Install Electrical Circuit Panel Upgrade Costs

Unless you happen to be an electrician or have extensive knowledge of electrical systems in residential construction, this is not a job that you should attempt to tackle on your own. You will need to pay a professional electrician, which is going to cost between $65 and $85 per hour.

Other factors that will affect the cost of your electrical circuit panel upgrade installation include the number of circuits or breakers required, the wiring involved, and whether new sub-panels or other services are required. Repairs, split circuits, proper grounding, and other detail work to ensure that everything is up to code will be included in your estimate.

Install electrical circuit panel upgrade: 200-amp upgrade (recommended for most newer homes due to increasing power and technology requirements).

Other costs associated with electrical panel upgrade installation:

Other considerations and costs

• If you only have to replace the main circuit breaker, you can expect to spend between $80 and $200 on the total installation cost. Of course, a circuit panel upgrade should include all new breakers, wiring, and the panel box housing.
• Indoor and outdoor electrical panels and boxes have similar installation costs, so you don’t have to worry about the price variation in this regard.
• Permits and other fees are not included in this estimate.
• A 200-amp panel is sufficient for most jobs these days, but you can choose to upgrade to a 400-amp panel for an additional cost. There shouldn’t be much additional labor, but you will pay more for 400-amp materials.
• New installation costs less than an upgrade, in most cases. With new construction, there is nothing that needs to be removed or rearranged. The walls don’t need to be opened, there will be no old wires to replace, and it is just easier all around. In a new home, electrical installation occurs while the structure is still just a frame so that the electrician can see everything.
• If you have to install GFCI or AFCI breakers, you will pay a premium cost. These cost as much as five times the price of a standard breaker.

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

DIY considerations

• This is never going to be a DIY project unless you are an electrician. Electrical work is very dangerous and proper installation is a must for building codes, home insurance, and your own peace of mind.

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.