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How much does Rewiring cost in 2024?

The average price of rewiring is
$7,000

This figure varies based on the size of your house, the type of rewiring project, and your location in the USA. Each electrician prices their services in a different way, too.

Are you looking to hire an electrician to rewire your home? Find out how much they’ll charge in this useful price guide.

How much does Rewiring cost in 2024?

The average price of rewiring is $7,000. This figure varies based on the size of your house, the type of rewiring project, and your location in the USA. Each electrician prices their services in a different way, too. 

It’s recommended that your wiring is inspected every 10 years by a registered electrician, to make sure that safety standards are being met. Even newer houses may need rewiring if the existing wiring is damaged or has been messed with by a DIY-enthusiast.

Rewiring a house typically involves upgrading the circuit breaker box and replacing the existing wiring. This is also a good time to choose to have more power outlets added to your home for: 

  • Appliances

  • Phone chargers

  • Televisions 

  • Computers

  • Extra switches 

You may find that your property needs to be rewired if you’re planning a renovation, such as an extension or converting your garage or attic into living space. This is because your existing wiring will need to be upgraded to safely carry the additional load.

The number of electricians employed in the US has grown 29.9% annually between 2014 and 2022. This translates to more competitive pricing across the country. 

Read our webpage below for details on rewiring costs in the USA. Keep in mind that all figures listed on this page are based on our data and research. If you want a personalized quotation, get in touch with an electrician near you.

How long does rewiring take?

electrician rewiring house sockets

You can expect rewiring to take anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks. It depends on how complicated the job is, along with the size of your house.

A small apartment without many wires can be done in a few days. But when you’re rewiring a four-bedroom house, it’s going to take much longer. This translates to the price too.

Your electrician will advise whether you should move out during the rewiring process. If it’s set to take three weeks, and you won’t have electricity in key rooms, this might be easier and safer. This should be factored into your budget.

Get in touch with an electrician near you for a customized timeframe for your project.

Rewiring price USA

The average price of rewiring is $7,000. This is for a ‘typical’ scenario: a three-bedroom property in a state with medium level prices. You might expect the figure to go up in California, New York or Connecticut. Meanwhile if you live in West Virginia, South Dakota or Utah, it could be less pricey.

The lowest cost you should expect for rewiring is $1,500. This is for very small apartment projects, which can be completed in a couple of days. Meanwhile, if you live in an enormous house with complex needs, it can go up to $15,000.

Lots of electricians charge by square footage. The lower end of the price range is $1 per linear square foot, but this can go up to $4 per square foot on the higher end. A typical price is around $2.50 per linear square foot.

You might need an electrician to inspect your house and advise on the size of your project. If they calculate the linear square footage involved, you can budget accordingly. You could be able to negotiate a discount with the largest projects.

House sizeColumn 2
1 bedroom$2,000
2 bedroom$4,000
3 bedroom$7,000
4 bedroom$10,000
5 bedroom$13,000

Types of rewiring projects

electrician rewiring a house plan

Not all rewiring projects are the same. Each one comes with its own timeframe, challenges, and price range. You can see a summary of each one below.

Wiring a new house

Wiring a new house is a common project in new developments. This isn’t as expensive as rewiring an older building. The property is easier to access and doesn’t have outdated systems that need to be removed. Recent properties are designed to be easier for electricians to wire. You can expect to pay 15% less for this, compared to rewiring. This is around $5,950 on average for a 3-bedroom property.

Upgrading an electrical panel

This is a smaller task, and thus costs less than some of the figures listed above. It depends on the strength of the panel. A 200-amp panel comes in at around $1,500, with slightly lower for a 150-amp panel, or more expensive for a stronger one. This task can usually be completed in a couple of days.

Opening walls to allow wiring

If you need to open walls to run wires into an existing house, your electrician might charge an extra ‘knock down’ price. Stone walls are more costly to open, while wood is less expensive. If lots of walls are knocked down, the price will go much higher. Speak to your electrician about limiting this if you don’t want to pay too much.

Adding wires for new technology

Another smaller task is adding wires for new technology. This could be necessary if you’ve installed burglar alarms, CCTV, or smoke detectors. Prices are roughly $400 for this, and are often included as part of the installation package for the tech. You might get a discount if you get both installed at the same time. 

Installing an electrical outlet or switch

The greater the voltage, the higher the price will be. Each outlet costs $150 on average, but this can rise significantly higher for the most powerful ones. This task can often be done in one day and this reduces your price considerably. 

Type of projectAverage price
Wiring a new house$5,950
Upgrading an electrical panel$1,500
Opening walls to allow wiring$2,000
Adding wires for new technology$400
Installing electrical outlet or switch$150

What impacts the cost of rewiring?

electrician rewiring professionals

Rewiring your house can vary dramatically in cost, based on several different factors. It’s not just about the size of your house, but the complexity of the project, and your location in the US. See more on this below.

Property size

Your price for rewiring goes up if you live in a larger house. That’s because your electrician needs more equipment, time, and possibly labor to complete the work. More unexpected problems tend to appear in a larger house too – especially if it’s older, and thus has an outdated system.

Type of project

Rewiring a five-bedroom house is a large project, but replacing a couple of sockets is not. Likewise, if you want to add wires that supports a new CCTV camera, this is inexpensive compared to wiring a new house from scratch. 

Location

Some states across the US have higher prices than others. You tend to pay above average in Connecticut, New York, California and Florida. But you’ll pay much less in Iowa, Arkansas, Tennessee and Georgia. Your electrician could charge more if they live far away from your house, to cover their transport costs. Picking someone close by could help in this regard.

Electrician

Some electricians charge based on the size of your house. Others charge an hourly or daily rate, which is used to calculate the price. And you’ll find plenty of electricians that charge by linear square footage of the wiring that needs to be looked at.

You may be able to negotiate on price with certain electricians. But others are unwilling to do this. If they live far away from your house, they could charge a call-out fee on your initial inspection. But if they’re local, they may stop by for free.

Paying an electrician versus DIY rewiring

Paying an expert to rewire your house helps to reduce your time and stress. You’ll need to spend lots of time researching the necessary skills and equipment if you’ve never done this before. And in that case, you’re extremely vulnerable to a mistake that’ll potentially put you and your loved ones in danger. 

DIY rewiring is only worth considering if you’re a qualified electrician with experience in this area. Otherwise, you could do more harm than good. Fixing mistakes can cost much more in the long run. So, even if you attempt DIY to save money, it can have the opposite effect. 

There’s no denying that some professional electricians are better than others, so just ensure you do your research before making your choice. Get proof of past jobs they’ve completed and speak to their satisfied customers.

In an ideal world, when you bring in an electrician, you’ll arrange all relevant electrical certificates explaining past work completed. This ensures your electrician doesn’t start from scratch. 

Should I get my house rewired?

electrician rewiring professional

You should get an inspection completed of your house by a qualified electrician. If they suggest that you rewire your house, you should follow their advice.

Rewiring your house is worth doing before you sell your house on the open market, if it’s needed. Otherwise, you might struggle to find a willing buyer who’ll pay full value. You could have to sell to a cash buyer at a reduced price instead.

House rewiring is also essential for the safety of everyone in your home. This is an especially high priority if you have young children, who might not follow your instructions to stay away from loose wires.

Ask your electrician how long the project will take, and if you need to move out for the duration. You should prepare for this in advance. Finding accommodation for a few weeks costs extra money. Ask friends or family if they can help out. 

It’s better safe than sorry, so bring in an inspector who can give you their opinion on the situation. This ensures no one gets hurt or the situation doesn’t become too bad.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my house needs rewiring?

There’re a few common signs that your wiring is faulty and needs to be looked at. Burning smells is one of the most common, and wires becoming visible out of the walls is another. If you keep getting electric shocks from the wires, then this is a problem. And if some switches or plugs are no longer working, then perhaps your electrical system is old and needs to be revisited.

Get an inspection from an expert and they can tell you whether rewiring is needed. Safety should be your top priority, so if you suspect there’s issues with your wiring, get it checked soon before it’s too late!

Does rewiring improve my property value?

Yes. If your property needs rewiring, then you’ll need to make buyers aware of this when you sell your house. This translates into a reduced offer.

So, if you get rewiring completed before listing your house on the market, you’ll be able to sell at a higher price. Speak to your electrician to manage costs carefully. This ensures that you add more value onto your property, than you spend on getting the work done.

How do I select the best electrician?

You should do careful research and speak to several experts. Wiring is an area that a ‘typical’ person doesn’t know much about. If this applies to you, you don’t want to get tricked into spending more than is necessary. A trusted, independent opinion is a great way to start. 

Speak to friends and family nearby and ask if they can recommend local electricians. You should check the online reviews to see what past customers have said. Gather a few quotations, but make sure it’s no-obligation. 

Then match up your opinion on their ability, to the price they’re offering. It’s often better to pay more if it gets a better result.

How can I keep down rewiring costs?

Ask your electrician about how you can limit the number of walls that must be opened during the rewiring process. There’s no doubt that too many wall openings will increase your costs significantly. Careful planning can thus keep your price down.

You should prepare your house in advance of them arriving, too. Examples might include:

  • Taking up carpets

  • Clearing furniture 

  • Laying down your own dust sheets

  • Cleaning up afterwards

Your electrician may occasionally compromise on price if you do these tasks yourself.

You could have a friend or family member who works as an electrician. See if they’ll give you a discounted rate to help with your house. If not, get multiple independent price quotations before deciding on the best one. 

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