Cost guides › House rewiring
United States
Cost to rewire a house
A full rewire of a 1076 sq ft home typically costs $8,000, with most quotes between $6,250 and $10,400 before sales tax. That covers pulling out or abandoning the old wiring, running new circuits to every room, new receptacles and switches, and the permit and inspections, with the existing panel kept. A bare-bones rewire with a minimum of outlets runs about $6,300; a premium job with a new 200 A panel, extra outlets, USB receptacles, recessed LED lighting and data cabling is around $13,000.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $8,800 | $11,200 | $17,600 |
| Illinois | $8,700 | $11,000 | $17,400 |
| Hawaii | $8,500 | $10,800 | $17,000 |
| Washington | $8,400 | $10,700 | $16,900 |
| Alaska | $8,050 | $10,200 | $16,200 |
| Massachusetts | $7,350 | $9,350 | $15,000 |
| District of Columbia | $7,350 | $9,300 | $14,900 |
| New York | $7,350 | $9,300 | $14,900 |
| Minnesota | $7,300 | $9,250 | $14,800 |
| Connecticut | $7,250 | $9,200 | $14,700 |
Show all regions
| Montana | $7,200 | $9,150 | $14,600 |
| New Jersey | $7,250 | $9,150 | $14,700 |
| California | $7,150 | $9,100 | $14,600 |
| Michigan | $7,150 | $9,100 | $14,600 |
| Wisconsin | $7,200 | $9,100 | $14,600 |
| Wyoming | $7,150 | $9,100 | $14,600 |
| Maine | $7,100 | $9,000 | $14,500 |
| Rhode Island | $7,000 | $8,900 | $14,300 |
| Maryland | $7,000 | $8,850 | $14,300 |
| Nevada | $7,000 | $8,850 | $14,300 |
| Indiana | $6,650 | $8,450 | $13,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $6,600 | $8,350 | $13,500 |
| Kansas | $6,500 | $8,200 | $13,300 |
| Missouri | $6,450 | $8,200 | $13,300 |
| North Dakota | $6,450 | $8,200 | $13,300 |
| Ohio | $6,400 | $8,150 | $13,200 |
| West Virginia | $6,400 | $8,150 | $13,200 |
| Delaware | $6,350 | $8,050 | $13,100 |
| Idaho | $6,300 | $8,000 | $13,000 |
| Vermont | $6,300 | $8,000 | $13,000 |
| Virginia | $6,300 | $8,000 | $13,000 |
| New Hampshire | $6,300 | $7,950 | $13,000 |
| Colorado | $6,250 | $7,900 | $12,900 |
| Utah | $6,200 | $7,900 | $12,900 |
| Louisiana | $6,200 | $7,850 | $12,800 |
| South Dakota | $6,200 | $7,850 | $12,800 |
| Arizona | $6,150 | $7,800 | $12,700 |
| Iowa | $6,150 | $7,800 | $12,700 |
| Mississippi | $6,150 | $7,800 | $12,700 |
| Nebraska | $6,150 | $7,800 | $12,700 |
| Oklahoma | $6,150 | $7,800 | $12,700 |
| Tennessee | $6,150 | $7,800 | $12,700 |
| Kentucky | $6,050 | $7,700 | $12,600 |
| South Carolina | $6,000 | $7,650 | $12,500 |
| Georgia | $6,000 | $7,600 | $12,400 |
| New Mexico | $6,000 | $7,600 | $12,400 |
| Texas | $6,000 | $7,600 | $12,400 |
| Florida | $5,900 | $7,500 | $12,300 |
| North Carolina | $5,900 | $7,450 | $12,200 |
| Alabama | $5,800 | $7,350 | $12,100 |
| Arkansas | $5,350 | $6,800 | $11,300 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Disconnecting and removing or abandoning the old wiring
- New branch circuits run to every room, fished through walls from the attic and basement where possible
- New boxes, receptacles, switches and light connections at a standard modern layout
- GFCI and AFCI protection where the code requires it
- Connecting the new circuits to the existing panel
- Electrical permit and rough-in and final inspections
- Testing every circuit before the walls are closed
- Access holes patched rough, ready for a drywall finisher
What affects the cost
Square footage and number of circuits
Price follows the size of the house and how many circuits, outlets and fixtures it gets. Kitchens and bathrooms need several dedicated circuits, so a house with two kitchens-worth of appliances costs more than its square footage suggests.
Access to the walls
With an unfinished basement and an open attic, an electrician can fish new cable through the walls with small holes. A slab house, a finished basement or a two-story house without attic access over every room means more holes and more hours.
Plaster-and-lath walls
Older homes with plaster and lath are slower to fish and patch than drywall. Expect a noticeably higher labor cost, and be aware that old plaster can crack beyond the hole that was cut.
Panel and service
Many older homes still have 60 A or 100 A service, or a panel brand with a poor safety record. Replacing it with a 200 A panel is a separate line item; if the utility has to upgrade the service drop or meter, that adds more.
Knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring
Knob-and-tube and 1970s aluminum branch wiring are common reasons for a rewire, and insurers often ask for them to be removed. Removing everything that is accessible takes longer than just abandoning it in place.
Drywall and paint
Most electrical quotes leave the access holes for someone else. Drywall repair and repainting the affected rooms is extra, whether your electrician subs it out or you hire a finisher.
How to save
- Rewire before you move in or during a larger remodel, when the house is empty and walls may be open anyway.
- Ask for a price per added outlet or fixture so you can decide where extra points are worth it.
- Keep the panel if it is a modern 200 A panel with space for the new AFCI and GFCI breakers.
- Hire the drywall finisher and painter yourself after the final inspection rather than paying a markup.
Grants, tax and rules
Permits and inspections
Electrical changes usually need a local permit, and a full rewire always does. The inspector checks the rough-in before the walls are closed and again at the end. Our figures are before sales tax, which varies by state.
Tax credits
The federal 25C and 25D home energy tax credits ended on December 31, 2025. A rewire on its own does not qualify for them; check your utility and state for any rebates tied to panel upgrades.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rewire a house?
For a 1076 sq ft home, expect about $8,000 before sales tax with the existing panel kept, with most quotes between $6,250 and $10,400. Adding a new 200 A panel, extra outlets and upgraded devices brings a premium job to about $13,000.
How long does a whole-house rewire take?
A crew of two usually needs about a week for an average single-family home, plus time for the rough-in and final inspections. Plaster walls, a finished basement or living in the house during the work stretch it out.
Can I live in the house while it is rewired?
Yes, most people do. The electrician switches circuits over room by room, so you lose power in parts of the house for a day or two at a time. It is slower and a bit more expensive than rewiring an empty house because of daily cleanup and reconnecting circuits each evening.
How do I know my house needs rewiring?
Knob-and-tube or cloth-insulated wiring, aluminum branch circuits, two-prong outlets throughout, breakers that trip often, warm switch plates or a burning smell are all signs. A licensed electrician can inspect the wiring and tell you whether a partial or full rewire is needed.
Do I need a new panel when I rewire?
Not always. If your panel is a modern 200 A unit with room for the new circuits, it can stay. An old fuse box, 100 A service or a recalled panel brand is usually replaced at the same time, which is cheaper than doing it later.
Does a rewire include fixing the drywall?
Usually not. Electricians patch holes rough or leave them open for a drywall contractor. Ask the quote to state who repairs and paints the walls, and budget for it separately.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 58.6 · Labour: $5,275 · Materials: $2,725
Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates; market check: 100 m2 (1,076 sq ft), panel kept, permit included, before tax: HomeGuide (08/2025) $5-17/sq ft, Caudill's Commercial Electric (05/2026) mid $6/sq ft ex panel and permit, HomeAdvisor (06/2026) $3-5/sq ft, Homewyse (09/2026) 3-bed basic $9,751-11,628 incl. panel, Mantel (08/2026) most jobs $6-12k.
Last reviewed September 26, 2026 · How we calculate costs · Editorial policy