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Cost guide

Whole-House Rewiring Cost

Replacing obsolete or hazardous wiring throughout a home — knob-and-tube, aluminum branch, or ungrounded systems.

Typical range
$8,000–$30,000
Most people pay
$15,000
Service life
40+ years for modern NM-B copper wiring with a code-compliant installation

National cost range

National range, per house, 1,500–2,500 sq ft

$8,000 – $30,000

Most homeowners pay around $15,000. The spread is real, not hedging — the drivers below determine which end of it you land on.

Low end
$8,000
Simple access, like-for-like
Typical
$15,000
What most jobs come in at
High end
$30,000
Upgrades, difficult access, code work

What you are actually paying for

Find the row that matches your situation. Quotes that differ wildly from each other usually differ in scope, not in price.

ScenarioTypical cost
1,500 sq ft, knob-and-tube, finished wallsFish-wiring and selective drywall repair; plan for patch and paint.$10,000–$20,000
2,000 sq ft, aluminum branch remediationCOPALUM or AlumiConn at every outlet and switch — not always full replacement.$3,000–$8,000
2,000 sq ft, full rewire during renovationWalls open — the cheapest time to rewire.$8,000–$14,000
2,500 sq ft, rewire plus 200A panel upgradePanel and service work bundled with full rewiring.$14,000–$25,000
Historic home with plaster wallsPlaster repair after fishing wire is a significant line item.$15,000–$35,000

What moves the price

In descending order of impact. These are also the questions worth asking a contractor whose quote sits outside the range above.

  1. Existing wiring type

    Knob-and-tube requires full access and is the most labor-intensive. Aluminum branch wiring may be remediated with COPALUM connectors at receptacles rather than full replacement. Ungrounded 2-wire systems often need new cables pulled to every outlet.

  2. Access — finished versus gutted

    Rewiring through finished walls with minimal drywall damage costs more per foot than rewiring during a renovation when walls are open. Fish-wiring and strategic access holes add labor.

  3. Panel and service condition

    A rewire almost always includes a new panel. If the service entrance is undersized or the meter base is obsolete, a service upgrade runs concurrently.

  4. Code upgrades triggered

    A rewire brings every circuit to current code: AFCI protection in bedrooms and living areas, GFCI in kitchens and baths, tamper-resistant receptacles, and smoke/CO detector interconnection.

  5. Home size and circuit count

    A 1,200 square foot post-war home may need 16 to 20 circuits. A 3,000 square foot modern home may need 40 or more. Each circuit is a home run to the panel.

Can you do it yourself?

Not a DIY job

Whole-house rewiring requires licensed electrical work and a permit in every jurisdiction. The scope — hundreds of connections, panel work, and code compliance — is beyond any reasonable DIY attempt.

Permits and inspection

A full electrical permit is required. Multiple inspections occur: rough-in before drywall, and final after devices are installed. Keep all documentation for insurance and resale.
Run the DIY vs. pro decisionCheck a quote you already have

When this cannot wait

  • Knob-and-tube wiring with blown fuses or scorch marks at outlets
  • Aluminum wiring with signs of overheating at connections
  • Homeowner's insurance requiring wiring remediation as a condition of coverage
  • Buying a home where the inspection flagged ungrounded or obsolete wiring

Common questions

How much does it cost to rewire a 2,000 square foot house?
A full rewire of a 2,000 square foot home typically runs $12,000 to $20,000 through finished walls, or $8,000 to $14,000 during a renovation when walls are open. Add $2,000 to $4,000 for a panel upgrade if needed.
Does homeowners insurance cover rewiring?
Standard policies do not cover rewiring for upgrades. Some insurers require knob-and-tube or aluminum remediation as a condition of coverage or charge a surcharge until the work is done. Check your policy before buying an older home.
How long does a whole-house rewire take?
Two to four weeks for a typical single-story home with a crew of two electricians. Historic homes with plaster or multi-story homes with complex access take longer. Plan for drywall repair and painting after.
Can I rewire one room at a time?
Yes, and it is sometimes the practical approach — kitchen and bath first, then bedrooms. Partial rewiring costs more per circuit than a whole-house job because mobilization is repeated, but it spreads the cost over time.
Insurance cancelled because of knob-and-tube wiring — what does rewiring cost?
Whole-house rewiring of a 2,000 square foot home runs $12,000 to $20,000 through finished walls, or $8,000 to $14,000 during renovation. Panel upgrade adds $2,000 to $4,000. Insurance reinstatement typically requires a passed electrical inspection — budget 2 to 4 weeks for the full process.
Burning smell from an outlet in an old house — emergency rewiring cost?
Shut off the circuit and call an electrician immediately. Emergency service runs $200 to $500 for diagnosis. Replacing a single circuit runs $200 to $500. If the home has aluminum branch wiring or knob-and-tube, full remediation runs $12,000 to $20,000 — partial fixes on obsolete wiring are not safe long-term.
Two-prong outlets everywhere — how much does it cost to rewire a house?
Grounding existing circuits with GFCI protection runs $100 to $200 per outlet — a code workaround, not a true ground. Full rewiring with grounded Romex runs $12,000 to $20,000 for a 2,000 square foot home. A panel upgrade to support modern loads adds $2,000 to $4,000.
How much does it cost to rewire a house built in 1950 before selling?
Full rewire runs $12,000 to $20,000. Buyers and inspectors flag ungrounded outlets, aluminum wiring, and insufficient amperage. Sellers who complete rewiring before listing avoid $10,000 to $15,000 in buyer credits. Partial kitchen and bath rewiring runs $4,000 to $8,000 as a minimum viable fix.
Aluminum wiring in the house — is it dangerous, and what does rewiring cost?
COPALUM crimp remediation runs $40 to $75 per connection — $3,000 to $6,000 for a typical home. Full rewiring runs $12,000 to $20,000. Unremediated aluminum wiring is a fire risk at outlets, switches, and fixtures. Many insurers surcharge or cancel until remediation is documented.
How long will I be without power during a whole-house rewire?
Power is off for portions of each workday, not the entire project. Full kitchen and bath circuits may be dead for 1 to 3 days during those rooms. The project runs 2 to 4 weeks total. Plan for a temporary cooking setup and coordinate critical circuits (fridge, medical equipment) with the electrician in advance.

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