How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade an Electrical Panel? [2025 Data]

Whether you're replacing an old electrical system or tackling a major home renovation, the cost to update an electrical panel ranges from $1,200 to $2,000. Amperage plays a major role in your bottom line; the difference between a 100-amp and 400-amp electrical panel can span from $800 and $4,000. Here are all the cost factors to consider when estimating your final cost.

Electrical Panel Cost Factors

Your electrical panel is as unique as your home's design. Its capacity reflects how you use your home as well as its layout. Your current system's size, placement, and age will all determine the final cost to upgrade your electrical panel. 

Amperage Cost

The higher the amperage, which measures the strength of the electrical current, the more expensive the upgrade due to increased materials, labor, and complexity of the installation.

Here’s how amperage affects the cost to upgrade an electrical panel:

Electrical Panel 

The layout and size of your electrical panel determine the cost, in addition to the amperage. When choosing an electrical panel, you'll find that each model has a range of spaces—or slots—for circuit breakers. Most spaces accommodate one circuit breaker, though tandem designs can accommodate two breakers at once. 

Electrical panels typically have between 12 and 30 spaces in the standard home and can host the same number of circuit breakers or double that in tandem circuits. Prices for the panels alone—not including installation—will vary depending on the type of panel, its placement, and the amperage.

Here’s a breakdown of electrical panel costs by number of spaces:

Circuit Breakers

On each electrical panel, the circuit breakers either come in their standard, tandem, or AFCI/GFCI configurations. The cost of each breaker then varies based on its amperage. While the cost to replace a breaker ranges from $100 to $200, including installation, the switches themselves break down to between $5 and $40 each on average. On the low end, for example, a standard 15-amp circuit breaker will cost an average of $8, while high-amperage AFCI/GCFI breakers can push up to $70 or higher.

Installation Cost Factors

The total cost to upgrade your electrical panel may depend on a few factors.

Electrician Costs

Hiring an electrician costs $1,500 on average, depending on the project. Labor takes four to eight hours at a rate between $40 and $250 per hour. This expense will make up most of your total cost since a licensed local electrician must install your electrical panel upgrade professionally—this isn’t a safe project to DIY. 

You may need to factor these costs into your budget:

• Rewiring inside walls: $1,500–$12,000

• Circuit breaker box upgrade: $500–$2,000

• Replace a circuit breaker switch or fuse: $100–$250

• Install a subpanel: $400–$1,750

• Electric meter box installation or replacement: $200 to $800

• Cost to install electrical wiring or panel: $600 to $2,300

• Rewiring an electric panel: $500 to $4,500

• Fuse box replacement: $200 to $2,000

Permits

Replacing your electrical panel requires a permit, which typically ranges from $50 to $300, depending on your location. Most electricians handle the permit process, as most municipalities mandate that a certified electrician obtain the required permits. While most electricians include the permit cost in the total, confirming that with them is essential to avoid surprise expenses.

Additional Components

Depending on the project, you might need additional components, typically costing less than $50. The necessary materials for upgrading your home's electrical panel may include replacing worn-out wiring, damaged circuits, old receptacles, fittings, connectors, and fasteners to secure the new panel. 

However, if you decide to relocate your panel further away from the electrical service connection point in your home, you may have to pay around $300 more for the additional wiring.

Panel Location

The location of the electrical panel differs significantly from one home to another, and some places are more accessible than others. In newer homes, the panel may be outside a weather-resistant box that is easy to access. However, if the electrical box is located indoors and your electrician needs to bore through a section of a wall to access the wiring or install new wiring, you may incur additional costs for the installation of your new panel and necessary drywall repairs.

Upgrading vs. Repairing an Electrical Panel 

The cost of replacing an electrical panel ranges from $520 to $2,200, with an average price of around $1,300. While the most common reason for replacement is to upgrade the electrical panel, there may also be faulty parts to replace. If it’s not necessary to bump up the amperage of the electrical panel, you might consider purchasing replacement parts as an alternative. 

Certain parts, such as the main breaker and fuse box, will likely have costs similar to replacing the electrical panel. In that case, it makes sense to spring for total replacement. It’s important to consider the overall lifespan of your electrical panel and whether you might want to upgrade to a higher amperage in the future. 

Compare these costs against the cost to upgrade an electrical panel or replace it:

• Main breaker: $500–$2,000

• Fuse box: $1,500–$2,000

• Main lug panels: $400–$1,750

• Subpanel: $400–$2,000

• Circuit breaker switch replacement: $100–$200

• Electric meter box replacement: $500–$2,100

How to Save on Electrical Panel Upgrade Costs

Budgeting for electrical work can be daunting, but you can use these tips to save on your project:

• Get multiple quotes: Get a written estimate from at least three electricians in your area. 

• Bundle projects: Consider upgrading a panel during a larger home renovation project, especially if other electrical work is involved.

• DIY what you can: While DIY electrical work is unsafe, with the right skills, you can handle your own painting or drywall patching and repair after the job is done.

• Take advantage of potential tax credits: The IRS offers a 30% tax credit (up to $600) for upgrading to a 200-amp electrical panel if it meets National Electric Code standards and supports energy-efficient improvements.

Does Upgrading an Electrical Panel Increase Home Value?

Upgrading an electrical panel won’t necessarily increase your home’s value, but it can make selling easier. A modern electrical panel improves safety, efficiency, and home value, making your property more appealing to potential buyers. This, in turn, can help you get the highest price when the time comes to sell. 

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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