Electrical panel upgrade cost by job
| Panel job | Installed price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Replace a 100-amp panel with a new 100-amp panel | $800–$1,600 | Same size, new equipment |
| Upgrade to 150 amps | $1,000–$2,800 | |
| Upgrade from 100 to 200 amps | $1,500–$4,500 | The calculator's default job |
| Upgrade to 400-amp service | $2,000–$12,000 | Sources disagree widely; get a load calculation |
| Replace a fuse box with a breaker panel | $1,500–$4,500 | Often needed before adding circuits or selling |
| Add a subpanel | $500–$1,800 | Adds circuits without replacing the main panel |
These prices cover the panel, new breakers and an electrician's labor for the main job. A permit, an inspection, a new meter box, moving the panel and service-line work from the utility are priced separately below, because they depend on your house and your town. When you compare bids, check that each one lists the same items.
Why 150-, 200- and 400-amp prices vary so much
The panel itself is a small part of the bill. What moves the price is everything around it: whether the utility's service line can carry the new amperage, how far the panel is from the meter, how much wiring has to be redone, and whether walls must be opened. Our 400-amp range is the widest on the page because the guides disagree. A simple swap in a house with a suitable service line sits at the low end, while new service-entrance work sits at the high end. Treat that range as a reason to get a written load calculation before you collect bids.
Fuse box or old panel?
Replacing a fuse box with a modern breaker panel costs $1,500–$4,500, and the guides we read agree on that range. One guide notes it is often needed before adding circuits or selling a home. Ask the electrician whether your quote also covers rewiring, since one guide notes the top of the range applies when the whole house needs it.
Extra costs to expect
| Item | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | $50–$350 | Almost every panel job; amount set locally |
| Initial electrical inspection | $125–$250 | Sometimes waived when you hire the electrician |
| Meter box | $100–$800 | When the service size changes |
| Moving the panel | $800–$4,000 | Relocating inside, or from inside to outside |
| Rewiring at the panel | $500–$4,500 | Old or undersized circuit wiring |
| Wall access and patching | $100–$450 | Running new wiring behind finished walls |
Service-line work is not in the table because the guides do not price it consistently. One guide warns that if the utility line can only support 150 amps, the total can climb to $5,000, so ask your utility what it will do before you commit to an amperage.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Has someone done a load calculation, and what amperage do I actually need?
- Does the price include the permit, inspection and meter box?
- Does the utility need to upgrade its service line, and who coordinates that?
- Will walls need to be opened, and who repairs them?
- How long will the power be off?
Methodology and sources
We price each job as an installed total, adjust the labor share for your state's electrician wages, and price the permit and extras separately. Read how we estimate costs.
- Inch Calculator: electrical panel upgrade cost — prices by amperage, permits
- Fixr: replace or upgrade an electrical panel — upgrade prices, labor share, extras
- HomeAdvisor: upgrade an electrical panel — installed ranges by amperage, meter, panel relocation
- Bob Vila: cost to replace an electrical panel — inspection, meter, rewiring
- Qmerit: electric panel upgrade cost — panel and labor, relocation, subpanels
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 47-2111, Electricians) — state labor index
What each source reports
Our estimate does not rely on any single page. This table lists each page we used and the figures it reports, so you can see where the ranges come from.
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| Inch Calculator |
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| Fixr |
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| HomeAdvisor |
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| Qmerit |
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| Bob Vila |
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Common questions about electrical panel replacement & upgrade costs
How much does electrical panel replacement & upgrade cost?
A typical job (upgrade from 100 to 200 amps, with permit) comes to about $2,550 nationally, within a range of $1,550 to $4,850. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 5 published cost pages from 5 publishers, last checked Oct 7, 2026. We report what those pages say and do not invent figures; the table above shows each source.
How does my state change the estimate?
The labor part of the price is scaled by the average wage for the relevant trade in your state, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Materials and equipment are not adjusted.
Why might a contractor's quote differ from this estimate?
A quote reflects your specific scope, access, local demand and what the contractor includes. Ask for line items rather than a single total so you can compare bids on the same basis.
All 5 sources behind these prices
Every figure in the calculator comes from one or more of these pages, with the number each one supports in the link text.
- Inch Calculator: a 100-amp panel installed $800-$1,000
- Fixr: replacing a 100-amp panel $1,000-$1,600 with labor
- HomeAdvisor: 100-amp service installed $800-$1,500 (updated Jun 2026)
- Qmerit: panel $250-$450 plus upgrade labor from $1,000 to over $3,000
- Bob Vila: initial electrical inspection $125-$250, sometimes waived if you hire the electrician