CostHelper.com > Home & Garden > Adding an Electrical Outlet

Adding an Electrical Outlet Cost

How Much Does Adding an Electrical Outlet Cost?

Medium: $75-$250

High: $300-$800

Related Topics:

Upgrading an Electrical Panel

All Home & Garden

Adding outlets can replace wall-to-wall or room-to-room extension cords, increasing both safety and style. Standard outlets (for a toaster or a hair dryer) are 120 volts; outlets for appliances such as a refrigerator or a washing machine are 240 volts.

Typical costs:

Electricians charge $75-$250 to add a conventional 120V household outlet (also known as a receptacle) to an existing nearby circuit.
Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and other moisture-prone areas (including the outdoors) need ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets, which prevent shocks. These are at the higher end of the scale, or it's about $60-$125 to replace an existing standard outlet with a GFCI receptacle.
If existing circuits don't have the capacity for another outlet, running a new 120V circuit off the electrical panel adds another $150-$250.
Generally, adding a 240V outlet means installing a new 240V circuit on the main electrical panel, at a cost of $300-$800.

What should be included:

HomeTips.com describes and illustrates typical electrical outlets, while HomeTime.com provides a glossary of electrical terms, which helps in comparing electricians' quotes or understanding exactly what's needed in a specific situation.
To add an outlet, proper wiring must be run from the existing panel or circuit to the new site. DoItYourself.com explains the basic principles of good wiring and OnTheHouse.com gives step-by-step instructions for adding an outlet.

Additional costs:

Child-tamper-resistant outlets cost about $4-$6 each, compared to $1-$3 for standard hardware, according to State Farm Insurance.
Designer covers in metal or wood, or with special colors or designs can add $7-$40 or more to the total cost.

Discounts:

If outlets are added as part of a larger project, such as upgrading an electrical panel or wiring, the cost per outlet could be on the lower end of the scale; if an electrician comes in just to add one outlet, the minimum charge might be higher than the range estimated above.

Shopping for adding an electrical outlet:

Request and contact references, check for complaints with the Better Business Bureau and make sure the electrical contractor is properly bonded and insured, as well as licensed in your state.
Referrals to electrical contractors are available from the National Electrical Contractors Association or the Blue Book of Contractors.

Article updated May 2007