House Rewiring Cost Calculator
Updated 2026-10-30
Rewiring a house costs $6 to $10 per square foot, according to This Old House (updated June 2026) — about $9,000 to $15,000 for a 1,500 sq ft home and $18,000 to $30,000 for 3,000 sq ft. Fixr’s figure to rewire a house is $3 to $6 per square foot, including outlets and light fixtures, but Fixr says rewiring an older home usually costs more than wiring new construction. Enter your square footage below to see both ranges for your house.
House rewiring cost calculator
The calculator multiplies your square footage by the per-square-foot range each guide states: $6–$10 from This Old House and $3–$6 from Fixr. It accepts 700 to 3,000 sq ft, the span of Fixr’s size table; This Old House’s table runs from 800 to 3,000 sq ft. Fixr’s size table works out to about $3.31–$6.03 per sq ft, so the calculator’s Fixr low end can be up to about 10% below Fixr’s table.
What a full rewire costs and why estimates vary
| House size | This Old House, rewiring (2026) | Fixr, cost to rewire a house (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $6,000–$10,000 | $3,312–$6,026 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $9,000–$15,000 | — |
| 2,000 sq ft | $12,000–$20,000 | — |
| 2,200 sq ft | $13,200–$22,000 | $7,286–$13,257 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $18,000–$30,000 | $9,936–$18,078 |
The two guides use different data. This Old House lists rewiring ($6–$10 per sq ft) separately from new wiring ($3–$5). Fixr uses one set of figures for wiring or rewiring a house — its FAQ says most homeowners pay $7,286–$13,257 to rewire their entire house — covering materials, labor, outlets and light fixtures, and it says rewiring an older home usually costs more.
Main cost factors: size, access, old wiring, panel
- Size. This Old House says larger areas cost more and take longer.
- Age and grounding. This Old House says houses built in the 1920s or 1930s often lack grounding, which significantly increases the complexity and cost of rewiring. If yours has knob-and-tube, see Knob-and-Tube Replacement Cost.
- Access. Fixr says most homes can be rewired without removing walls, but the electrician will usually need to make a few cuts in the drywall to reach the wiring. The Center for Energy and Environment, a Minnesota nonprofit, lists accessibility as a cost factor.
- Scope. The same organization lists how much wiring needs replacing and how many outlets and switches you add.
- The panel. A rewire may come with panel work:
| Item | This Old House (2026) | Fixr (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 200 amp panel | $1,300–$3,000 (upgrade) | $1,600–$4,000 (replacement) |
| Fuse box to breaker panel | — | $1,500–$4,500 |
| Electrical permit (rewiring) | $75 for simple work, up to $900 for major rewiring on older homes | usually in the estimate; can be as much as a few hundred dollars |
| Electrician labor | $40–$120 per hour | $40–$120 per hour |
More detail: Electrical Panel Replacement Cost and Fuse Box to Breaker Panel: Cost and Process.
Full vs. partial rewiring
Fixr says it isn’t always necessary to change all of a home’s wiring at once — you may only need to rewire one room, which can save thousands of dollars. Fixr lists flickering lights, outdated knob-and-tube wiring and easily tripped breakers in an old home as signs that rewiring may be needed. If a breaker keeps tripping, start with Why Does My Breaker Keep Tripping? and have an electrician find the cause before you price a full rewire.
What the electrician does during a rewire
This is the job from the homeowner’s side, not a how-to. Fixr says no one but a licensed electrician should attempt electrical work and that DIY electrical work is illegal in some areas.
- Permit and inspection. Fixr says electricians pull the permits and that inspections are required to confirm the work meets local codes. See Electrical Panel Upgrade Permits.
- Openings in walls. A few cuts in the drywall to run new cable (Fixr). Ask who patches and paints.
- Time. Fixr says rewiring an average home typically takes about a week, can stretch to three weeks, and in extreme cases can take longer than a month.
If an outlet or switch feels warm or buzzes, have a licensed electrician look at it soon. If you smell burning, see smoke, or the outlet or switch is hot to the touch, leave the area and call 911.
How to compare electrician estimates
Get at least three written estimates — the Center for Energy and Environment recommends that for rewiring projects. Then compare them line by line:
- Which rooms and circuits are included, and how many new outlets and switches?
- Is the panel being replaced or upgraded, and to what amperage?
- Are the permit and inspections in the price?
- Who patches and paints the wall openings?
- How long will the work take, and how long will each part of the house be without power?
- Will you get an invoice that lists exactly what was replaced? The Center for Energy and Environment suggests keeping it for your insurer and any insulation contractor.
If the house is older, also ask your insurer whether the current wiring affects your policy. Our Panel Risk Check helps you decide how urgent an electrician’s visit is.
Illustrations on this page are AI-generated to help you picture the situation. They are not photos of real homes, jobs or people.
Sources
- This Old House — How Much Does an Electrician Cost? (updated Jun 5, 2026)
- Fixr — Average Costs to Wire a House (updated Jan 31, 2025)
- Fixr — Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost (updated Jan 31, 2025)
- This Old House — What Is the Cost to Upgrade an Electrical Panel? (updated Mar 31, 2026)
- Center for Energy and Environment — About Us (page viewed Oct 30, 2026)
- Center for Energy and Environment — Dealing with knob-and-tube wiring (Feb 5, 2025)