Rewiring a House Cost

Low: DIY Materials Can Run $1,500-$3,000

Average Range: $3,500-$8,000+

High: Large House w/Difficult Access Can Run $30,000+

Typical costs:

Copper wire is increasingly expensive, so just the materials alone for rewiring a typical home can start around $400 -$1,000 and might run $1,500 -$3,000 or more for an extensive upgrade (lots of outlets, light fixtures) in a larger home. A Boston homeowner is spending $2,600 on a do-it-yourself project rewiring a 2,300-square-foot home, including hiring an electrician to install the new electrical panel.
Depending on local rates, having an electrician rewire your home can run about $65 -$120 per device (outlet, switch, light fixture), plus $800 -$3,000 to upgrade to a 100-200 amp electrical panel. Average total cost (materials and labor) for rewiring a house starts around $3,500 -$8,000 for a moderate-sized home with easy access (at least 18-inches of crawlspace under the home plus an accessible attic) but can run $8,500 -$20,000 or even as high as $30,000 for a large house and/or one with difficult access.

What should be included:

If your house is on a concrete slab or doesn't have an attic (or both), it will probably be necessary to cut open the walls about 2 feet up from the floor, as well as cutting through the ceiling joists. Many electricians recommend having the rewiring done while you're on vacation, and say a project will often cost more if you continue living in the home while the work is done. Having an electrician rewire a house generally takes 3-10 days, or about a week for the average older home. However, a complex project can take even longer. DoItYourself.com offers an introduction to home wiring, including useful terms and safety tips.
Rewiring a home is painstaking and time-consuming work. WireItYourself.com explains how to fish wires through the walls of your home and at OurFixerUpper.com a do-it-yourself shares the progress of a rewiring project.
Rewiring a home requires a building permit and inspections of the work at certain stages in project; check with your local planning department for specifics. All wiring must meet the National Electrical Code, but local building regulations can also affect the scope and cost of your rewiring project.

Additional costs:

If holes must be cut in the walls to run wiring, be sure the cost of the plaster or drywall repair is included in the estimate -- these repairs can be as much as 25-30 percent of the total cost of the rewiring project.
You might want to rent a self-storage unit for anywhere from $40 -$230 a month to house your valuable furniture and decorations during the rewiring process, which can be quite dusty and invasive.
Whether you do it yourself or hire a pro, books on home wiring run about $10 -$20 and can provide a good overview of what's involved in a rewiring project.