How Much Does It Cost to Install a 240V Outlet? [2025 Data]

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.

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.

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:

1. Locate the wiring plan for the house and plan for the increased electrical load. 

2. Turn off the power. 

3. The right circuit breaker needs to be located and new wiring installed in it. 

4. The 240V outlet is installed. If there isn’t already an outlet or wiring, you’ll need to make the opening in the wall. 

5. 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. 

6. 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.

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. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.