When you're looking to rewire your house, you can typically expect to pay $8,500-17,750 to rewire a 1,500 to 3,000-square-foot home, including labor and materials. Whether you need to replace outlets or switch out faulty wiring, hiring a licensed electrician is necessary for any house rewiring projects.

The cost to rewire a house will vary according to:

1. whether you'll need a replacement electrical panel (for example, to replace a fuse box or to upgrade your panel's capacity to the contemporary standard minimum 200 amps)
2. how much the necessary building permit and inspection process cost in your area
3. how many electrical devices your home includes
4. whether you need new grounding rods
5. how accessible your electrical system is

Cost Breakdown

Cost to rewire a house will normally include:

• Materials and Supplies -- Materials comprise flexible sheathed cable (today's new non-metallic wire which is replacing copper wire), outlets, switches, and supplies.  If you are doing your entire house, make sure to talk with your electrical contractor to see what is included.
• Labor -- Rewiring your home is a very labor-intensive process for even the most qualified electrician, which can take up to one full workweek. All electrical rewiring work should be done by an experienced and conscientious licensed electrician. Your electrician may need to cut holes in your walls to accommodate the new wiring; check whether your contract will include the cost of repair with your professional electrician.

Get the Most for Your Money

The cost to rewire a house can vary, but the most important thing is that you hire a reputable electrical contractor who is equipped for the job. Never risk fire or electrocution by trying to do electrical work yourself. (Note that homeowners insurance often does not cover damage due to DIY repairs.) Hire a professional, licensed electrician to rewire your house or perform other electrical installations or repairs -- especially if you have old fabric-insulated or aluminum wiring. Whether you’re replacing light fixtures, installing smoke detectors, swapping out outlets and switches, you should always use a qualified electrician to handle the job.

Ask your electricians to install important safety equipment like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms while they rewire the house.

Thinking of buying a property that is more than 25 years old? Check the condition of its wiring and determine the cost of necessary upgrades before you make an offer. If it has faulty wiring or other problems with the electrical panel, consult with your local electrician.

In a large-scale home remodel, have the electrical wiring upgrade done early on, before any plastering work begins.

If you are currently living in the home, consider moving to temporary accommodation while the electrical contractors work on your house rewiring -- it can be extremely messy and disruptive.