Rewiring a house costs $6 to $10 per square foot in 2026
SoFi puts rewiring at $6 to $10 per square foot, so a 1,300 square foot home runs about $7,800 to $13,000 and a 2,500 square foot home $15,000 to $25,000. HomeAdvisor's average is about $16,000. Wall and ceiling repairs after the work can push totals to $30,000.
Cost by home size
| 1,300 sq ft | $7,800 to $13,000 (SoFi, Jan 2026). |
|---|---|
| 2,500 sq ft | $15,000 to $25,000. |
| Typical home | $10,000 to $15,000 (Inch Calculator, 2026). |
| HomeAdvisor average | About $16,000, range $12,000 to $20,000. |
| 200 amp service | $2,500 to $4,500 more if needed. |
| Electrician rate | $50 to $100 an hour. |
What pushes a quote up
| Home size | Priced by the square foot. |
|---|---|
| Access | Plaster walls and finished ceilings take more work. |
| Panel | A new panel or service upgrade adds thousands. |
| Wall repair | Patching and paint after the work. |
| Home age | Knob and tube wiring in older homes means a full rewire. |
Rewire a house cost by region
| Lower cost states | $8,000 to $16,000. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia and most rural areas. |
|---|---|
| Average cost states | $10,000 to $20,000. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and most mid size cities. |
| Higher cost states | $13,000 to $26,000. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, plus big metros such as Chicago, Denver and Washington DC. |
These rows are our estimate. We took the typical national range and adjusted it for local labor costs, which run about 20 percent lower in the cheapest states and about 30 percent higher in the dearest ones. Electrician rates and permit rules vary by city.
When to rewire, and what the quote leaves out
SoFi notes that electrical problems are the third most common cause of house fires in the U.S. HomeAdvisor says rewiring is common in homes built before 1960. Signs include knob and tube or cloth wiring, frequent breaker trips, flickering lights, warm outlets and two prong outlets throughout.
The electrician's quote often does not include the holes they cut to run new wire. Inch Calculator notes that patching walls and ceilings can push the full project to $30,000 or more. Ask who patches, who paints, and whether that is in the price.
Many homes need a panel upgrade at the same time. See our electrical panel replacement cost page.
Why this costs more in 2026
Copper wire prices move with metals markets, and electricians' rates rose again this year.
Fuel is the common thread. AAA's national average for diesel passed $6 a gallon for the first time on September 11, 2026, up from about $3.70 a year earlier (CBS 8 reporting AAA). Every truck roll and every delivery carries that. Materials moved too. Associated Builders and Contractors reported construction input prices up 4.8 percent in a year as of March 2026, the largest annual gain since January 2023, and the Associated General Contractors said diesel jumped 37.8 percent in one month, the largest one month rise since 1990 (Roofing Contractor, April 2026). Some suppliers added freight surcharges this year. Ask how long your quote is good for.
How to judge the quote in your hand
- Ask if a panel upgrade is included.
- Ask who patches the walls.
- Ask about permits and inspections.
- Ask the price per square foot.
- Ask how long you will be without power.
Ways to pay less
- Rewire during a remodel when walls are open.
- Do your own patching and paint.
- Rewire in phases if safe to do so.
- Get three quotes.
What will this cost me?
Pick the job, your state's cost level and the last detail. The estimate updates as you change them.
An estimate built from published 2026 cost guides. It is not a quote. Get a written quote before work starts.
The one business per trade, per town that AI recommends.
When your customers ask an AI which company to call, we get you named, not your competitor. We work and monitor every major engine, ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, Claude, and Grok, so you show up wherever they ask. Fully done-for-you: setup, ongoing optimization, competitor tracking, a live dashboard, and monthly reporting. Backed by our 90-day money-back guarantee.
Book a free 15 minute callNo pitch deck. We run your audit live on the call.Common questions
How much does it cost to rewire a house?
About $6 to $10 per square foot, or $10,000 to $20,000 for most homes.
Who patches the walls after rewiring?
Ask. Wall repair is often not in the electrician's price.
Do I need to rewire an old house?
Homes with knob and tube or cloth wiring usually should be.
Does rewiring include a new panel?
Not always. Ask, because it can add $2,500 to $4,500.