How Much Does It Cost to Run Electricity to a Shed or Detached Garage? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $1,000 - $3,800
The cost to run electricity to a shed or detached garage costs $10 to $25 per linear foot of underground line, or an average of $2,500. Prices typically range from $1,000 to $3,800.
Bringing light and power to other free-standing buildings like a shed or garage opens up many possibilities—a new workspace, a new office, or even an attached loft you can rent out for extra cash. However, you’ll need to hire a professional electrician to install new wiring. If extensive work is needed to run wires in your home, the project could cost as much as $7,000. This cost guide breaks it all down for you.
- Average
- $2,500
- Low end
- $500
- high end
- $7,000
Cost by Length of the Run
Underground feeder cables are used to run electricity from your home to a garage or shed. The longer the distance, the more digging and installation your job will require.
| Length of Run in Linear Feet | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 50 | $500–$1,250 |
| 100 | $1,000–$2,500 |
| 150 | $1,500–$3,800 |
| 200 | $2,000–$5,000 |
| 250 | $2,500–$6,250 |
Cost to Run Electrical Wire by Type
Single-Wire
Single-wire transmission uses only one electrical conductor, and is commonly used in rural areas to lay electrical wiring underground at an affordable cost. This type is best for basic electrical setups in garages and sheds. Around $1,500 is a good estimate.
Multi-Wire
Multi-wire transmission is more flexible and strong, making it easier to run appliances or power tools in your detached garage. You’ll pay $1,500 to $2,500 for this in a basic home installation where extensive drywall work isn’t required.
Electrician Costs
Hiring a professional electrician costs $50 to $100 per hour, depending on the size and scope of your job, plus the expertise level of the pro. Since running electricity to a detached building on your property is an extensive wiring job, we recommend hiring a high-level electrician, specifically a master electrician. These pros charge more ($90 to $120 per hour) but they can ensure that the new electric system is code compliant and safe to use. Don’t hesitate to hire a local electrician to tackle this task for you.
Trench Digger Costs
If you’re installing underground wiring to power your shed or detached garage, you’ll need to break ground first. Once your electrician marks the wiring’s trajectory across the yard, it’s time to start digging. You should budget $5 to $12 per linear foot for trench-digging costs. Consider hiring a local landscaping company to complete the trenching part of this electrical installation.
Cost by Location
Electricians typically charge between $50 and $100 per hour for their time, with the national average between $160 and $520 for a professional to visit your home and complete the job.
Major metropolitan cities in America—like Denver, New York, and Los Angeles—tend to charge around $100 or more per hour for electrical work.
Rural electricians often charge $50 per hour (and less in some cases), but you may have to pay for them to drive out to your home. You should also consider that detached garages and sheds may be further away in rural areas, requiring more electrical materials and thus increasing the price.
Additional Cost Factors
Here are the other factors that go into running electricity to a detached living space.
Electrical Needs
Homeowners running electricity to a detached garage or shed often have a goal in mind—working in a new space, building a recreation room, or designing additional living space in the form of a garage apartment or loft. You’ll need to calculate the estimated wattage of your new space to determine how much power to run to it.
An electrician can help you determine how much electricity you'll need to accomplish these goals. The more equipment and appliances you think you’ll be running, the higher the cost will be.
Size of the Unit
Detached garages may require two separate installations of electrical wiring and receptacles, which will increase installation costs. This is why it’s important to have an electrician come to your home and not give you a quote over the phone.
On average, detached garages cost more than sheds due to higher electrical loads. These projects often require multiple installations throughout the garage, whereas a shed’s electrical unit is typically installed in one area.
Bare Studs vs. Drywall
In new homes with bare studs, you can easily run new electrical wiring to a detached living space. But if you need to break into drywall or circumvent an existing electrical system to give power to your garage or shed, it will cost more.
Many electricians will tear up drywall as part of the job. However, most electricians don’t put new drywall down—so you may have to budget for the cost of hiring a local drywall repair contractor or doing it yourself. The national average is $1 to $3 per square foot, with a typical final price exceeding $1,000.
Permits
Professional electricians are licensed to perform this type of work in most states and thus don’t need a permit.
If you’re still considering running electricity by yourself (and we encourage you to think very carefully about this before proceeding), keep in mind that it’s illegal in some states to perform DIY electrical work without a permit, which could cost between $25 and $200.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Unless you have significant experience working with electrical wiring, DIY electrical projects are not encouraged for safety reasons. You also run the risk of messing up your home’s electrical wiring, which could require an expensive fix. The cost to hire an electrician near you, while higher, is easily justified for this project. Plus, these pros can ensure high-quality results that power your shed or garage successfully for years to come.
Tips to Reduce the Cost of Running Electricity to a Shed
Wondering how to save money on this big-ticket electrical project? Consider these tips:
Dig the trench yourself: Consider prepping your yard for the underground wiring installation by digging the trench yourself, saving on labor costs. Be sure to have a professional mark the trench site before breaking ground.
Minimize wattage: Cut down on installation and power costs by limiting the number of appliances in the detached building—that will reduce your electrical load.
Choose a location closer to the house: If possible, try to place a new shed or detached garage closer to the house to reduce the length of run required for electrical power.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answer depends on your needs and the availability of your current electrical panel. If you’re hoping to seriously up the power in your detached living space, you may also need to consider increasing the power of the amp your home runs on (from 100-amps to 200-amps, for example).
For many homeowners, sheds are more than storage spaces for tools or lawn care appliances. If you’re thinking about building a work space outdoors or could make your life simpler by running electricity to a spot that’s closer to your yard, it could absolutely be worth the cost.
You can use an extension cord to power a shed—but only temporarily. Extension cords are not permanent solutions. Running too much power through the cord can overload it, overheat it, and start a fire. Go ahead and grab an extension cord if you need to power a work tool or appliance during your annual spring cleanout, but make sure you use a heavy-duty, thick-gauge cord to minimize shorting risks. A 16- to 10-gauge cord should do the trick (the smaller gauge, the better).
It’s generally not recommended to run electric to a shed above ground, and you should instead run electric lines underground via a conduit. This job, like all electrical jobs, is best left to a pro, as they’ll need to ensure everything is installed safely and that they don’t run into any other utility lines underground.