in the estimate. Skipping required approvals can create problems at resale or during an insurance claim, and concealed wiring should be inspected before walls are closed. Ask who schedules inspections and who pays if a correction is required.