How Much Does It Cost To Wire A House?

New Construction Wiring Installation Costs

It costs $3 to $5 per square foot to install wiring in new construction, including labor, materials, and permits. If you choose to “rough in” wiring only, you'll pay $2 to $4 per square foot. When contractors “rough-in” wiring, they’ll install it but not finish it. Instead of installing outlets and appliances, they'll cap the wiring. 

In general, though, rough-in and finish work is included in the cost of new wiring at $3 to $5 per square foot. However, if you choose to save money and DIY the rough-in work, you'll still need an electrician to check your work and make the actual electrical connections. Some electricians charge by the hour, at the cost of $50 to $100, or by the square foot, at $2 to $4.

Full House

Wiring a full house costs $3 to $5 per square foot. A small, 800-square-foot home will run about $2,400 to $4,000. An expansive 3,000-square-foot property would cost $9,000 to $15,000.

Additions

Wiring a new home addition costs $3 to $5 per square foot. For example:

• Average garage (288 square feet): $865–$1,440 

• Average kitchen remodel (151 square feet): $450–$755

• Average living room (480 square feet: $1,440–$2,400. 

• Average basement (1,000 square feet): $3,000–$5,000

Outbuilding

The cost to run electricity to detached outbuildings is between $2 and $5 per square foot, plus the cost of running electrical cable above or below ground. Running cable underground costs an extra $3 to $12 per linear foot, depending on how far you need to extend it.

Your land location might also require excavation to successfully place the cable and conduits underground or a more durable cable that can withstand weather and other elements. 

As with any new addition, inside or outside, you’ll need to consider the size of the outbuilding, how far it is from your home, and how much wiring it needs. A small shed that’s 10 feet from your home, for example, might only need a couple outlets and a light fitting (about $100). A bigger workshop that’s 100 feet from your home, on the other hand, might require hookups for appliances, tools, and more lights (as much as $4,600). 

Electrical Wiring Cost by Square Foot

You'll pay between $3 and $5 per square foot to install new wiring. This price includes all materials and labor, including adding a new panel, wires, outlets, switches, drywall finishing, and other related tasks. The table below shows you some common property sizes and how much it typically costs to install new wiring in each.

Cost to Install Electrical Wiring by Wire Type

There are nine types of electrical wiring commonly used in new installations, and they vary in price from $0.20 to $2.00 per linear foot, so you can see that the type of wire you need can have a significant impact on the total cost of your wiring project.

Multi-Conductor

Multi-conductor wiring costs an average of $0.27 per linear foot. This type of cable is commonly used for entertainment systems, security systems, and other types of audio-visual equipment. 

Shielded Twisted Pair

Shielded twisted pair cable costs about $0.27 per linear foot. STP cables are used in communications and networking applications, including Ethernet connections. 

Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cables cost $0.30 per linear foot and are old-school audio, visual, communications, and broadcast cables.

Direct Buried

Direct buried cables typically cost $0.45 per linear foot. You can bury these cables underground without any protective conduit. They're impervious to weather, soil conditions, and stubborn rodent activity. 

Metallic Sheathed BX/AC

Metallic sheather BX/AC cable costs about $0.60 on average. It's an armored cable with protective metallic sheathing, which means you can attach it to an outside wall without a conduit.

Underground Feeder

Underground feeder cable costs $0.60 per linear foot. It's designed for use as a branch cable to provide electrical service from your home to a secondary location, such as a detached outbuilding like a shed or garage. It's also often used to power outdoor lighting and swimming pools.

Twin-Lead

Twin-lead cables cost around $0.70 per linear foot. Twin-leads are balanced transmission lines that carry RF signals. These are older cables rarely seen in modern residential installations.

Non-Metallic Sheathed

Non-metallic sheathed cables cost an average of $0.70 per linear foot. Unless rated for exterior use inside a protective conduit, you should only use them indoors.

Ribbon

Ribbon cables cost around $1.75 per linear foot. Most commonly used as part of a computer networking system, they're not normally found in standard residential installations unless specifically requested during construction or added after. Ribbon cables are wide and flat and carry multiple data streams along parallel wires.

Electrical Panel Installation Costs

Installing a new electrical panel is similar to the price of replacing or upgrading an electrical panel, at $1,500 to $4,000. How much you'll pay depends on amperage and location.

Electrical Wiring Installation Cost Factors

There are three main factors involved in the cost of new electrical wiring. Labor will affect your project price the most because it takes considerable time to install wires to code. Though materials are usually inexpensive, a large project will require a sizable “materials” budget—as will permits, if needed. 

Materials

Your materials total will depend on the size of your project and your amperage needs. 

• Wiring costs as little as $0.20 per linear foot. 

• Outlets cost $3 to $5 for a standard 120V, 15-amp model, while smart outlets cost between $30 and $50 per unit. 

• Light switches cost $5 to $15 per unit. 

The cost of an electrical panel varies based on amperage, as follows:

• 100 amps: $50–$200

• 200 amps: $50–$200

• 400 amps: $400–$500

Labor

Labor makes up the bulk of the cost of any electrical wiring project because it's a time-consuming process and requires a registered electrician with a high degree of skill. Hiring an electrician costs $40 to $100 per hour. While it may only take a couple of hours to install wiring and an outlet or two in a small addition, wiring a full room, including roughing in and finishing, can take up to two days. 

Permits

More than likely, your contractors will gather the required electrical permits for wiring projects as part of your remodeling or new construction project. This ensures your project follows code, so be sure to confirm that your contractor sourced the proper permits. Your permit costs will vary based on your local guidelines,  but, in general, you can expect to pay between $250 and $500.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Most states require an electrical professional to complete wiring jobs. Plus, you must submit thorough and detailed plans and diagrams and pass an electrical inspection once finished. It's not really feasible to install electrical wiring yourself unless you're a registered pro.

If you want to save money, consider hiring a local electrician for the wiring, but complete the finishing work yourself, like hanging drywall and cleaning up. Tackling aspects of this project on your own can help cut down on the time and labor charges. 

FAQs About Electrical Wiring Installation

How much does an electrical inspection cost?

Electrical inspections cost between $125 and $250. 

How long will the wiring in my house last?

How long the new wiring in your house will last depends on the type of wire and how well your electrician installed it. Properly installed copper wiring can last more than 100 years.

How much does it cost to rewire a house?

Rewiring a house costs $6 to $10 per square foot. Most people pay between $12,000 and $20,000 for a full house rewiring project. It costs more to retrofit or replace wiring than to add new wiring in new construction because you’ll need to remove old wires have to be removed and open up walls, which is more labor-intensive.