Instant estimates for panel upgrades, rewiring, EV charger installs, outlets, lighting, and more. 2026 pricing.
Electrical estimates hinge on three variables: the complexity of the circuit work, access difficulty, and material grade. Unlike plumbing or HVAC, electrical labor is heavily regulated — only licensed electricians can pull permits and do the work, which means labor rates are consistently higher.
Access is the biggest cost variable. Installing an outlet in new construction with open walls takes 30 minutes. The same outlet in a finished home with plaster walls, no attic access, and fishing wire through three floors takes 3 hours. Our calculator adjusts labor by up to 80% for difficult access conditions.
Panel upgrades are the gateway to everything. Many homes built before 1990 have 100-amp panels that can't support EV chargers, modern HVAC, or home additions. A 200-amp upgrade ($1,500–$3,500) is usually required before adding major circuits. Always check panel capacity first.
EV charger installs vary wildly. If you have open space in your panel and the garage is on the same wall, it's a $800 job. If you need a panel upgrade, conduit run across the house, and trenching to a detached garage, it's $3,000+. The charger itself ($300–$700) is a small part of the total.
Permits are non-negotiable for major work. Panel upgrades, new circuits, rewiring, and EV charger installs all require permits in every jurisdiction. Working without permits voids homeowner's insurance and creates serious liability for contractors. Budget $200–$400 for permits and inspection.
Licensed electricians charge $75–$150 per hour for standard residential work, $100–$200/hour for commercial, and $150–$300/hour for emergency/after-hours calls. Most electricians also charge a service call fee ($75–$125). Many jobs like outlets and fixtures are quoted flat-rate rather than hourly.
A 200-amp panel upgrade costs $1,500–$3,500 including the panel, breakers, labor, and permit. The price depends on your current panel type, whether the meter base needs replacing, and if the utility company needs to disconnect/reconnect service. Aluminum wiring or Federal Pacific panels add $500–$1,000.
A Level 2 EV charger installation costs $800–$2,000 including the charger unit ($300–$700) and electrical work. If you need a panel upgrade, add $1,500–$3,500. Conduit runs over 25 feet, trenching to a detached garage, or subpanel installation can push the total to $3,000–$5,000.
Whole house rewiring costs $8,000–$15,000 for a typical 1,500–2,500 sqft home. This includes new wiring, updated outlets and switches, a panel upgrade, and permits. Homes with plaster walls, multiple stories, or limited attic access cost more due to difficulty fishing wire through the structure.
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