Energy cost · Electrical & EV Charging
House Rewiring Cost
Whole-house rewiring
Bottom line: Rewiring a whole house costs $10,000 to $30,000 on average, or $5 to $17 per square foot, according to HomeGuide. A 1,000 sq ft home runs $5,000 to $17,000 and a 2,000 sq ft home $10,000 to $34,000. Replacing knob and tube wiring costs $12,000 to $35,000. Permits add $250 to $900, and drywall patching is often extra.
HomeGuide puts whole-house rewiring at $10,000 to $30,000 on average, or $5 to $17 per square foot.
Cost by home size
| Home size | Cost (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|
| 250 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,300 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $5,000 – $17,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $10,000 – $34,000 |
| 4,000 sq ft | $20,000 – $68,000 |
HomeGuide's electrical pricing guide lists a basic rewire of a three-bedroom home at $2,500 to $6,000, and wiring at $6 to $8 per foot.
Knob and tube
Replacing knob and tube wiring costs $12,000 to $35,000 (HomeGuide).
Per-opening and related costs
| Item | Cost (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|
| Flat rate per opening (outlet, switch or fixture) | $100 – $300+ |
| Outlet replacement | $80 – $200 |
| Light switch replacement | $50 – $250 |
| Drywall repair | $300 – $1,500+ per patch |
| Permits | $250 – $900 |
Panel upgrade
For panel prices, see electrical panel upgrade cost.
Cost by room (HomeGuide)
| Room | Cost |
|---|---|
| Bathroom (40 – 150 sq ft) | $200 – $2,600 |
| Kitchen (100 – 200 sq ft) | $500 – $3,400 |
| Bedroom (130 – 230 sq ft) | $650 – $3,900 |
| Garage (240 – 700 sq ft) | $1,200 – $11,900 |
| Basement (500 – 1,500 sq ft) | $2,500 – $25,500 |
Through the attic vs. opening walls
| Cost | Through attic / basement | Opening walls |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,000 – $8,000 | $8,000 – $12,000 |
| Labor | $6,000 – $12,000 | $12,000 – $18,000 |
| Total | $10,000 – $20,000 | $20,000 – $30,000+ |
Source: HomeGuide. Opening walls adds 25% to 30% to the project.
Patching walls afterward
Plaster walls cost $2 to $10 per sq ft to repair, and replacing plaster with drywall $2 to $6 per sq ft (HomeGuide).
Other costs
An electrical inspection runs $100 to $200, a dedicated circuit $250 to $900 and replacing every outlet in a house $1,200 to $2,600. Wiring a new house costs $6,000 to $22,500, or $4 to $9 per sq ft (HomeGuide).
Repairs instead of a full rewire
HomeGuide lists small electrical repairs at $150 to $600 and large or complex repairs at $2,000 to $10,000+. Grounding an outlet costs $100 to $300, a GFCI outlet replacement $90 to $200 and a circuit breaker replacement $100 to $260.
When a house needs rewiring
- Knob-and-tube or very old wiring.
- Aluminum branch wiring in some older homes.
- Frequent breaker trips, flickering lights or warm outlets.
- Two-prong outlets without a ground.
- A major renovation.
What rewiring involves
- Running new cables through walls, attics and crawl spaces.
- Replacing outlets, switches and fixtures.
- Updating the panel if needed.
- Opening and patching walls and ceilings.
- Permits and inspections.
Full vs. partial rewiring
Not every home needs a full rewire. An electrician can inspect the system and recommend updating only certain circuits or rooms.
What affects the price
- Home size and number of stories.
- Access through attics and crawl spaces.
- Plaster or drywall walls.
- Panel upgrade.
- Wall and ceiling repairs.
Questions to ask
- Does the whole house need rewiring, or only parts?
- Who will repair the walls afterward?
- Will the new wiring meet current code, including AFCI and GFCI rules?
In Texas
Older homes in Texas cities can still have original wiring. Many insurers ask about wiring type when writing a policy, so updating it may also affect coverage options.
When rewiring is needed
Not every old house needs a full rewire, but these signs suggest the wiring needs attention:
- Knob-and-tube wiring, found in many homes built before the mid-1900s. It has no ground wire, its insulation can break down, and many insurers will not cover homes with active knob-and-tube.
- Aluminum branch wiring, used in some homes built in the 1960s and 1970s, which can overheat at connections if not properly repaired.
- Ungrounded outlets throughout the house.
- Frequently tripping breakers or blown fuses.
- Warm or discolored outlets and switch plates, buzzing sounds or burning smells.
- Not enough outlets, leading to heavy use of extension cords.
An electrician can inspect the wiring and recommend a full or partial rewire.
What a rewire involves
The electrician plans new circuits, runs new cable through walls, ceilings and floors, installs new boxes, outlets and switches, and connects everything to the panel. In finished homes, this means cutting small openings in walls and ceilings to fish the cable through. The electrician often works from the attic and basement or crawl space to reduce wall openings. After inspection, the openings are patched.
Many rewiring projects also include upgrading the electrical panel and adding grounding, GFCI and AFCI protection where required.
Living in the house during rewiring
Rewiring is often done while the family lives in the home. Power may be off in certain areas during the day. Expect dust and some disruption. Plan for drywall repair and painting after the electrical work.
Insurance and resale
Upgrading old wiring can make it easier to get homeowners insurance and can reassure buyers. Keep permits and inspection records.
Planning the work room by room
Rewiring is a chance to fix more than old wire. Before the work starts, walk through the house with the electrician and decide where you want more outlets, USB outlets, dedicated circuits for the kitchen and laundry, outdoor outlets, better lighting, and network cabling. Adding these while walls are open is much cheaper than adding them later. It is also a good time to bring the home up to current code with GFCI and AFCI protection and hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Phasing the project
Some homeowners rewire in stages, starting with the riskiest circuits, such as those with knob-and-tube or damaged wire, or the kitchen and bathrooms where loads are highest. Phasing spreads out the cost, but each phase has its own setup and patching work, so the total usually ends up higher than doing it all at once. If you plan to remodel soon, combining the rewire with the remodel saves on wall repair.
After the rewire
When the electrician finishes, ask for an updated panel directory that labels every circuit accurately, and keep the permit and final inspection records. These documents help with insurance, future repairs and resale. Patching and painting are often handled by a drywall contractor rather than the electrician, so confirm who is responsible before work begins.
Choosing an electrician for a rewire
Get at least three quotes from licensed electricians, ask how they will access walls and ceilings, and confirm who handles permits, inspection and patching before you sign.
Sources
Electricians in Texas
Our Texas business directory lists 755 electricians across 6 major cities. The ratings below are the average Google rating of the listed businesses in each city, and the review counts are the total number of Google reviews they have received.
| City | Businesses listed | Avg. Google rating | Total reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 285 | 4.5 | 8,557 |
| Dallas | 95 | 4.7 | 4,755 |
| San Antonio | 126 | 4.5 | 11,438 |
| Austin | 100 | 4.6 | 8,868 |
| Fort Worth | 96 | 4.6 | 5,029 |
| El Paso | 53 | 4.5 | 1,052 |
Source: twupro Texas business directory, built from public Google Maps listings.
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