Electrical cost in 2026
Reviewed and updated by the Fixerlane editorial team · How we research
What other publishers report electrical costs, what moves the price, and how to tell whether two quotes are really for the same work.
Typical prices
| Job | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician hourly rate | $70–$131 per hourFixr, updated Jan 2025 | Fixrupdated Jan 2025 |
| $40–$120 per hourThis Old House: small-to-medium tasks $150–$600 in totalThis Old House, updated Jun 2026 | This Old Houseupdated Jun 2026 | |
| Electrician service call | $176–$327 per visitFixr, updated Jan 2025 | Fixrupdated Jan 2025 |
| Install an electrical outlet | $120–$200 per jobFixr: average $141Fixr, updated Aug 2025 | Fixrupdated Aug 2025 |
| Install a GFCI outlet | $130–$300 per jobBob Vila, citing Angi: average $210Bob Vila, updated Aug 2025 | Bob Vilaupdated Aug 2025 |
| Electrical panel upgrade | $1,500–$4,500 installedFixr: average $3,000 for 100A to 200AFixr, updated Jan 2025 | Fixrupdated Jan 2025 |
| $800–$4,000 installedThis Old House: most pay $1,300–$3,000 for 100A to 200AThis Old House, updated Mar 2026 | This Old Houseupdated Mar 2026 | |
| Rewire a house | $7,286–$13,257 per jobFixr, updated Jan 2025 | Fixrupdated Jan 2025 |
| $6–$10 per sq ftThis Old House: wiring new construction $3–$5 per sq ftThis Old House, updated Jun 2026 | This Old Houseupdated Jun 2026 | |
| Level 2 EV charger installation | $1,000–$2,500 installedFixr: average $1,200Fixr, updated Jan 2025 | Fixrupdated Jan 2025 |
| $546–$1,374 installedBob Vila, citing HomeAdvisor: average $959Bob Vila, updated Jun 2024 | Bob Vilaupdated Jun 2024 |
How we got these. Fixerlane does not set prices and these are not our figures. They are the ranges published by Fixr, This Old House and Bob Vila, read from each page on October 4, 2026 and linked so you can check them. Each publisher measures differently, so the ranges do not always agree. Your quote depends on your home, your area and the exact job — the things below are what move it.
Where the sources disagree
- Electrician hourly rate: Fixr says $70–$131; This Old House says $40–$120. (Fixr, This Old House)
- Panel upgrade: Fixr says $1,500–$4,500; This Old House says $800–$4,000. (Fixr, This Old House)
- Level 2 EV charger installed: Fixr says $1,000–$2,500; Bob Vila, citing HomeAdvisor, says $546–$1,374. (Fixr, Bob Vila)
What changes the price
- Hourly rate and any minimum or service-call charge
- Whether new circuits are needed, or work runs off existing ones
- Panel capacity — adding big loads such as an EV charger can mean a panel upgrade
- Access: running cable through finished walls and ceilings takes longer
- Permits and inspection, which most new electrical work needs
- Age of the wiring — older systems may need bringing up to code first
What pros ask before quoting
These are the questions electrical pros listed on Fixerlane ask before they will quote. Each one is a variable that moves the price — which is why having answers ready gets you a firmer number faster.
- Property type
- Commonly offered: Business · Commercial · Condo/Apartment · House · Multi-unit building · Office / business
- Ceiling height
- Commonly offered: 10 - 14 feet · 8 - 10 feet · Over 14 feet · Under 8 feet
- Fixture type
- Commonly offered: Ceiling fans · Circuit breaker panels or fuse boxes · EV charger · Lights · Outlets · Switches
- Building height
- Commonly offered: 4-10 story building · High-rise building · Single-level building · Three-story building · Two-story building
- Features wanted
- Commonly offered: Cameras · Motion detectors · Remote viewing · Surveillance system · Video doorbell · Window and door sensors
- Project type
- Commonly offered: Additions · Adjustments · Augment existing system · Installation · New installation at a new construction · New installation at an existing property
- Device type
- Commonly offered: Camera · Computer · Intercom/communications · Lighting · Lock · Network/Routers
- Construction type
- Commonly offered: Existing properties · New construction · Remodels
How pros quote
Fixed price
The scope is clear enough to put a number on the whole job. The risk of it running long sits with the pro, which is why they will want the scope pinned down first.
Hourly or day rate
Used where nobody yet knows what is wrong, or the work is open-ended. Fair for diagnosis; a warning sign on a job that could have been specified.
Per unit
Priced by square foot, per fixture, per window. Easy to compare between pros — as long as you check what a "unit" includes.
Call-out plus work
A fixed fee to attend, then the job on top. Common for emergency and repair work. Ask whether the call-out comes off the final bill.
Comparing quotes fairly
Two quotes are only comparable if they cover the same job. Before you judge on price, check each one states:
- The scope, in plain words rather than a trade shorthand
- Which materials are included, and who supplies them
- Whether disposal and clean-up are in the price
- Making good afterwards — patching, painting, reinstating
- The payment schedule, tied to visible milestones
- A start date and a realistic finish window
- What happens if something unexpected is found
A quote well below the others is usually a smaller job, not a better deal. Ask what it excludes before assuming it is the bargain.
What the electrical market looks like
Fixerlane lists electrical pros across 51 states and 3,642 cities. About 38% are one-person businesses and 55% are small teams of two to nine. The typical business has been trading 6 years.
That mix matters for price. A sole trader carries lower overheads and is often cheaper for a small job; a larger firm can field a crew, carry more insurance and start sooner on a big one. Neither is better — they suit different work.
Common questions
- Does electrical work need a permit?
- Most new circuits, panel changes and rewiring do. Swapping a like-for-like fixture often does not. A licensed electrician should pull the permit and arrange the inspection — be wary of one who suggests skipping it.
- Do I need a panel upgrade?
- If you are adding big loads — an EV charger, heat pump, electric range or hot tub — the panel may not have the capacity. An electrician can do a load calculation to tell you.
- Should an electrician be licensed?
- Yes. Electricians are licensed at state or local level in most of the country. Ask for the number and check it with the licensing board.
- Are flickering lights an emergency?
- Flickering on one fixture is often a loose bulb or switch. Flickering across the house, burning smells, warm outlets or buzzing from the panel are reasons to call an electrician promptly.
Get a real number
Published ranges tell you what is normal; only a pro who has seen your job can tell you what yours costs. Find electrical pros near you and ask two or three.
Find electrical pros