Electrical Wiring Costs

Upgrading or installing new electrical wiring is a task that should always be done by a certified electrician. Not only is it dangerous work, but doing it yourself could void your home insurance or lead to improper installation, despite your best efforts. Homes that are over 40 years old are due for an upgrade because older 60 amp systems can no longer support the amount of power that a modern home needs.

The average home may use up to 200 amps for computers, HDTVs, home automation, HVAC units, and other high-output devices. There are a lot of factors that impact the cost of electrical wiring, including the size of the project and the number of connections needed.

Electrical wiring: mid-range materials, including labor costs, 1,200 square foot home.

Other considerations and costs

• To determine the cost of wiring connections, you should allot about two hours per connection for labor, plus materials.
• If you are building new construction or have torn a building down to the frame, you will spend a lot less on labor to install new electrical wiring.
• If an electrician can run the majority of the wiring through the floor joists, attic, basement, or other accessible spaces, the cost of new wiring will be significantly lower. Having to open walls to run wire can easily run project costs much higher.
• Structured wiring is available for heavy-duty installations, which has an additional cost per square foot.
• If you have old knob-and-tube style wiring, some local codes will require full removal. This can run as much as $5,000 in addition to the provided costs above.

Check out our guide if you need a loan for your home improvement project.

DIY considerations

• As previously stated, electrical wiring is a dangerous job and should always be done by a licensed professional. You run the risk of electrocution, wiring that isn’t up to code, and even potential electrical fires.

References

• Craftsman Estimator Costbook, complete series year 2019.
• Latest prices found on Home Depot and other vendor Web sites.
• Literature review of DIY Web sites.