How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House in 2025?

Cost Factors for Rewiring a House

The cost to rewire a house can vary depending on several crucial factors. Local electricians can provide reliable estimates based on the unique characteristics of your home and your project needs.  

Home Size

The biggest factors are the size and age of your house. Electrical work costs more in larger homes because they require more labor and materials. You can expect to pay around $3 to $5 per square foot. So, while it costs $2,400 to $4,000 to completely rewire an 800-square-foot home, a similar project on an expansive 3,000-square-foot property could run as high as $15,000. 

Electrical work also costs more in older homes, as they may require more substantial work to update them to modern standards. The more complex the layout, the more it will cost to rewire a house, too. Multiple crawl spaces, renovations, and additions can complicate logistics for contractors to work around. 

Rooms, Additions, and Detached Outbuildings

The cost to rewire a house is still $3 to $5 per square foot when you’re only rewiring a room or a new home addition. 

When wiring detached outbuildings, you need to add the cost of running electrical cables to the new structure. Running cables underground typically costs $3 to $12 per linear foot extra. Excavation costs and the higher price of more durable cable to withstand outdoor elements can further add to your cost estimate. 

Wire Type

Along with the size and age of your home, the next largest cost factor is the type of electrical wiring you choose to use. They range in price from $0.20 to $3.50 per linear foot, which can significantly impact the total cost of your wiring project. 

Multi-Conductor

Multi-conductor wiring costs $0.20 to $0.35 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 $0.20 to $0.35 per linear foot. STP cables are used in communications and networking applications, including Ethernet connections. 

Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cables cost $0.25 to $0.35 per linear foot. They are used in older applications for powering audio, visual, communications, and broadcast equipment. 

Direct Buried

Direct buried cables cost $0.40 to $0.50 per linear foot on average. You can bury these cables underground without any protective conduit. They're impervious to weather, soil conditions, and stubborn rodent activity, making them ideal for wiring detached outbuildings. 

Metallic Sheathed BX/AC

Metallic sheather BX/AC cable costs $0.50 to $0.70 per linear foot. The armored cable has protective metallic sheathing. This means you can attach it to an outside wall without a conduit.

Underground Feeder

Underground feeder cable costs $0.60 to $2 per linear foot. Able to withstand moisture and high heat, it's designed to provide electrical service from your home to a secondary location, such as a shed or garage. Underground feeder cable is also often used to power outdoor lighting and swimming pools.

Twin-Lead

Twin-lead cables cost around $0.60 to $0.80 per linear foot. Twin lead-wiring carries RF signals. These are older cables rarely seen in modern residential installations.

Non-Metallic Sheathed

Non-metallic sheathed cables cost anywhere from $0.60 to $3.50 per linear foot. Unless rated for exterior use inside a protective conduit, you should only use them indoors. 

Ribbon

Ribbon cables cost around $1.50 to $2 per linear foot. Most commonly used as part of a computer networking system, ribbon cables are not normally found in typical residential installations unless specifically requested. Ribbon cables are wide and flat and carry multiple data streams along parallel wires.

Electrical Panel

The cost to replace an electrical panel ranges from $500 to $4,000. The final price depends on the amperage and location, with most homeowners paying somewhere around $1,500 for a 200-amp electrical panel, including installation. A more powerful 400-amp electrical panel places you at the higher end of this price range. For context, many older homes may only have a 60-amp circuit breaker panel, which isn’t enough to handle modern power demands. 

Outlets, Switches, and Other Materials

Along with wiring and replacing the electrical panel, the cost to rewire a house also includes paying for new outlets and switches. More rooms means adding more circuits and other materials to your total.

• Electrical outlet installation costs an average of $215, including the $5 it costs to buy a standard 120V, 15-amp outlet. Smart outlets cost more, at around $40. The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires one power outlet at least every 12 feet. 

• Light switches cost $5 to $15 on average, plus around $150 for installation.

• Surge protection installation costs anywhere from $70 to $700 for the whole house. 

Installing GFCI outlets in bathrooms and kitchens can cost extra, as can installing outdoor power outlets. 

Additional Cost Factors for Rewiring a House

Along with buying materials, other major cost factors for rewiring a house include labor, inspection, and permits. 

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. The cost to hire an electrician ranges from $40 to $100 per hour in most cases. 

Installing wiring and an outlet or two in a small addition may only take a couple of hours. By comparison, the electrical rough-in cost for a full room, including finishing, can be much higher as it can take up to two days of work. Many home rewiring projects can take three to seven days to complete, bumping your labor costs up to $1,000 to $5,000 or more.

Factors that can increase labor costs include:

• The need to open walls to run wires

• Accessibility challenges

• Debris removal costs from knocking down walls

• Repairing drywall on walls and ceilings

• Asbestos removal from older homes

Inspection

You may need to complete an electrical home inspection before you can start on your home rewiring project. Electrical inspections cost between $100 and $250, on average. You may need another final inspection after the work is complete to ensure it complies with current building standards. 

Permits

When you hire an electrician, they’ll usually handle the process of securing the required electrical permits as part of your home renovation project. Getting a building permit for electrical work costs $250 to $900, depending on local guidelines and bylaws. 

New Construction Wiring Costs

Wiring a new home usually costs less than rewiring an older house. The space between the walls is still openly accessible, and older homes may have hidden challenges. You can expect new construction electrical wiring to cost $3 to $5 per square foot. The electrical rough-in cost is a bit lower, at $2 to $4 per square foot. Contractors cap the wiring with rough-ins rather than installing outlets, switches, and appliances. 

Does Rewiring a House Increase Home Value?

Rewiring a house can be especially worthwhile in older homes that show obvious signs of needing the upgrade. Older electrical systems can struggle to keep up with modern power demands from various appliances and electronics. Upgraded electrical systems can also improve safety and energy efficiency. The update can be attractive to prospective buyers if you plan on selling your home, even if it may not have a dramatic effect on your home’s appraisal amount.

Budgeting for Rewiring a House

To save money on your electrical upgrade project, keep these useful budget-savvy tips in mind.

• Install new circuit breakers: In some cases, you may not need to rewire your home completely. A new circuit breaker costs only $250 to $400, and it may be enough to address your concerns. Only add or replace wiring where it’s needed. 

• Use THHN wiring: Thermoplastic High Heat-Resistant, Nylon-Coated (THHN) wiring is more budget-friendly compared to other types of cables, though higher-quality materials could save you money over the long term. 

• Buy materials in bulk: Many suppliers offer discounts when you place a larger order upfront, including cables, switches, and outlets. You’ll pay more per foot if you buy less cable. 

• Combine electrical projects: If you’re already calling a licensed electrician, it’s a good time to take care of any other electrical needs you may have. 

• Avoid opening walls: Opening and repairing walls can add significantly to your overall cost. Instead, see if your local pro can pull wires through crawlspaces, attics, and floor joists. They may also run wires in wall-colored conduit channels. 

• Check your homeowner's insurance: Some policies may cover rewiring a house, but it is best to check the fine print to be sure. You may void your insurance coverage if you upgrade your electrical system yourself and encounter issues later on. 

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed thousands of real customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.