Cost Guide · Updated May 2026

How much does it cost to rewire a house?

Rewiring a house averages around $10,000, with most mid-size homes landing between $12,000 and $18,000. Per square foot, estimates commonly range from about $2 to $10, depending on the home's size, layout, and how easy the walls are to get into. Labor is typically 50–70% of the total.

Why labor dominates the bill

Unlike a new build, rewiring an existing home means pulling new wire through finished walls, ceilings, and crawlspaces without tearing the house apart — slow, skilled, and the reason labor runs 50–70% of the cost. Materials (wire, boxes, breakers, and often a new panel) make up the rest. Older homes usually cost more because outdated wiring, limited access, and code upgrades all add time.

Cost by home size

Home size	Typical cost
1,000 sq ft	$2,000–$4,000
1,500 sq ft	~$4,000
2,000 sq ft	$4,000–$8,000
3,000 sq ft	$6,000–$12,000
3,500+ sq ft	$12,000–$20,000+

Based on roughly $2–$4 per square foot. Older homes, poor wall access, and a panel upgrade push toward the high end.

What's included

New wiring run throughout the home
New outlets, switches, and grounding to current code
Permits and inspection, plus labor
Often separate: a new electrical panel, and patching/painting of access holes

Signs you need rewiring

Knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring
Frequent breaker trips or flickering lights
Two-prong (ungrounded) outlets throughout
Warm outlets or a burning smell; a home 40+ years old never updated

What moves the price

Home size and the number of rooms and circuits
Age of the home and condition of existing wiring
Wall and crawlspace accessibility (finished vs. open)
Whether the electrical panel needs upgrading
Local labor rates and required code upgrades

How to save on rewiring

Do it during a remodel or before refinishing, while the walls are already open.
Bundle a needed panel upgrade into the same job to share labor and permits.
Get multiple licensed-electrician bids — rewire quotes vary a lot.
If you can't do the whole house at once, phase it by zone or floor.

FAQ

How much does it cost to rewire a house?

Rewiring a house averages around $10,000 nationally, with most mid-size homes landing between $12,000 and $18,000. Per square foot, estimates commonly range from about $2 to $10 depending on home size, layout, and accessibility.

Why is rewiring so expensive?

Labor is the biggest driver — typically 50–70% of the bill — because running new wire through finished walls, ceilings, and tight spaces is slow, skilled work. Materials (wire, boxes, breakers, a possible new panel) make up the rest.

What affects the cost of rewiring?

Home size and age, the number of rooms and circuits, how accessible the walls and crawlspaces are, whether the panel needs upgrading, local labor rates, and any code upgrades required when you open the walls.

Does rewiring include a new electrical panel?

Not always — a panel upgrade is often a separate line item. Older homes being rewired frequently need one to handle modern loads, which adds to the total.

For electricians

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Try the free estimate generator

Cost ranges are national estimates compiled from cost-data sources including HomeAdvisor, Angi, HomeGuide, and Fixr (2025–2026). Actual prices vary widely by region, home size, age, and access. This is a planning guide, not a quote. Prefer an instant estimate? Try the rewiring cost calculator. More: all cost guides.