What Happens During a Home Electrical Wiring Project?
Electrical wiring projects run 1 full day for a panel upgrade, 2 to 5 days for a partial rewire, and 1 to 2 weeks for a whole-home rewire. They are among the most disruptive home improvement projects, but knowing the sequence, including the 4 to 8 hours without power during a panel swap, tells you what to expect.
Panel Upgrade: 1 Full Day
A panel upgrade typically takes one day. The electrician coordinates with the utility for power disconnection in the morning. With power off, the old panel is removed, the new panel is mounted and labeled, all circuits are transferred to new breakers, and ground and neutral buses are separated (required for modern code compliance). The utility reconnects power in the afternoon and the electrician performs a circuit-by-circuit verification. The homeowner can typically be in the home during this work but will be without power for 4 to 8 hours. The Electrical Safety Foundation covers where GFCI and AFCI protection is required and which jobs need a licensed electrician.
Partial Rewiring: 2 to 5 Days
Rewiring a kitchen, basement, or other specific area takes 2 to 5 days depending on the area size and circuit count. The first day typically involves planning, access, and rough-in wiring. The second and third days complete the wiring and inspection. Drywall repair happens after the inspection closes. Power is maintained to the rest of the home during partial rewiring in most cases. (For more on this, see Hidden Costs of Home Electrical Wiring.)
Whole-Home Rewire: 1 to 2 Weeks
A complete home rewire is a multi-week project. The first week involves rough-in wiring a running new cables throughout the home, removing old wiring, and installing all device boxes. The rough-in inspection occurs when all new wiring is in place but before walls close. After inspection approval, drywall is patched and finished. The second phase installs all devices (outlets, switches, fixtures) and the final inspection completes the project. Most homeowners can remain in the home during whole-home rewiring, though daily power interruptions in different areas are expected. (For more on this, see How to Budget for a Home Electrical Wiring Project.)
Electrical Wiring Cost at a Glance
| Cost Factor | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small wiring work | $250 to $900 per dedicated circuit | a single outlet, switch, or fixture is $100 to $300+ per opening |
| Panel (breaker box) upgrade | $1,300 to $4,500 | installed, for upgrading service capacity |
| Partial rewiring | $600 to $10,000 | one room $600 to $2,500; kitchen $1,500 to $4,000; one to two floors $3,000 to $10,000 |
| Whole-home rewire | $10,000 to $30,000 | installed, or $5 to $17 per sq ft |
| Drywall and plaster repair after rewiring | $300 to $1,500+ per patch | usually excluded from the rewire quote; adds 20 to 30% to the labor |
| Knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring | $8,000 to $40,000 | aluminum remediation $8,000 to $20,000; knob-and-tube replacement $12,000 to $40,000 |
| Permit and municipal inspection | $75 to $1,500 per permit | paid to the jurisdiction rather than to the electrician |
| Overall range | $1,500 to $30,000, averaging $2,500 |
Cost figures on this page were checked against published pricing on August 27, 2026. How we source cost data.
Planning Your Project Budget
The cost ranges in this article are based on industry data and are intended as planning benchmarks, not fixed prices. The actual cost for your project depends on your specific home, your local labor market, the current price of materials, and the scope the contractor confirms after a site inspection.
Always get at least two written quotes on equivalent defined scope before committing to any home services project. Wide price variation between quotes usually reflects differences in material quality, scope completeness (what is included and what is not), or contractor overhead and experience level rather than simple price competition.
Use the cost data in this article to ask better questions during the quoting process: What material is included? What does that per-square-foot or per-linear-foot rate include and exclude? Are permits, cleanup, and disposal included? What is the warranty on labor? These questions turn a quote into a comparable basis for decision-making.
Working With a Contractor on This Project
Getting the right outcome on any home services project starts before the work begins. A few consistent practices make the difference between a smooth project and a frustrating one.
Get at least two or three quotes. A single quote gives you no basis for comparison. Two or three quotes reveal the market rate for the work, expose scope differences between bidders, and let you assess contractor communication quality before any commitment is made. The lowest bid is not automatically the best value if the scope is thin or the materials are underspecified.
Ask for licenses and insurance before work starts. Verify current general liability insurance and, for any work involving workers on your property, workers compensation coverage. Licensing requirements vary by state and trade; confirm the specific requirements in your jurisdiction. A licensed contractor who carries appropriate insurance protects both parties if something goes wrong during the project. (For more on this, see Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Electrician for Wiring Work.)
Get the scope in writing. A written proposal that specifies materials, labor scope, timeline, what is included (permits, cleanup, disposal), and warranty terms is the foundation of a professional engagement. Verbal agreements on any of these points invite misunderstanding. For any project over $500, written scope is non-negotiable.
Clarify the payment schedule upfront. A reasonable payment schedule ties major payments to project milestones: a deposit at signing, a payment at material delivery or project start, and a final payment at completion after a walkthrough confirms satisfaction. A contractor who requires full payment upfront before work begins is a red flag in any trade.