Rewiring an Older Home: What Pushes the Quote Above Basic
Why double-storey, occupied and heritage homes cost more to rewire than the typical quote, and how to tell which extras apply to yours.
A full rewire typically costs $11,000 in Australia, with most jobs landing in the $8,550 – $14,300 range once you move past a bare-bones basic job at $9,100. If your home is older, double-storey, still lived in during the work, or has a heritage interior, expect your quote to sit well above that typical figure — and this guide explains exactly which factors do the pushing.
The typical quote assumes a best case
Our $11,000 typical figure is built for a single-storey home of standard construction, with the household moved out, the existing switchboard kept (because it's modern enough to pass testing), and the finish left as filled chases and holes ready for a painter. Change any one of those assumptions and the price moves. Older homes tend to change several at once, which is why their quotes often sit closer to $14,000.
Double storey and heritage walls add labour
Running new cabling through a two-storey home means more scaffolding, more time fishing cable through floor voids between levels, and more patching once the old wiring is pulled out. $14,300 compares to the standard single-storey figure and is the single biggest driver in our model. Heritage and double-brick homes compound this further: solid masonry can't be chased as easily as a stud wall, so electricians often have to run cable in conduit or lift floorboards instead, adding hours that a project on a modern plasterboard home never needs.
Living in the house while the work happens
A rewire goes much faster in an empty house, where every room is accessible and power can be cut for a full day without anyone minding. $11,000 reflects the extra time needed to work around furniture, protect floors and finishes, and schedule power outages room by room so the household isn't left without electricity overnight. If you can decant to a rental, stay with family, or do the work between tenants, this is one of the easier costs to avoid.
Switchboard: keep it, or replace it
Many older homes still have a switchboard with ceramic fuses or an outdated circuit layout that won't pass a rewire's final inspection. $11,000 is the extra over keeping and testing an existing board, and it's usually non-negotiable on a pre-1980s property — a licensed electrician won't sign off a full rewire onto a fuse board that doesn't meet current safety rules.
Finish: filled holes, or full redecoration
The default finish in our model assumes chases and holes are filled and left ready for your own painter. If you want the electrician's team to also replaster and redecorate behind them, $12,500 covers that. On older homes with lath-and-plaster or textured ceilings, this option is worth pricing separately, since patching those surfaces well often takes a specialist rather than a general painter.
See the full set of options and typical costs for each in the comparison table below.
| Material | Typical | Usual range | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard construction | $11,000 | $8,550 – $14,300 | – |
| Double-storey or heritage home | $14,300 | $11,200 – $18,600 | – |
Victoria's extra paperwork
If you're in Victoria, a rewire can't be signed off without a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) lodged with Energy Safe Victoria — only a registered licence holder can buy and lodge one, and the electronic prescribed certificate fee is $39.70 in the current financial year. It's a small line item next to the rest of the job, but it's one that doesn't show up in interstate quotes, so don't be surprised to see it itemised separately on a Victorian invoice.
How we calculate these figures
We build our rewiring numbers from labour hours at local electrician rates, plus materials for cable, switchboard components and fittings, then check the result against market prices and real trade quotes. The House rewiring guide has the full breakdown of what's included in basic, mid-range and premium jobs. Because electrical work must be carried out by a licensed electrician, and state rules on certification vary, always confirm licensing and any local certificate requirements with your tradesperson before work starts.
Getting a fair quote on an older home
When quotes come in, check that each one states clearly whether it assumes your house is occupied or empty, whether the switchboard is being replaced, and what finish is included — these are the details that explain a wide gap between two quotes for what looks like the same job. If you're rewiring ahead of other electrical upgrades, it's worth planning those into the same job: adding circuits for an Split system air conditioning system or an EV charger is far cheaper done while walls are already open than as a separate callout later. And before you sign anything, run the numbers through our "is my quote fair" tool to see how your quote compares with what a job like yours should cost.