What It Costs to Wire Your House


If your home is in need of electrical upgrades or wiring, then it’s important to understand the steps to a safe and well-planned installation. Today, wiring a new home can cost between $15,000 and $20,000. This ensures that your project meets current electrical code requirements. 

So, how much does it cost to wire a house? New construction electrical cost can vary based on the size and scope of your project. Let’s look at some of the things to consider when putting together your budget for a new construction electrical cost.

Hire a General Contractor

A qualified electrician can help you determine the average cost to wire a house. Their knowledge and expertise will help you create a budget that fits your expectations and allow you to enhance the electrical experience in your home. They will review your design plan and come up with figures that reflect your needs, whether it’s wiring individual rooms or your entire home.

This will ensure that all codes are followed, and you have the minimum required plugs and switches too. A general contractor will add 10 to 15 percent as a project management fee, ensuring that your wiring meets all guidelines.

Use a Qualified Electrician

Construction electrical costs vary from one project to another. Using a qualified electrician will ensure that you don’t incur any surprise costs. An electrician can give you a detailed and complete quote on the cost of materials and labour.

This person can also help you develop a schedule that ensures there are no conflicts with other sub trades and create a plan that gets your rewiring done on time and on budget.

Planning Process

The average cost to wire a house should be incorporated into your overall budget for the project. This should be reviewed during the planning process when timelines are being outlined.

This can avoid costly delays and will ensure that any additional permits or construction costs are addressed such as sewer or water upgrades to accommodate your wiring.

Permits Required

Like most home construction projects, there is often the need for permits to ensure work is done to code. You will also need an inspection once the job is complete to make sure that all requirements have been met.

Your electrician can help you get the right permits and keep your project on task and within the required guidelines and codes. A permit can cost a few hundred dollars, depending on your location and modification requirements.

Confirm Size Service Entrance

Each home has different service requirements depending on their electrical needs. Power service runs between 200A and 400A.

Factors that may influence this include the heating source of your home, such as if you have propane or oil heat, which will only require 200 amps.

Underground vs. Overhead Power

Your exterior electrical configuration will impact the cost of wiring a new house. Underground service will cost more than overhead due to the need to build trenches and pipes.

You will also have the additional cost of communication pipes for phone and cable to connect to your house. This will add labour and cable costs and should be factored into your budget.

Number of Plugs in Every Room

You rely on wall plugs to charge your devices and run appliances. The electrical codes state that plugs must have 12-feet of wall space. This will ensure that your cords can easily reach your outlets without hazard.

There are other specifications depending on the location of the plug. In kitchens, for example, you are required to have a plug for every 3 feet of counter space to ensure safe operation of appliances and reduce the need for extension cords.

Amount of Lights in Every Room

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It’s important to have a well lit room to complete tasks. This can have an effect on the cost of wiring a house. Though you are not required to have a lighting fixture in a room, you can have switched wall plugs for lamps so you can customize your lighting set up.

A switched plug can be mounted near the door as you enter a room, making it convenient and cost-effective to run lights.

Pot Lights vs. Regular Lights

Pot lights are a great way to customize your lighting experience, allowing you to maximize lighting. This gives you the option to direct and adjust the position of light flow. It does have a small added cost, usually running between $30 and $70 per light.

Your wiring installation expert will be able to provide you with a quote on the best lighting solution for your room to determine if pot lights or a traditional light fixture is the better option.

How to keep costs down

New construction electrical costs may seem like an overwhelming undertaking, but with the right experts by your side, you can minimize costs. There are a few things you can do to keep costs down while still enjoying the best lighting and electrical set up for your home. 

Start by consulting with a professional who can not only help you keep your costs down, but can often provide you with discounts and pricing that can’t be matched at the retail level. Make sure you are maximizing your electrical receptacle and outlet circuit potential to reduce the number of breakers required. 

If you need to save a bit of money, consider not installing wiring in the basement right away. Codes require that you have minimum light and a smoke detector, which can be fulfilled with an outlet by the panel.

Contact Us

The professionals at Ontime Electric can help you find the best wiring solutions for your home. We offer 24/7 emergency electrical repair and installation and provide expert wiring and electrical services that fit your budget and your design. Our fully licensed and insured technicians offer electrical solutions that exceed your expectations. We are an ESA licensed registered company with over 20 years of experience, and backed by our 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. 

Contact us today for a quote or consultation.