How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House? (Price Guide)

Rewiring means replacing the cables, outlets, switches, and often the panel that carry power through a house. It is a major electrical project, not a repair, and it is usually done when the existing system is old, damaged, or unable to handle modern demand.

The price depends less on the number of outlets than on how hard the walls, ceilings, and attic are to reach. Plaster, finished basements, and multi-story layouts add labor, and so does patching and repainting afterward.

Larger homes have more circuits, more cable runs, and more walls to open. Because cost scales with floor area, most guides quote totals by square footage. The figures below come from one published guide and assume a full rewire of an existing home.

A single-story house with an open attic or crawl space is usually cheaper than a two-story house with finished walls, even at the same square footage. Ask each electrician how they plan to route cable, since that choice drives how much drywall gets cut and repaired.

Age alone does not settle it, but certain conditions raise the odds. A licensed electrician can inspect the system and tell you what you have.

• Cloth-covered or brittle wire insulation
• Knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum branch wiring
• Breakers that trip often or fuses that blow repeatedly
• Outlets or switch plates that feel warm, buzz, or show scorch marks
• Lights that flicker or dim when appliances start
• Two-prong outlets throughout, with no grounding
• A panel that is full, rusted, or no longer supported by the manufacturer

Some of these problems can be fixed circuit by circuit instead of through a whole-house rewire. An inspection report that lists each issue lets you compare a partial fix against a full replacement.

A rewire often comes with other electrical work. The panel may need replacing so the new circuits have a safe place to connect, and the job generally requires a permit and inspection.

Permit fees vary by city and county, and sources report wide ranges because local rules differ. Permits and inspections exist so that a second set of eyes checks the work before the walls are closed. Skipping them can cause trouble with insurance claims and when you sell the home.

Labor makes up a large share of any rewiring bill. Hourly rates differ by region, license level, and whether the electrician is working alone or with a crew.

Many contractors price a rewire as a flat project fee instead of billing hourly. That fee should reflect the hours, the crew size, and the amount of wall repair included.

Guides do not agree on one number, and that is normal. Each source defines the job a little differently, and the scope of what is included may change the figure by thousands.

Possible reasons for the gaps include:

• Whether the price includes a new panel, permits, and wall repair
• Home age and the type of old wiring being removed
• Local labor rates and licensing rules
• Whether the quote covers the whole house or only some rooms
• Fixture, outlet, and breaker quality

When quotes land far apart, compare what each one lists as included before comparing the totals.

Rewiring is not a do-it-yourself project. Faulty wiring is a fire and shock hazard, and mistakes may stay hidden behind finished walls for years. Permits are required in most areas, and the work should be done by a licensed electrician who pulls the permit and schedules the inspection.

Before signing, confirm that the electrician is licensed in your state and carries liability insurance. Ask for a written scope that names the panel, the number of circuits, the outlet and switch types, and who handles drywall repair and painting.

• Is the quote a flat fee or hourly, and what could change it?
• Does it include the permit, inspection, and any panel work?
• Who repairs and paints the walls that get opened?
• Will the electrician add grounded outlets and arc-fault or ground-fault protection where code calls for it?
• Can you stay in the house during the work, and for how long will the power be off?
• What warranty covers the labor?