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Cost guide

Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost

Replacing a main service panel, typically going from 100A to 200A, including service coordination.

Typical range
$1,800–$9,000
Most people pay
$3,500
Service life
25–40 years for a modern panel

National cost range

National range, per service upgrade

$1,800 – $9,000

Most homeowners pay around $3,500. The spread is real, not hedging — the drivers below determine which end of it you land on.

Low end
$1,800
Simple access, like-for-like
Typical
$3,500
What most jobs come in at
High end
$9,000
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
100A to 200A, panel in place, overhead serviceThe most common version of this job.$1,800–$4,000
200A upgrade with meter relocationNew service entrance conductors and mast work.$3,500–$7,000
Underground service upgradeTrenching and conduit are the cost drivers.$4,000–$10,000
Subpanel addition onlyOften sufficient when the service itself has capacity.$900–$2,500
Federal Pacific or Zinsco replacementThese panels have documented failure-to-trip histories and are frequently flagged by insurers.$2,000–$4,500

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. Service size and whether the meter moves

    Replacing a panel in place is far cheaper than relocating the service point, which requires new service entrance conductors and utility coordination.

  2. Overhead versus underground service

    Underground service upgrades require trenching and sometimes a new conduit run from the transformer, which can double the job.

  3. Code upgrades triggered by the work

    Grounding electrode system updates, AFCI and GFCI protection on replaced circuits, and surge protection are commonly required when the panel is replaced.

  4. Aluminum branch wiring or knob-and-tube

    Legacy wiring found during the upgrade must often be addressed, and remediation can exceed the panel cost itself.

  5. Utility scheduling

    The power company must disconnect and reconnect the service. That appointment drives the schedule and occasionally carries its own fee.

Can you do it yourself?

Not a DIY job

Service equipment work involves conductors that remain energized ahead of the main breaker and cannot be de-energized by the homeowner. Every U.S. jurisdiction requires a licensed electrician and a permit for service work.

Permits and inspection

A permit and inspection are required, and the utility will not reconnect service without a passed inspection. Any contractor who offers to skip the permit should be removed from consideration.
Run the DIY vs. pro decisionCheck a quote you already have

When this cannot wait

  • Burning smell, scorch marks or a warm panel cover
  • Breakers that trip with no identifiable load cause
  • A Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco panel
  • A fuse box in a home with modern electrical demand

Common questions

How much does it cost to upgrade to a 200 amp panel?
A straightforward 100A to 200A upgrade with the panel staying in place typically runs $1,800 to $4,000. Meter relocation or underground service pushes it higher.
Do I need a panel upgrade for an EV charger?
Often not. Run a load calculation first — a load-managed charger or a reduced amperage setting frequently avoids the upgrade entirely.
Why do I need to replace a Federal Pacific panel?
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers have a documented history of failing to trip under fault conditions. Many insurers will not write or renew a policy on a home that still has one.

Not sure this is the problem?

Decide what to do next

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