How Much Does It Cost to Install a 240V Outlet? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $175 - $300
On average, it costs $220 to install a new 240V outlet. This can rise to as much as $400 depending on the price of the outlet itself and the cost of labor in your area.
It’s common during renovations or rearrangements to move appliances around. The problem is, some larger appliances require extra voltage to run efficiently, meaning they need a 240V outlet, not the more widely-used 120V outlet. Cost complications arise, however, when circuitry needs rewiring—which is an extremely common requirement.
- Average
- $220
- Low end
- $130
- high end
- $400
Cost Factors
Before digging into the costs, we need to make a comment on safety. You should never work on electrical outlets without turning off the power to that room or, if you can, the entire house. The power going through these lines is massive and is not to be taken lightly.
Types
One of the nice things about switching outlets is their extremely low price. Most residential 240V outlets—those used for washing machines, fridges, and car battery chargers—are often less than $10 and are available at almost all home improvement stores.
Remember that it’s best to only buy the outlet you need after you know the exact appliance that requires it. Match the volts and amps to the appliance, not just one or the other, and make sure you don’t need to upgrade an electrical panel.
| Type of outlet | Price |
|---|---|
| 50-amp 240-volt | $9 |
| 50- amp 240-volt locking outlet | $27 |
| 20-amp 240-volt round outlet | $35 |
| 50-amp 240-volt outdoor boxed outlet | $27 |
A 240V outlet is a requirement for a number of different appliances in a house. Anything that pulls a significant amount of electricity can benefit from a 240V outlet (if one isn’t outright required). Some of the items that require 240 volts are:
Electric range or oven
Washing machine
Clothes dryer
Water heaters
Electric car charging stations
Hot tubs
Saunas
Certain power tools like table saws
Some types of air conditioning systems
Materials
A professional (which you should hire) will have the below tools on hand. If you have prior electrical experience and choose to DIY the job, you’ll need certain items before you begin. Keep in mind some of these may be redundant, such as a circuit breaker.
If you already have one installed in good condition and are absolutely sure it can handle the increased load, you don’t necessarily need to replace it. Remember that everything needs to be 240V, as installing 220V outlets is common and the pieces often look exactly the same.
| Material | Price |
|---|---|
| 120/240V circuit breaker | $45 |
| 50 feet of 300-volt electrical wire | $40 |
| Replacement 3 or 4-prong cable cord | $30 |
| Voltage tester | $19 |
| Wire connector kit | $12 |
| Electrical tape | $3 |
| Electrical box | $7 |
| Screwdriver | $6 |
We’ve omitted any tools or materials required if you need to install an entirely new outlet, requiring a structural change to a wall or floor.
Labor
Almost all of the cost of either installing a new 240V outlet, or swapping an outlet of lower power, will come from a pro. You’ll need to hire an electrician if you want the job done correctly. Expect to pay between $50 and $150 per hour.
Hiring a licensed electrical contractor near you is 100 percent the way to go, even if you’ve had prior experience working through your circuitry. Electrical fires are common and we don’t mean to frighten anyone, but a shock from a 240V outlet can have potentially deadly consequences.
Changing Circuitry and Arranging Electrical for 240V
The main issue preventing you from installing a new 240V outlet is that that power doesn’t come from the outlet, it comes from the wiring through the electrical panel. That means your panel needs to be wired to direct 240V to the location you’re installing it, otherwise, the appliance that requires that specific voltage won’t receive it.
This involves a number of steps and absolutely should be performed by a professional. The steps are:
Locate the wiring plan for the house and plan for the increased electrical load.
Turn off the power.
The right circuit breaker needs to be located and new wiring installed in it.
The 240V outlet is installed. If there isn’t already an outlet or wiring, you’ll need to make the opening in the wall.
The professional will label the new circuit and outlet so if any further work is required, there’s a record of the voltage and where it’s drawn from.
Any cleanup is performed.
When you pay for labor, you’re paying for the electrician to both know how to wire for the outlet and where to draw the power from. Paying for labor isn’t that large of a cost when installing outlets.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
This really isn’t a job you should DIY. The best projects to do yourself are ones with no risk to your safety, and where you can save a good chunk of money performing the labor yourself. Installing or changing an outlet for it to be 240V is neither of those.
Once you factor in the cost of the outlets, you may only save around $150 in labor costs. Considering their expertise and the low cost of the job, it makes sense to pay for their experience and skill.
Tips to Reduce Cost While Installing a 240V Outlet
Both the labor and material costs are low, so there are really only a few ways to save money performing this work:
Schedule a professional during a slow season or off-peak hours.
If you need to prep the area—moving furniture, etc—do it yourself.
If you have other housework, consider bundling this job into a larger project.
Purchase your own materials, but first make sure it’s ok with your professional.
Compare quotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pretty much the only thing you can use when converting a regular (120V) outlet to 240 volts is the electrical box and the hole in the wall. Everything else should be switched out as it increases both safety and efficiency. An appliance with a 240V plug often won’t fit into a 120V socket so you’ll be forced to adopt a 240V outlet almost by design. This keeps people from overloading or underloading the available power to any one outlet or circuit box.
240V is the standard for more demanding appliances in the United States, whereas 220V is more common elsewhere. The voltage isn’t very different in any practical sense. The United States is a newer country compared to many other regions in the world with a faster adoption of new electrical needs. Appliances in the United States are often bigger than other parts of the world.
It wouldn’t be abnormal to view all wiring as simply wiring, but wiring has different gauges and can handle different loads. When you’re wiring for 240V, you need wire that is rated at least 240V, but honestly it’s better to spend a little more and just buy 300V wiring. This ensures a margin of safety in case the wiring gets overloaded.
For most applications, you won’t need a neutral for 240V. There are certain codes and regulations that differ between areas so just because you technically may not need one in order for the device to function properly, it may still be a local requirement. Professionals in your area know the requirements, which is just another reason to hire one instead of taking on a project that is frankly not very DIY-friendly.