How Much Does an Electrician Really Cost?

In This Article

When you know how much an electrician costs, it's easier to determine if you should hire an electrician or do the work yourself.

Replacing a 120V outlet or light switch can be done by do-it-yourselfers. But is it worth saving the $137 to $319 that electricians typically charge to replace an outlet?

A qualified, licensed electrician is the best person for complicated jobs like replacing an electrical panel, installing new wiring, or adding or removing circuits.

Find out how much an electrician costs for projects ranging from replacing an outlet to rewiring an entire home.

Electrician Labor Costs

The average labor cost for an electrician ranges from $50 to $100 per hour.

The average service call fee for an electrician to visit your home ranges from $163 to $535.

Service call prices vary depending on the project to complete, where you live, and the electrician's pricing structure.

Electrician Costs by Service

Service	Cost
Replace outlet or switch	$137 to $319
Ground an outlet	$25 to $100
Replace standard outlet with GFCI	$157 to $339
Install outlet or switch	$75 to $485
Install 220, 240, or 250-V outlet	$157 to $339
Change from 2- to 3-prong outlet	$137 to $319
Install floor outlet	$187 to $369
Install smart outlet	$187 to $369
Install three-way switch	$100 to $200
Replace circuit breaker	$100 to $160
Upgrade electrical service	$520 to $2,100
Rewire a house	$1,600 to $11,400
Wire a house or addition	$3,800+
Wire a garage	$1,200 to $2,500
Wire a basement	$800 to $1,500

Replace a Standard 120V Outlet or Switch

The cost to replace a 120V outlet or light switch ranges from $137 to $319, with an average cost of about $230.

Outlet receptacles can cost as little as $1 to $3. You can save a considerable amount of money if you replace the outlet yourself.

Warning

Treat electricity with care. Call an electrician if you feel uncomfortable undertaking even basic electrical repairs.

Ground an Outlet

Grounding an outlet costs $25 to $50 per outlet, not including the service call fee. The task will take about 30 minutes per outlet. You should have all the required updates done simultaneously.

If the electrician needs to establish grounding at the main fuse panel or circuit breaker panel, the cost will be between $50 and $100 per outlet.

Tip

Group several tasks to get the most value from the service call fee. For example, have the electrician replace several outlets rather than just one.

Replace a Standard Outlet with a GFCI

The cost to replace a 120V outlet with a GFCI outlet ranges from $137 to $319, with an average cost of about $230. Also factor in the cost of the GFCI outlet: $10 to $20 per device.

Installing a GFCI outlet yourself will cost $10 to $20, or the cost of the GFCI outlet itself. While more difficult than installing a standard 120V outlet, installing a GFCI outlet is still possible for a DIYer.

Tip

GFCI outlets are required outdoors, in bathrooms, garages, kitchens, crawl spaces, wet bars, laundry sinks, and other areas required by the local electrical code.

Install a New Outlet or Switch

Installing a new outlet or switch can cost as little as $75 and as much as $485 per device.

Installing a new outlet or switch where none exists involves opening the wall, fishing a new cable to a power source, installing a new wall box and device, and making the connections.

3:40

Watch Now: How to Wire and Install an Outlet

Install a 220, 240, or 250-Volt Outlet

The cost to install a 220, 240, or 250V outlet ranges from $137 to $319, plus the cost of the outlet itself: about $10 to $20 each.

Wiring a 220, 240, or 250V outlet for an electric clothes dryer or range takes about as much time as wiring a standard 120V outlet. The cost will be higher if the electrician needs to run conduit, reorganize circuit breakers in the main electric service panel, or install a new circuit breaker.

Change From 2-Prong to 3-Prong Outlet

If the home's electrical system is grounded, changing a 2-prong 120V outlet to a 3-prong outlet costs from $137 to $319, with an average cost of about $230. The cost of the device is $1 to $3.

Updating your 2-prong outlets to 3-prong outlets lets you use modern 3-prong electrical cords found on most devices today. If the home's electric system needs grounding added, the project cost will rise substantially.

Install Floor Outlet

The cost to install floor outlet ranges from $137 to $319. The cost of the floor outlet and box will cost up to $50 each.

Floor outlets give you greater flexibility for plugging in floor lamps throughout a room. Floor outlets and boxes are relatively expensive since they include special gaskets and seals required by the electrical code.

Install Smart Outlet

Installing a smart outlet costs from $137 to $319, plus the cost of the smart outlet. Each smart outlet costs up to $50 each.

A smart outlet has wireless, Wi-Fi-equipped remote control technology embedded in the outlet. The outlet is controlled by a smartphone.

Tip

Save on the cost of installing a smart outlet by using a smart plug instead. About $15 each, a smart plug fits into an existing 120V outlet.

Install Three-Way Switches

A skilled electrician can install a set of three-way switches in one to two hours for between $100 and $200 per device.

Expect to pay more if the electrician installs switches in two locations, requiring new cables and wall boxes.

Replace a Circuit Breaker

The cost to professionally replace a circuit breaker runs from $100 to $160.

You can replace a circuit breaker by yourself for the cost of the device, which ranges from $10 to $40, depending on the type of breaker.

4:02

Watch Now: How to Safely Remove & Replace a Circuit Breaker

Upgrade the Electrical Service

Upgrading the electrical service costs between $520 and $2,100, for an average cost of $1,300.

At one time, 100-amp service was standard in homes. Now, 200-amp service is common for most homes, and 400-amp service is often installed for very large homes with many electric appliances, such as swimming pool heaters and radiant floor systems.

Rewire a House

The cost of rewiring a house ranges from $1,600 to $11,400.

Rewiring a home where walls need to be opened up to run new cables will cost considerably more than one where cables can easily be run through open walls and ceilings.

Wire a House or Addition

The average cost to wire a house or a large addition is $3,800.

Wiring a house or an addition can be calculated by determining the linear footage of all walls and multiplying by $8. A 2,000-square-foot house has about 450 linear feet of walls. Multiplying 450 by $8 produces an average cost of $3,800.

Wire a Garage

Adding circuits to a garage ranges from $1,200 to $2,500.

With a detached garage, an underground feeder cable must be installed to supply a new circuit. Installing a 240-volt receptacle and a level 2 charger for recharging an electric car can cost as much as $4,800.

Wire a Basement

The cost to wire a 1,000-square-foot basement ranges from $800 to $1,500, depending on the size of the basement, the number of rooms, and the number of lights and outlets.

Costs rise if an electrical sub-panel is required or if your basement will have elaborate multimedia wiring.

This cost involves running cable, installing boxes, and making connections. Costs of light fixtures and other devices are additional.

Electrician Costs by Home Size

Size of Home	Average Cost
1,000 square feet	$1,900
2,000 square feet	$3,800
3,000 square feet	$5,700
4,000 square feet	$7,600

A rewiring job includes removing as much outdated wiring as possible, running new NM cable, and connecting it to existing devices and breakers. Costs will increase if you also replace fixtures and devices or update the main service.

FAQ

How much do most electricians charge per hour?

How much an electrician charges per hour depends on their experience level and other factors. Typically, most electricians charge between $50 and $100 an hour.
How do you calculate electrical labor cost?

To calculate electrical labor costs, multiply the hourly rate times the number of hours required for the project. However, other factors could increase this cost, including complexity and electrical changes necessary to bring the project up to code.
Do I need an electrician to add an outlet?

An electrician may be needed to add an outlet to an area without electrical service. The wall must be opened up, a new cable fished through the wall studs, a new electrical box installed, and the outlet installed. An experienced homeowner can also do this work.
How long does it take an electrician to replace an outlet?

Replacing an outlet can be done by an electrician in five to 10 minutes. A service call fee is still applicable, and there may be a minimum hourly charge (for example, one hour). So, if needed, it's best to replace several outlets at a time to make the best use of the service call fee.

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Garbage Disposal?

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.