How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House?
A whole-house rewire is a big job, and the price can swing a lot. Most US homeowners are looking at a **typical range of about $8,000 to $25,000+**, depending on the size of the home, access to the wiring, permits, and what else has to be brought up to code.
The short answer: what a house rewire usually costs
If you are rewiring an older home, the total cost is usually not just about pulling new wire. The real price depends on the panel, the existing wiring, the size of the house, the number of circuits, wall access, permit rules, and local labor rates.
A typical whole-house rewire often falls around $8,000 to $25,000+. Larger homes, difficult access, damaged walls, knob-and-tube replacement, aluminum branch wiring issues, service upgrades, or major code corrections can push the price higher.
You may also see electricians charge in different ways:
- Hourly labor: often about $50-$130 per hour
- Flat-rate pricing: common for defined jobs after an on-site review
- Service call or diagnostic visit: often $120-$400 before larger work is priced
If your home also needs a panel upgrade, that can add roughly $1,800-$4,500 in many cases. If you are only updating part of the home, the price may be much lower than a full rewire. For more on bigger electrical system changes, see panel upgrades and our general costs page.
Important: these are estimates, not quotes. A real price should be based on an in-person evaluation by a licensed, insured, and bonded electrician who can explain the scope in writing.
What makes rewiring cost more or less
Two homes can look similar from the street and have very different rewiring costs. Here are the biggest things that move the price.
Home size and layout
A small 1,000-square-foot home is usually less expensive to rewire than a 2,500-square-foot home. More rooms usually means more circuits, more outlets, more switches, and more labor.
How easy it is to access the wiring
Homes with crawlspaces, unfinished basements, or open attics are often easier to work in. Homes with plaster walls, finished basements, tight framing, or limited attic access usually take more time and more wall repair.
Type and condition of existing wiring
Older systems may have:
- Knob-and-tube wiring
- Cloth-insulated wiring
- Damaged or unsafe splices
- Overloaded circuits
- Ungrounded outlets
- Aluminum branch wiring in some homes
If the electrician finds multiple safety issues, the scope can grow fast.
Whether the panel and service need upgrades
Sometimes the wiring is not the only problem. The home may also need:
- A larger panel
- New breakers
- Grounding and bonding corrections
- AFCI or GFCI protection where required by code
- Meter or service equipment updates
That can raise the total project price.
Permit and inspection requirements
Electrical work is regulated. Many rewires require permits and inspections. Permit costs vary by area. Some jobs also require utility coordination or scheduled power shutoffs. Learn more in electrical permits explained.
Finishes and repair work after the electrical work
Ask early whether the price includes patching drywall or plaster, paint touch-up, and cleanup. In many cases, the electrician's price covers the electrical work only, and wall repair or painting is extra.
Occupied vs. vacant home
A vacant home is often easier and faster to rewire. If people are living in the home, the work may need to be phased room by room, which can add labor and time.
What is usually included in a whole-house rewire
A true rewire can mean different things, so this is where homeowners get surprised. One contractor may price only replacement of old branch wiring. Another may include a much larger scope.
Ask for a written breakdown that clearly lists what is included.
A whole-house rewire may include:
- Replacing old branch circuit wiring
- Installing new receptacles, switches, and boxes where needed
- Adding grounded outlets
- Replacing or reorganizing circuits at the panel
- Labeling circuits
- Bringing parts of the system up to current code where required
- Permit and inspection coordination, if included in the scope
It may not automatically include:
- Drywall or plaster repair
- Painting
- Fixture replacement beyond basic reconnects
- A service or panel upgrade
- New lighting layout design
- Low-voltage wiring
- Appliance circuits that were not in the original scope
This is also why a very low bid can be risky. A low number may leave out permit costs, access damage, device replacement, cleanup, or code-required corrections.
Before you sign anything, ask:
- Exactly which rooms and circuits are being rewired?
- Are the outlets, switches, breakers, and boxes included?
- Is permit cost included?
- Who handles inspection scheduling?
- Is wall patching included, or not?
- Will the home be brought up to current code only where required, or more broadly?
For a broader checklist on comparing contractors, read hiring an electrician.
When rewiring may be needed now, not later
A full rewire is expensive, so homeowners often wait too long. Sometimes that is understandable. Sometimes it is dangerous.
You should contact a licensed electrician promptly if you have signs like:
- Flickering lights in multiple rooms
- Breakers that trip often
- Warm outlets or switches
- Two-prong outlets throughout an older home
- Buzzing sounds from walls or devices
- Old cloth, knob-and-tube, or visibly damaged wiring
- Heavy use of extension cords because there are not enough outlets
If you notice a burning smell, smoke, sparks, scorching, or shocks, stop using that circuit and call a licensed electrician now. If there is smoke or fire, call 911.
VoltGuide does not do electrical work. We help homeowners understand the job and get matched, at no cost, with licensed, insured, and bonded electricians. If the issue feels urgent, start here: emergency electrical help.
For general warning signs and safety basics, see electrical safety basics.
What to do next so you do not get burned on price
A rewire is not a job to rush, but it is also not a job to hand to the cheapest person with a truck.
Here is a smart way to move forward:
- Get 2-4 written estimates. You compare quotes, you choose who to hire, and you hold the final payment.
- Verify the electrician's license yourself. Also confirm they are insured and bonded. Use our guide on how to check an electrician license.
- Ask for a clear scope in writing before any deposit. It should say what is included, what is excluded, permit responsibility, and the expected timeline.
- Ask how much wall opening is expected. This affects both cost and disruption.
- Ask whether a panel upgrade is likely. Old homes often need more than just new branch wiring.
- Follow local permit and inspection rules. Do not let anyone tell you permits are optional if your area requires them.
If you are ready to compare local options, get matched for free. Participating electricians pay a flat fee to be listed. The matching service is free to homeowners.
Bottom line: $8,000-$25,000+ is a realistic starting range for a whole-house rewire, but the only useful number is one tied to your actual home, wiring condition, access, permit needs, and written scope.
A whole-house rewire usually costs about $8,000-$25,000+, but the real price depends on your home's size, access, old wiring, panel condition, permits, and repairs after the work. Get 2-4 written estimates, hire a licensed, insured, and bonded electrician, verify the license yourself, and make sure the scope and permit responsibility are clear before you pay a deposit.