Whole-House Rewiring Cost: What to Expect in 2026
Target keyword: whole house rewiring cost
How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House?
Whole-house rewiring costs $8,000–$30,000 for most homes, with the national average at $12,000–$18,000 in 2026. The main variables are house size, number of circuits, wall access, and whether the electrical panel needs upgrading.
| House Size | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Under 1,000 sq ft | $6,000 – $10,000 |
| 1,000 – 1,500 sq ft | $8,000 – $14,000 |
| 1,500 – 2,500 sq ft | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| 2,500 – 3,500 sq ft | $18,000 – $28,000 |
| 3,500+ sq ft | $25,000 – $40,000+ |
These estimates include new wiring (Romex NM-B), updated outlets and switches, a new or upgraded panel, and labor. They assume standard drywall repair but not full repainting.
What’s Included in a Whole-House Rewire
A full rewire replaces everything from the electrical panel to the outlets:
- New electrical panel — 200-amp is now the standard (up from 100-amp or 150-amp in older homes). Cost for panel alone: $1,500–$3,500 installed.
- New branch circuits — Individual circuits for kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and dedicated circuits for large appliances.
- New wiring — 12-gauge and 14-gauge Romex (copper) throughout. Average home needs 1,500–3,000 feet of wire.
- Updated outlets — All outlets replaced. GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoors. Tamper-resistant outlets throughout (code requirement since 2008).
- Updated switches — All switches replaced, often with dimmers or smart switches.
- AFCI protection — Arc-fault circuit interrupter breakers on bedroom circuits (NEC requirement).
- Grounding — Proper grounding to a ground rod and/or water pipe. Many older homes lack adequate grounding.
- Permits and inspections — Typically 2–3 inspections: rough-in, cover-up, and final.
Cost Breakdown
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| Electrical panel upgrade (200-amp) | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Wire and materials | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| Labor (electrician) | $4,000 – $12,000 |
| Outlets and switches | $500 – $1,500 |
| Permits and inspections | $200 – $600 |
| Drywall patching/repair | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| Total | $8,700 – $25,600 |
Labor is 40–55% of the total. An experienced electrician in a crawlspace/attic-accessible home works faster than in a slab-on-grade home where every wire run requires cutting drywall.
When Is Rewiring Necessary?
Knob-and-Tube Wiring (Pre-1940s)
Knob-and-tube is the most urgent reason to rewire. It has no ground wire, deteriorating insulation, and cannot safely handle modern electrical loads. Many insurance companies refuse to cover homes with active knob-and-tube or charge significantly higher premiums.
Aluminum Wiring (1965–1973)
Aluminum wiring isn’t inherently dangerous, but aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, loosening connections over time. Loose connections cause overheating and fire. Remediation options:
- Full rewire — Replace all aluminum with copper. Most expensive but most thorough.
- COPALUM crimp connectors — Permanently join aluminum to copper pigtails at every connection point. Cost: $3,000–$6,000 for a typical home. Considered a permanent fix by the CPSC.
- AlumiConn connectors — Similar concept, more widely available. Cost: $2,000–$5,000.
Fuse Box (No Breakers)
A fuse box means the electrical system predates modern circuit breakers. While fuses themselves work fine, a fuse box usually means the wiring behind it is outdated too. At minimum, upgrade to a breaker panel. Often the wiring needs replacement as well.
Overloaded Circuits
Signs of overloaded circuits: breakers tripping frequently, lights dimming when appliances turn on, warm outlet covers, burning smell near outlets. If your panel is maxed out and you’re adding loads (EV charger, heat pump, home office), rewiring with a larger panel may be necessary.
Panel Upgrade vs. Full Rewire
Not every home needs a full rewire. Sometimes a panel upgrade is enough:
| Scenario | Solution | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Good copper wiring, small panel | Panel upgrade only | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Copper wiring, need more circuits | Panel + additional circuits | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| Aluminum wiring, otherwise OK | COPALUM remediation + panel | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Knob-and-tube or deteriorated wiring | Full rewire | $8,000 – $30,000 |
An electrician can assess wire condition by inspecting representative sections in the attic, basement, and behind a few outlet covers.
The Rewiring Process
- Assessment (1–2 hours) — Electrician inspects panel, representative wiring, loads. Provides detailed quote.
- Permit pulled — Your electrician files with the local building department.
- Rough-in (2–5 days) — New wires run through walls, attic, crawlspace. Holes cut in drywall where needed. New panel installed.
- Rough-in inspection — Inspector verifies wire routing, box placement, and grounding before walls close.
- Finish work (1–2 days) — Outlets, switches, and cover plates installed. Panel circuits labeled.
- Final inspection — Inspector verifies everything meets NEC code.
- Drywall repair (1–3 days) — Patch and texture drywall where opened. Painting is typically your responsibility.
Total timeline: 1–3 weeks depending on house size and access difficulty.
How to Save on Rewiring
- Time it with a remodel — If walls are already open for a kitchen or bathroom remodel, rewiring those areas costs a fraction of doing it standalone.
- Attic and crawlspace access — Homes with good attic and crawlspace access are significantly cheaper to rewire because electricians can fish wires without opening walls.
- Do your own drywall repair — If you can patch and paint, you save $1,000–$4,000.
- Bundle the panel upgrade — Don’t do the panel now and rewire later. Doing both at once saves one permit fee, one inspection cycle, and setup time.
- Get 3+ quotes — Rewiring quotes vary enormously. I’ve seen $12,000 and $22,000 quotes for the same 1,800 sq ft home.
FAQ
Can I live in my house during rewiring? Usually yes. Power may be off for several hours at a time but typically not overnight. If your panel is being replaced, expect 4–8 hours without power on that day.
Do I have to open all the walls? Not always. Skilled electricians can fish wire through existing walls using attic and crawlspace access. Expect some drywall cuts — usually 6–12 access holes — but not full wall removal.
Will rewiring increase my home’s value? Not directly by the amount spent, but it removes a major red flag for buyers and inspectors. Homes with outdated wiring sell slower and for less. Updated electrical with a 200-amp panel is increasingly expected.
How long does new wiring last? Modern copper Romex wiring lasts 50–70 years under normal conditions. The panel itself lasts 25–40 years. Your grandchildren will likely not need to rewire.
Do I need to upgrade to 200-amp service? If your current service is 100-amp or less, almost certainly. Modern homes with AC, electric cooking, EV charging, and home offices easily exceed 100-amp capacity. The incremental cost of 200-amp over 100-amp during a rewire is only $500–$1,000.
Is it worth rewiring a house I’m about to sell? If the wiring is a safety hazard (knob-and-tube, aluminum), yes — buyers will either walk away or demand a large price reduction. If the wiring is just dated but safe, a panel upgrade and targeted circuit additions may be enough.