How Much Does Rewiring a House Cost in 2026? Complete Pricing

Bottom line: Rewiring a house in 2026 typically costs **$4–$10 per square foot**, putting most jobs in the **$8,000–$20,000** range for a 1,500–2,500 sq ft home. This includes a new 200-amp panel and all necessary circuits and outlets. Partial rewires (knob-and-tube removal, kitchen and bath upgrades, panel only) run **$2,500–$8,000**. Full rewires of large or complex homes can exceed **$25,000**. The biggest variables are home size, wall access (drywall is easier and cheaper than plaster), and whether the panel is being upgraded as part of the job (almost always yes — budget an extra **$2,000–$5,000** for this component alone). For a typical 1960s 2,200 sq ft home, expect quotes to land in the $14,000 to $19,000 range for a complete rewire.

Pricing is roughly $4–$10 per square foot. A 2,000 sq ft home typically has 25–35 circuits. Modern code requires more circuits than older homes had — kitchen alone needs 2 small-appliance circuits, dishwasher, disposal, microwave, and refrigerator on dedicated circuits. A full rewire is also the perfect time to add circuits for future needs like an EV charger in the garage, a hot tub, or a workshop. Adding these during the project is far cheaper than doing it later.

Drywall is straightforward to cut for wire fishing and simple to patch. Plaster (common in homes pre-1950) is brittle, requires careful demolition to avoid spiderweb cracking, and requires multi-step repair (scratch coat, brown coat, finish coat) by a skilled plasterer. Plaster walls add 25–50% to total labor cost and slow the job significantly. Unexpected fire blocking within walls can also increase labor hours, as electricians must drill through each horizontal stud to run new wires.