How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House?
$8,000 – $30,000
National average: $15,000
Interactive worksheet
House rewiring cost calculator
Set the scope, size, and state — the tally updates as you go. Built from this guide's figures and BLS state wage data.
01 Quality & scope
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State figures apply BLS construction wages (2025) at a 60% labor weight — how we estimate.
Your estimate
- Labor ≈60%
- $9,000
- Materials & equipment
- $6,000
- Planning range
- $13,500 – $16,500
low $8,000 $30,000 high
U.S. construction trades average $65,360/yr (BLS 2025).
Get three written bids. One far under $12,000 usually means missing scope — ask what's not included. Far over $18,000, ask what's driving the number.
More Electrical & Lighting: Electrical Panel Upgrade ·Recessed Lighting ·Ceiling Fan Installation
Rewiring replaces the electrical wiring throughout a home — usually because the existing wiring is old, unsafe, or can’t handle modern demand. It costs $8,000 to $30,000 in 2026, averaging around $15,000, or about $2–$10 per square foot.
What you’re paying for
This is overwhelmingly a labor project. Electricians run new wire to every outlet, switch, and fixture, often fishing it through finished walls and ceilings, then connect it to the panel and pass inspection. Materials are a small share; the rest is skilled time, plus a likely panel upgrade, drywall repair, and permits.
Cost by home size
Because rewiring is priced largely per square foot, home size is the clearest predictor. The table below shows typical totals at the $2–$10/sq ft range.
Why homes get rewired
The usual triggers are old or unsafe wiring — knob-and-tube (pre-1950s), aluminum branch wiring (1960s–70s), or an overloaded fuse box. These are fire and insurance liabilities; some insurers won’t cover knob-and-tube at all. A remodel that opens walls is also the ideal, cheapest time to rewire.
Timing it right
Wall access is the biggest cost lever. Rewiring during a gut remodel — when walls are already open — is dramatically cheaper than fishing wire through finished drywall. If a renovation is on the horizon, do the rewire then.
How to save on rewiring
- Rewire during a remodel when walls are open.
- Bundle the panel upgrade into the same job.
- Get multiple licensed bids — labor dominates the price.
- Handle drywall repair separately if you can.
| Component | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wiring & materials | $1 – $3 / sq ft | – |
| Labor | $1 – $7 / sq ft | The majority of the cost |
| Panel upgrade (often included) | $1,500 – $4,000 | – |
| Drywall repair & paint | $500 – $3,000 | – |
| Permit & inspection | $200 – $900 | – |
| Option | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $4,000 – $12,000 | – |
| 1,500 sq ft | $6,000 – $18,000 | – |
| 2,000 sq ft | $8,000 – $24,000 | – |
| 2,500+ sq ft | $12,000 – $30,000+ | – |
What affects the price
- Home size Rewiring is priced largely per square foot, so bigger homes cost more.
- Wall access Open walls (during a remodel) are cheap to wire; fishing wire through finished walls costs more.
- Existing wiring type Knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring are harder (and more important) to replace.
- Panel & circuits A panel upgrade and added circuits/outlets raise the total.
- Region Labor rates vary widely; high-cost metros run toward the top of the range.
House rewiring cost by state
Where you live moves the price as much as any option you pick, because labor is a big share of the bill and construction wages differ sharply by state. Adjusted with BLS wage data (2025), a typical house rewiring job runs about $9,400 – $35,100 in Hawaii (+17%) versus $6,800 – $25,500 in Arkansas (−15%).
See the typical range in all 50 states + D.C.
| State | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $7,000 – $26,100 |
| Alaska | $9,200 – $34,500 |
| Arizona | $7,600 – $28,500 |
| Arkansas | $6,800 – $25,500 |
| California | $9,000 – $33,600 |
| Colorado | $8,000 – $30,000 |
| Connecticut | $8,600 – $32,100 |
| Delaware | $7,800 – $29,400 |
| District of Columbia | $8,600 – $32,400 |
| Florida | $7,300 – $27,300 |
| Georgia | $7,400 – $27,600 |
| Hawaii | $9,400 – $35,100 |
| Idaho | $7,500 – $28,200 |
| Illinois | $9,200 – $34,500 |
| Indiana | $8,100 – $30,300 |
| Iowa | $7,800 – $29,100 |
| Kansas | $7,600 – $28,500 |
| Kentucky | $7,400 – $27,900 |
| Louisiana | $7,200 – $27,000 |
| Maine | $7,800 – $29,400 |
| Maryland | $8,000 – $30,000 |
| Massachusetts | $9,200 – $34,500 |
| Michigan | $8,000 – $30,000 |
| Minnesota | $8,700 – $32,700 |
| Mississippi | $7,000 – $26,100 |
| Missouri | $8,200 – $30,600 |
| Montana | $7,800 – $29,400 |
| Nebraska | $7,500 – $28,200 |
| Nevada | $8,200 – $30,900 |
| New Hampshire | $7,900 – $29,700 |
| New Jersey | $9,100 – $34,200 |
| New Mexico | $7,400 – $27,600 |
| New York | $8,800 – $33,000 |
| North Carolina | $7,200 – $27,000 |
| North Dakota | $8,100 – $30,300 |
| Ohio | $8,000 – $30,000 |
| Oklahoma | $7,300 – $27,300 |
| Oregon | $8,800 – $33,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $8,100 – $30,300 |
| Rhode Island | $8,300 – $31,200 |
| South Carolina | $7,300 – $27,300 |
| South Dakota | $7,200 – $27,000 |
| Tennessee | $7,400 – $27,600 |
| Texas | $7,300 – $27,300 |
| Utah | $7,500 – $28,200 |
| Vermont | $7,800 – $29,100 |
| Virginia | $7,600 – $28,500 |
| Washington | $9,300 – $34,800 |
| West Virginia | $7,600 – $28,500 |
| Wisconsin | $8,300 – $31,200 |
| Wyoming | $7,900 – $29,700 |
Estimates apply each state's BLS construction-wage multiplier to this guide's national range, a planning number, not a quote. Browse the full state cost guides or our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to rewire a house per square foot?
- Rewiring runs about $2–$10 per square foot, so a 2,000-square-foot home typically costs $8,000–$24,000 depending on access and complexity.
- What are the signs a house needs rewiring?
- Knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, a fuse box, frequent breaker trips, flickering lights, warm or discolored outlets, and a burning smell are all red flags.
- Is knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring dangerous?
- Both can be fire and insurance risks. Many insurers charge more or won't cover homes with knob-and-tube, and aluminum branch wiring needs special connectors or replacement.
- How long does rewiring take?
- A whole-house rewire typically takes 3–10 days depending on size and access, plus drywall repair and inspection.
- Can I live in the house during rewiring?
- Often yes, though power will be off in work areas and the job is disruptive. Vacant or mid-remodel homes are faster and cheaper to rewire.
- Does rewiring add value?
- It doesn't add flashy value, but it removes a major safety and insurance liability and is a strong selling point for buyers and inspectors.
How we estimate: ranges reflect typical U.S. pricing for materials and professional installation, compiled and cross-checked against the current (2026) industry sources listed below (see our data & methodology). Your actual cost depends on your location, project size, material grade, and local labor rates — always get multiple written quotes before you commit.
Sources
Cost ranges on this page were checked against current (2026) data from these industry sources:
- Cost to Rewire a House (2026 Data) — Angi
- How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House? (2026) — HomeGuide
- 2026 Home Rewiring Cost — Thumbtack