How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House?
Last updated: May 11, 2026 by the How Much Does That Cost? editorial team. Estimates are informational - see our methodology.
Rewiring an entire house costs between $6,500 and $15,000 for an average-sized home, or roughly $3 to $8.50 per square foot, averaging around $11,000. Home size, how accessible your walls are, and whether old knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring needs to be removed are the biggest cost drivers.
Rewiring is far cheaper when walls are already open, such as during a renovation, since the labor to open and patch finished walls is often the single largest cost. Older homes with plaster and lath walls or limited attic/crawlspace access cost noticeably more.
Quick Answer
Typical range: $6,500 – $15,000
Low end
$4,000
High end
$25,000+
Actual pricing varies by location, project size, materials, labor rates, and job complexity. Use the calculator below for an estimate tailored to your project.
It Cost to Rewire a House? Cost Calculator
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Estimated Project Cost
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Typical estimate: —
This is an estimate, not a quote. Actual pricing depends on your specific project details and local contractor pricing.
Cost Breakdown
How a typical project budget breaks down by category.
| Category | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Wire, boxes, outlets & switches | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Labor | $4,000 – $9,000 |
| Drywall repair & patching | $800 – $2,000 |
| Permit & inspection | $200 – $500 |
What Affects the Cost
Home size and number of circuits
Larger homes need more wire runs, outlets, and circuits, which increases both material and labor cost roughly in proportion to square footage.
Wall accessibility
Rewiring is much cheaper when walls are already open, such as during a gut renovation. Finished plaster and lath walls in older homes are slower and more expensive to work through than modern drywall.
Age and type of existing wiring
Knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring, common in homes built before the 1970s, must be fully removed rather than simply added to, which increases both labor time and safety-related code requirements.
Electrical panel condition
If your panel is outdated, undersized, or a known hazard brand, replacing it alongside the rewiring adds cost but is often more efficient than doing the work separately.
Drywall and finish repair
Cutting into finished walls to run new wire requires patching and repainting afterward, which can be a significant share of the total cost on an occupied home.
Local labor rates and permits
Rewiring is labor-intensive, so regional electrician rates have an outsized effect on total cost, and most jurisdictions require a permit and inspection for whole-house rewiring.
Cost by Home Size
| Home Size | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $4,500 – $9,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $6,500 – $12,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $8,500 – $16,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $10,500 – $20,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $12,500 – $24,000 |
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
Doing it yourself
Whole-house rewiring is not a safe or legal DIY project in almost any jurisdiction. It requires a licensed electrician and a permit with inspection, and mistakes carry a real risk of electrical fire or shock.
Hiring a professional
A licensed electrician plans circuit layout to code, handles the panel connection safely, and coordinates any necessary drywall or utility work, typically completing a whole-house rewire in 3-7 days depending on home size and access.
Bottom line: Always hire a licensed electrician for whole-house rewiring — this is a job where a permit, inspection, and licensed labor are essentially non-negotiable for safety and insurance reasons.
Ways to Save
- Schedule rewiring during a renovation when walls are already open — this alone can eliminate thousands of dollars in drywall repair costs.
- Get at least 3 quotes from licensed electricians, since labor estimates for rewiring vary more than for smaller electrical jobs.
- Rewire in phases if budget is limited, prioritizing the oldest or most hazardous wiring (knob-and-tube, aluminum) first.
- Ask whether your existing panel has enough capacity to reuse rather than replacing it at the same time.
- Check whether your city or a historic-preservation program offers any rewiring assistance for older homes.
- Plan the work outside of your electrician's busy season to get more competitive scheduling and pricing.
How We Estimated This Cost
We model each calculator from public price ranges, labor data, material pricing, industry surveys, and the regional adjustment method explained in our methodology. Estimates are reviewed for consumer usefulness, then shown as ranges because local quotes, site conditions, materials, and timing can change the final price.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to rewire a house?
The average whole-house rewiring project costs about $11,000, with most homeowners paying between $6,500 and $15,000 depending on home size and wall accessibility.
How long does it take to rewire a house?
A whole-house rewire typically takes 3-7 days for an average-sized home, though homes with plaster walls or limited access can take 1-2 weeks or more.
Do I need to rewire my whole house at once?
Not necessarily. Many homeowners rewire in phases, starting with the areas with the oldest or most hazardous wiring, though doing the whole house at once is usually more cost-efficient overall.
How do I know if my house needs to be rewired?
Signs include knob-and-tube or cloth-insulated wiring, frequent breaker trips, flickering lights, warm outlet covers, or an insurance company requiring an update before issuing or renewing a policy.
Will I have to repair drywall after rewiring?
In most cases, yes — running new wire through finished walls requires cutting access holes that need to be patched and repainted afterward, which is usually quoted as part of the project.