How Much Does Electrical Panel Replacement Cost?

Upgrading your home can be done in a variety of ways. Some folks pursue those upgrades by redesigning their home, building new rooms, or perhaps purchasing more appliances. In the long run, one of the best upgrades you can secure for your home is a replacement electrical panel.

The current electrical panel you have installed may no longer be capable of supporting your household’s needs. It could also be in such rough shape that it may turn into a fire risk whenever it reaches close to its limit. Either way, you need to consider replacing your current electrical panel with one that is better suited to serve your home.

On average, a replacement electrical panel that is capable of meeting the needs of a modern home will cost $350. You will likely need a higher-capacity electrical panel if you need to run electricity to outdoor appliances. A larger electrical panel like that will cost $600. Hiring a professional to install your new electrical panel will cost $2,000.

The one upgrade that could benefit your household the most is a new electrical panel. Find out how much securing that new electrical panel will cost by continuing with the rest of this article.

Replacing your electrical panel is something you may need to do eventually. It could become a necessity for safety reasons.

You should consider replacing your electrical panel if it has sustained some damage. Overloading the panel in the past may have led to it overheating.

Burn marks on the surface of the electrical panel are indicators that it is damaged. You need to replace that damaged panel as soon as possible or else it could be the cause of a fire.

You can get a 100-amp replacement electrical panel for $150. This is likely the cheapest of the replacement panels you’ll see on the market today.

This type of electrical panel is practically the minimum requirement for most homes in this day and age. Anything with a lower capacity may not be able to support the basic appliances you have at home.

Homeowners should also be able to run central air conditioning even with just a 100-amp electrical panel. Double-check with your electrician before installing the panel, but it should suffice for that kind of application. Don’t settle for anything smaller than a 100-amp panel if you want to meaningfully upgrade your home’s electrical capacity.

A slight step up from the 100-amp panel is the 125-amp panel. You should be able to find a 125-amp electrical panel on sale for $180.

125-amp electrical panels are harder to find because there is no sizable market for them. Homeowners can get 100-amp panels cheaper and if they need more power, there are larger-capacity options that are more practical additions.

Still, you may find that a 125-amp electrical panel is good enough for your home. Feel free to remain at that level by securing a replacement panel with a similar capacity.

150-amp electrical panels have higher capacities, but they are not impervious to age and damage. Those 150-amp electrical panels are usually on sale for $230 each.

You should be able to do more if you have an electrical panel that features that kind of capacity. A 150-amp electrical panel is more than enough for a home that measures 1,500 square feet.

It may still be able to support a home that’s closer to 2,000 square feet, but you’re pushing it close to its limits. If you believe your 150-amp panel is being pushed too often, you should consider moving up a level.

Next up, we have the 200-amp replacement electrical panels. A new 200-amp panel will cost $350.

This beefy electrical panel is what you will need if you have a large home and electrical needs outside of it. The panel should prove especially useful if you have a garage that often doubles as a workshop. It can also meet the supplemental electrical needs of a swimming pool.

You may not always need the amount of electricity that this type of panel provides. Still, it’s nice to know that you have access to that much additional power if you need it.

After starting your search for a replacement electrical panel, you’ll quickly discover that the new unit won’t be your biggest expense. The cost of the replacement electrical panel will pale in comparison to the labor expenses associated with this type of project. Electricians usually charge $2,000 if you need a new electrical panel installed in your home.

So, why are the labor expenses so high for this particular job? We can highlight a few reasons.

First off, you have to consider who you’re hiring. Only licensed professionals should be tasked with this type of installation. Costs are high because they charge high fees.

The job itself can be remarkably complex. Getting all the elements positioned correctly during installation is not easy. Any mistake during installation could lead to an accident and potentially hefty repair bills.

Also, you should know that replacing an electrical panel can take some time. Jobs like this can take eight to finish and that’s assuming that the wiring in your home is in order. If the wiring has to be addressed as well, the installation may take several days to complete.

We’ve already talked about the costs of replacing your existing electrical panel. For this next section, we’ll be focusing on how much it costs to upgrade the electrical panel you currently have installed.

Upgrading your electrical panel is a good idea if you recently remodeled your home. Now that the remodeling is finished, you may be planning on adding new appliances. Increasing the capacity of your electrical panel may be necessary to support those new additions.

You should also look into upgrading your electrical panel if you’re adding more fixtures outside of your home. Make sure you always have electrical power to spare for those additional elements by upgrading your panel. Note that the costs for upgrading electrical panels highlighted in this section already include labor expenses.

Upgrading to a 100-amp electrical panel will cost $1,000. This type of upgrade may be a requirement for many older households.

Older homes typically rely on 80-amp electrical panels. Some of the panels you’ll find in those homes even go as low as 60 amps. You simply cannot continue using an old panel with that kind of limited capacity if you have new appliances at home. It’s too risky.

Though you may not be aware of it, your old panel may be consistently overburdened. It could overheat if you don’t replace it sooner rather than later.

To upgrade your current panel to one with a capacity of 150 amps, you’ll have to pay $1,300. Going from 100 to 150 amps is a wise choice if you’ve added more appliances recently.

The upgrade should give you a decent amount of wiggle room. You’ll be able to avoid overloading your electrical systems because of that.

We do want to point that the cost of upgrading could spike depending on what type of panel you currently have. Hopefully, the existing box installed in your home can accommodate the electrical upgrade. If not, you’ll be on the hook for a more expensive project.

The next upgrade option for your electrical panel increases capacity up to 200 amps. That kind of upgrade for your home’s electrical panel will cost $1,500.

Upgrading to a 200-amp electrical panel makes sense if you’re introducing some significant additions to your home. If you’re adding new rooms that will be occupied frequently, you should consider upgrading your electrical panel too.

The addition of a garage may also necessitate upgrading to a 200-amp electrical panel. The garage and the appliances you’ll be using in there may place too much strain on your current electrical system. Ease that strain by going with a higher-capacity panel.

You can also upgrade your current electrical system by adding a 400-amp panel to it. The price tag attached to that upgrade is $3,000.

As we mentioned earlier, 400-amp panels are usually not required for residential homes. However, you may want to upgrade to a 400-amp panel if you’re planning to run a business out of your home.

The powerful panel is also going to be a welcome addition if you’re planning to overhaul your outdoor landscape. You can power swimming pools, hot tubs, and even outdoor cooking areas with the help of your upgraded electrical panel.

As part of your continuing efforts to modernize your home, you may have to replace the fuse box. You will need to replace that fuse box with a circuit breaker. Electricians will handle that kind of job for $2,400.

You may be wondering if replacing your fuse box is truly necessary. There are legitimate reasons why you need to push through with that replacement.

For starters, you need to replace the fuse box because it will likely no longer be compatible with your electrical panel. Electrical panels with rated capacities over 100 amps may not work as well with a fuse box. Offer more support for your new purchase by pairing with a circuit breaker.

Sticking with a fuse can also be a safety risk. To be more specific, the larger fuses could be potential fire hazards. Replace them with circuit breakers so you don’t have to deal with that possible problem.

Swapping out the fuses for circuit breakers also makes sense if you want your home’s electrical configuration to become more user-friendly. You can quickly go to the main circuit breaker and turn off a switch if it’s posing any issues. Once you’ve worked out the issue, you can switch the breaker back on.

Paying over $2,000 to replace fuse boxes with circuit breakers can be a tough ask for many homeowners. Still, it’s an improvement that pays off well in the long run.

Updating your home’s electrical panel is not just about replacing the fuse boxes with circuit breakers. It may also involve more than upgrading or replacing the existing electrical panels. Getting new components for your electrical system may also become a necessity.

The parts you will likely need to replace are circuit breaker switches, the electrical meter box, and the main circuit breaker. Detailed below are the costs associated with replacing those important parts of your home’s electrical system.

Circuit breaker switches are the parts of the electrical system homeowners interact with most often. Replacing one of them will cost an average of $200. It’s worth mentioning that the $200 price tag already includes the required parts and the cost of labor.

You cannot ignore a busted breaker switch. If you fail to replace it, you will continually lack access to some electrical circuits. More serious problems could arise if you fail to address those busted circuits.

Replacing a circuit breaker switch is a relatively simple task. However, some switches can be harder to replace due to where they are located.

Just like your electrical panel, your electrical meter box may also be outdated already. You can get a new electrical meter box for $600.

Replacing your electrical meter box is not going to have an impact on the rest of your home’s electrical system. Keeping the old one in place is not an issue as long as it’s working properly.

Many homeowners eventually decide to get a new electrical meter box because they want to know more about their power consumption. The digital displays used by new electrical meter boxes allow homeowners to get real-time readings. You can closely monitor your electricity consumption by upgrading your electrical meter box.

Another component of your home’s electrical system that may require replacement is the main circuit breaker switch. Replacing the main circuit breaker switch will cost $250.

Think of the main circuit breaker switch as the failsafe for your electrical system. If a particular circuit breaker fails, the main breaker gives you a way to address that problem.

Instead of allowing that malfunctioning circuit breaker to potentially cause trouble, you can just turn off the main breaker. You won’t have any power flowing through your home, but it beats exposing your household needlessly to risk.

Homeowners will need a professional to inspect their new electrical panel. They will also need that professional to inspect the spot where the new electrical panel will be installed. Electricians and home inspectors usually charge $100 for that kind of service.

Electricians conduct a variety of tests throughout their inspection. They may start by examining what kind of wiring you have in place. They will test it to see if it still works as intended.

The electrician can detect any issues with your wiring. They can also fix the issue right away so it doesn’t cause problems once the electrical panel has been installed.

You will also see the electrician examine the electrical panel. They will examine it closely to see if it features any kind of damage that could prove problematic in the future.

Inspections are often required before any new electrical panel can be installed. If you aren’t sure if the inspection is needed, you can check the building code for your area.

After performing the inspection, the electrician may determine that rewiring is required before any new installations can be made. The average cost of rewiring is $2,500. However, don’t be surprised if the quote you get from your electrician ranges far from that number.

The total cost of rewiring will depend on how much work is required. The cost of rewiring could end up closer to $500. That means that only a couple of circuits need to be repaired before the new panel can be set in place.

Then again, the opposite could also happen. You may have to spend $5,000 for rewiring. Spending that much money will be necessary if your entire home has to be rewired.

Rewiring your home is a good move not just because it allows you to install a new electrical panel. The move also provides other benefits that you will find useful.

Your electric bills may become cheaper after rewiring. It will also make your home safer.

Rewiring may even reveal that you don’t need to upgrade your electrical panel. Replacing it will suffice because rewiring will already increase your electrical system’s capacity.

Where is your electrical panel currently installed? If you have an older home and you haven’t replaced the panel before, it is likely located inside your home. You may end up having to move your electrical panel outside and that will cost you $2,000.

The $2,000 estimate assumes that you’re only moving the electrical panel. Homeowners who also want to move their electrical meter boxes will have to pay more. They will have to pay $4,000 to get all those pieces of electrical equipment moved outdoors.

Changing the placement of your electrical panel costs a lot of money because new pieces of equipment will be needed. Those new items must be capable of protecting your electrical panel even while they’re continually exposed to the elements.

Moving your electrical panel outside is recommended mainly for safety reasons. If there is ever an emergency involving your home, first responders must be able to safely enter. They may not be able to safely enter if livewires are dangling inside your home following an earthquake or explosion.

The advantage of having the electrical panel outside is first responders can shut off the supply of power to your home quickly. They can go in there without worrying about potentially getting shocked.

Related Questions

Can a Homeowner Replace an Electrical Panel?

No, replacing an electrical panel is one job you should never tackle as a DIY project. The dangers of replacing an electrical panel are too great for someone who has not received any formal training. It’s so easy to make a wrong connection that could potentially damage your home or harm you.Saving some money is not worth the amount of risk you’re taking on by attempting DIY electrical panel replacement. Leave the job of replacing the electrical panel to the electricians.

When Should I Replace My Electrical Panel?

As a general rule, electrical panels should be replaced after every 25 years. They start to present issues when they reach that age so be proactive and replace them. If you aren’t sure how old your electrical panel is, you can ask an electrician to inspect it.

Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Water Damage to an Electrical Panel?

Whether your homeowner’s insurance will cover the water damage to your electrical panel will depend on the origin of the problem. Electrical panels that are damaged due to flooding will be covered by insurance. However, the electrical panel may not be covered if it was damaged by a pipe you failed to maintain.