How much does it cost to replace an electrical panel?

United States: homeowner survey

Households in the American Housing Survey that hired out wiring, fuse box, breaker panel or built-in lighting work reported a median of $1,500; the typical range (middle half of 1,105 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) was $600 to $4,000.

When the household did the electrical work itself: a median (453 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) of $300.

How measured: hired-out finished jobs, survey-weighted, not adjusted for inflation; do-it-yourself jobs the same way. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data read 16 October 2026.

These figures are estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data years 2021-2023, read 16 October 2026, for the United States. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.

Researched by the InstaBids editorial team. Last checked: 16 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-16

How much to replace an electrical panel?

The national survey does not single out panels. Its item reads "Added or replaced electrical wiring, fuse boxes, breaker panels, or built-in lighting", so a new light fixture and a full panel change are in one range, and the panel-only figures are in the county block further down.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.

Before asking for a bid, ENERGY STAR suggests reading the main breaker, which states how many amps the panel receives, and counting the empty slots where new breakers could go.

Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, read 16 October 2026.

It adds that older homes without central air may have only a 100-amp panel, while most newer homes have 200 amps, which it calls enough for added electric appliances.

Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, read 16 October 2026.

What is the electrical panel upgrade cost on county permits?

Miami-Dade County's permit list was searched for residential electrical permits that mention a panel, leaving out descriptions that point to solar, alarm, pool, demolition, removal, disconnect, safety-check or repair work; 95 percent of the matched permits carried a declared value.

Source: Miami-Dade County building permits, read 16 October 2026.

Miami-Dade County, FL: declared value on building permits

Residential electrical permits in Miami-Dade County that mention a panel declared a median declared value on building permits of $3,788; the typical range (middle half of 174 Miami-Dade County permit data points, Miami-Dade County, FL, 2024-2026) was $1,800 to $9,326.

Declared permit values are what applicants reported to the county; final contract prices can differ.

How measured: residential permits with a declared value, untrimmed. Source: Miami-Dade County building permits, data read 16 October 2026.

These figures are estimates from Miami-Dade County building permits, data years 2024-2026, read 16 October 2026, for Miami-Dade County, FL. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.

The county median for these panel permits is above the national median for the broader electrical item, which also counts small jobs such as a single fixture.

ENERGY STAR's own checklist for the job is short: the electrician should either pull a permit or follow the electrical code requirements.

Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, read 16 October 2026.

What changes the electrical panel change cost?

The utility side: ENERGY STAR notes that a bigger panel can lead to a service upgrade of the lines from the utility to the house, a separate and larger job.
Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, read 16 October 2026.
Working with the panel you have: ENERGY STAR describes an electrician combining underused circuits, or swapping double-pole breakers for single-pole ones where allowed, to make room in the existing panel.
Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, read 16 October 2026.
Sharing devices: instead of a bigger panel, ENERGY STAR describes smart panels that pause car charging while bigger loads run, and power-sharing devices that hand one circuit back and forth between a dryer and a charger.
Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, read 16 October 2026.
New outlets: ENERGY STAR lists 240-volt outlets for a heat pump, heat pump water heater, stove, dryer or car charger as circuit work that may come with the upgrade.
Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, read 16 October 2026.
The car charger: a Level 1 charger runs from an ordinary 120-volt outlet, while Level 2 needs heavy-duty wiring, a breaker and a separate charger; ENERGY STAR says some homes then need a service upgrade or a new load centre.
Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, read 16 October 2026.
Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Electric Vehicle Chargers, read 16 October 2026.
Heat pumps: ENERGY STAR says a home that already has central air should not need an electrical upgrade to switch to a heat pump.
Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, read 16 October 2026.
Doing it alone: electrical work that owners did on their own carried a far smaller median, and 68 percent of these jobs were hired out.

Get written bids

Contractors who take part estimate from your photos and a written scope card, so nobody visits before you see any prices. InstaBids is in an early pilot in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Sources for the figures on this page

U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/data/2023/ahs-2023-public-use-file--puf-.html, read 16 October 2026. U.S. government work; no endorsement implied.
Miami-Dade County building permits, https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=6db5f56e886446df88313ca279e59120, read 16 October 2026. County open data, as is; no endorsement implied.
U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2023/AHS%202023%20Value%20Labels%20Package.zip, read 16 October 2026.
ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, www.energystar.gov/products/energy_star_home_upgrade/make_your_home_electric_ready, read 16 October 2026.
ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Electric Vehicle Chargers, www.energystar.gov/products/ev_chargers, read 16 October 2026.