Most major renovation projects, kitchen, bathroom, basement, attic remodels, etc., involve an electrical repair or upgrade. This type of electrical work is usually not anticipated ahead of time, as electric problems are often discovered once remodeling begins.
On average homeowners report spending $2,500-5,000 on electrical installation costs. This includes replacement and upgrades of the electrical panel, circuit breaker box, wiring, etc.
Here, we will review electrical work costs, as well as professional electrician prices for labor.
To get started on an electrical install or replacement service 3-4 free estimates from your local licensed electricians.
How Much Does It Cost To Wire A House?
On average, a professional electrician charges $65-90 per hour.
Electric updates become most expensive when you need to replace or install wiring throughout your entire house. However, this may be a necessary improvement in older homes, built before 1970, since the standard power wattage used to be 60 amps, which today is simply not enough.
Moreover, if your home was built before 1950, it is most likely outfitted with extremely outdated wiring, called knob and tube wiring. Most electricians would recommend to immediately replace this wiring, and there are some local building codes that actually require that this old wiring be removed.
Keeping old outdated wiring is considered a fire hazard, and is especially dangerous in modern homes that have very high electric power usage.
Pro Tip: if you suspect that you may have this type of wiring, consult your local building inspector and electricians on the best course of action.
Here is a break down of what you can expect to spend for different wiring upgrades:
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| Install wiring for a 1200 – 1300 sq ft house by | $3,000 – 5,000 |
| running it through floor joists, attic, basement, | |
| or accessible crawl space | |
| Install wiring for a 1200 – 1300 sq ft house by | $6,500 – 9,000 |
| running it through main walls. Requires opening | |
| walls, removing old wires, installing new wires, | |
| closing the walls with new drywall | |
| Install wiring for a large house of over 2,500 sq.ft | $12,000 – 20,000+ depending on size |
| with opening of the walls | |
| Add structured wiring – specifically designed to | $2/sq.ft. for the wiring itself |
| handle multuple high-powered entertainment and | |
| communication devices | |
| Remove old knob and tube wiring | $4,500 – 6,000 |
| Permit required to remove knob and tube wiring | $200 – 550 |
Pro Tip: One way to save a lot of money on new electric wiring is to combine it with another major remodel. If you plan to open up walls anyway for a different project, you can install new wiring at the same time. This way, you will not have to pay a lot of extra money for opening up your walls a second time.
Note, that quotes listed in this article are ESTIMATES only, and the actual price will depend on the pro you hire, difficulty and specific details of the job, as well as your geographic location.
To get the best deal, it is advisable to plan out all the electrical work that needs to be done and complete it together, rather than break it up into separate projects.
It is important to caution that unless you are an experienced DIYer and are used to dealing with electricity, it is essential to hire a licensed residential electrician to complete the work.
Cost To Upgrade Circuit Breaker Panel
The main circuit breaker panel in a home controls the live power from energizing the circuits in the electrical panel. To ensure that your electricity is properly working, you can either replace or upgrade existing your circuit breaker panel.
Here is how much you will pay:
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| Install new circuit breaker panel (100 amp) | $1,350 – 1,650 |
| Install new circuit breaker panel (200 amp) | $2,200 – 2,700 |
| Upgrade existing panel to 100 amp | $850 – 1,100 |
| Upgrade existing panel to 200 amp | $1,350 – 1,650 |
| Replace existing circuit breaker | $90 – 110 |
Cost To Install Light Fixtures
Oftentimes, it is practical to install a new light fixture in a particular room or outside of the house to bring in more light, especially if there is limited natural lighting there.
Also, from the aesthetic perspective, having a chandelier or other types of decorative overhead lights in the living room, bedroom, dining room or kitchen can add a unique and beautiful personal touch. If the room is not wired to have an overhead light, you can hire an electrician to install it.
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| Install New Electric Wiring For Overhead Light | $700 – 1,200 |
| Install Recessed Lighting In A Single Room | $900 – 1,100 |
| Install Single Standard Fixture With Existing Wiring | $50 – 140 |
| Replace A Broken Light Fixture | $75 – 200 |
| Replace Electrical Switch | $70 – 120 |
| Install A Ceiling Fan | $150 – 300 |
| Install Fluorescent Light Fixture | $200 – 275 |
| Install Exterior Light Fixture With Existing Wiring | $140 – 280 |
Cost Of New Electrical Outlets And Switches
An electrical outlet, also known as an electrical receptacle (wall socket) provides a place in a wiring system where current can be taken to run electrical devices.
You may find that the current locations of your electrical outlets are not convenient or easily accessible, and you would prefer to move them.
Pro Tip: if you have children in the house, and for general safety purposes, it is best to install a special outlet, called Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), in the kitchen and bathroom.
It is designed to prevent electrical shock in wet locations. It may also be a good idea to have this type of outlet in the outdoor area where you have a deck or patio.
Here are average prices to install different types of electrical outlets:
| Type of Outlet | Cost |
|---|---|
| Replace conventional with GFCI | $110-140 |
| Receptacle-CO/ALR (aluminum) | $90-$110 |
| Receptacle – Stove/Sryer | $110-$140 |
| Conventional Receptacle | $140-$165 |
| Split Receptacle | $190-$275 |
| Exterior Receptacle with cover | $190-$275 |
| Receptacle – rewire reverse polarity | $70-100 |
| New Single Pole Switch | $150-200 |
| New Three-Way Switch | $100-250 |
Cost To Install Ceiling And Exhaust Fans
It is very important to ensure that your home has good indoor air quality as it impacts the health and well being of all inhabitants.
Poor indoor air quality can cause headaches and aggravate such health conditions as allergies and asthma. Proper ventilation can significantly enhance air quality, especially in areas of high moisture, such as kitchen and bathrooms.
You can expect to pay the following prices for installing different types of ventilation:
Bathroom Exhaust Fan: $175-490
Oven Exhaust Fan: $280-330
Mechanical Attic Ventilator: $330
Ceiling Fan: $275
Additional Enhancement Costs
Your house may require a number of other electric updates both inside and out. The most popular projects include home security and entertainment systems.
Here are some price estimates:
| Update | Cost |
|---|---|
| New Wired Door Bell System | $110 – 130 |
| Install Home Security System | $100 – 900 |
| Install Home Automation System | $1,200 – 1,700 |
| Install Hardwired Smoke Detector | $90 – 150 |
| Install Carbon Monoxide Detector | $90 – 100 |
| Install Video Surveillance System With 4 Cameras | $1,200 + |
| Install Home Theater | $1,500 -16,000 |
| Install Electric Fireplace | $200 -1,000 |
