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House Rewiring Cost Calculator
Rewiring a finished home runs about $6 to $12 per square foot in the market prices we use, or about $12,000 to $24,000 for a 2,000 sq ft house. Rewiring one floor or wing runs about $3,500 to $8,000. Enter your home size below for an estimate, not a quote.
Typical Northern Virginia market range (not a quote). Estimate: 2,000 sq ft x $6 to $12 per sq ft, whole house, finished walls.
Most of the cost is labor: opening and patching walls, pulling new cable, and new outlets, switches and breakers.
Ask what a price includes: a panel upgrade, wall patching and paint, and the permit fee can be extra.
This is an estimate for planning. Electrical work needs an expert electrician and, in most places, a permit.
How the calculator works
For a whole house, the tool multiplies your finished square feet by a market range of $6 to $12 per square foot, then rounds to the nearest $100. For example, 1,450 sq ft x $6 = $8,700 and 1,450 sq ft x $12 = $17,400.
For one floor or one wing, the tool shows a flat market range of $3,500 to $8,000. A partial job depends more on how many rooms and circuits it covers than on the size of the whole home. It also shows the whole-house range for your size, so you can compare.
These ranges come from published cost guides and wage data, not from a contractor's price list. They are estimates for planning. The real price comes after an expert electrician walks the house.
What changes the price
Walls and access. Most of the cost is labor. Finished walls and ceilings, plaster, and no attic or basement access mean more holes to cut and patch. An open basement or attic above the rooms makes it faster.
Old wiring. Knob and tube wiring and older aluminum branch wiring often lead to a bigger job once walls are open. The calculator does not add anything for them. Check the box only as a reminder.
What the code asks for today. New wiring usually brings each room up to the current code. That can mean AFCI protection on most living-area circuits (NEC 210.12), GFCI protection in kitchens, baths, garages and outdoors (NEC 210.8), and more kitchen and bath circuits. Each adds parts and labor.
Extras. A panel or service upgrade, wall patching and paint, and permit fees are often priced separately. Ask what a price includes.
Signs a house may need rewiring
Two-prong outlets with no ground, knob and tube wiring in the attic or basement, cloth-covered cable, frequent tripped breakers or blown fuses, outlets or switch plates that feel warm, and lights that flicker or dim are all reasons to have the wiring checked. The U.S. Fire Administration also has plain tips on outlets and cords.
Not every old house needs a full rewire. Sometimes a few circuits, a new panel, or grounded outlets fix the main problems.
When to call an expert electrician
Call an expert electrician before you buy a home with knob and tube or older aluminum wiring, before you open walls for a remodel, or when you see the signs above. They can tell you whether you need a full rewire, a partial one, or a few repairs. Rewiring needs a permit and inspection in most places.
| Finished home size | Whole-house rewire | One floor or wing |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $6,000 to $12,000 | $3,500 to $8,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $9,000 to $18,000 | $3,500 to $8,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $12,000 to $24,000 | $3,500 to $8,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $15,000 to $30,000 | $3,500 to $8,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $18,000 to $36,000 | $3,500 to $8,000 |
Worked example: a 1,450 sq ft house
- The home has 1,450 sq ft of finished space, and the owner wants the whole house rewired.
- Low end: 1,450 x $6 = $8,700.
- High end: 1,450 x $12 = $17,400.
- Estimate: about $8,700 to $17,400 (market range, not a quote).
- If only the upstairs is rewired, the range is about $3,500 to $8,000 instead.
- A panel upgrade, wall patching and paint, and the permit fee may be extra.
Rewiring Cost Calculator questions
Short answers to common questions.
How much does it cost to rewire a house?
In the market prices we use, a finished home costs about $6 to $12 per square foot to rewire. That is about $12,000 to $24,000 for 2,000 sq ft. One floor or wing runs about $3,500 to $8,000. These are estimates.
How long does it take to rewire a house?
Often several days to two weeks for a typical home (estimate), plus time for inspections and wall repair. Size, access and old wiring change the time. Ask for a schedule with the price.
Can you rewire a house without removing drywall?
Mostly, yes. Electricians fish new cable through walls from the attic and basement and cut small holes where needed. You should still plan for some patching and paint.
Do I have to replace knob and tube wiring?
The NEC does not make every home remove it, but some home insurers ask about it, and it has no ground wire. An expert electrician can check its condition and tell you your options.
Does rewiring include a new electrical panel?
Not always. A panel or service upgrade is often priced on its own. Ask whether the price includes the panel, the permit, and wall patching.
Sources: NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (2023): 210.8 (GFCI), 210.12 (AFCI), Article 394 (knob and tube wiring) (free access) · U.S. Fire Administration: electrical and appliance fire safety card (PDF) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages: Electricians. Last updated November 7, 2026.
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