Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost Breakdown
Estimated Total Cost
$1,800 - $5,100
200 Amp Service upgrade, installed
12,800+ estimates calculated this month
Last updated: 2026-07-09
Quick Answer
Most electrical panel upgrades cost $1,500 to $4,000 in 2026 for the standard 200 amp service, with a typical job landing near $2,500. A 100 amp service runs $1,100-$2,500, a 150 amp $1,300-$3,000, and a 400 amp service $3,000-$8,000. Each new dedicated circuit adds $200-$900, a subpanel $800-$2,500, and the permit and inspection $100-$500. A 200 amp upgrade with a surge protector and the permit pulled comes to roughly $1,800-$5,100. Most of the cost is labor and the service entrance, not the panel, which is why sizing up to 200 amp while the wall is open is the cheapest amperage you will ever buy. Prices vary by region and by how strict the local jurisdiction is, so get multiple bids.
Inputs you'll need
- The new service size (100, 150, 200, or 400 amp)
- How many new dedicated circuits the job needs ($200-$900 each)
- Which add-ons apply: service mast, subpanel, surge protector, transfer switch, EV charger, permit
Electrical panel upgrade cost by service size
| Service Size | Installed Cost | What It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| 100 amp | $1,100-$2,500 | Small home or condo, gas heat and range, no EV |
| 150 amp | $1,300-$3,000 | Mid-size home adding one or two larger loads |
| 200 amp (standard) | $1,500-$4,000 | Central AC, electric range, heat pump, EV charger |
| 400 amp | $3,000-$8,000 | Large or all-electric home, ADU on the meter, or a shop |
Common add-on costs
| Add-on | Installed Cost | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| New dedicated circuit | $200-$900 each | A range, dryer, or appliance that needs its own breaker |
| Service mast / weatherhead riser | $400-$1,500 | The overhead drop is rotted, undersized, or pulling loose |
| Subpanel (60-100A) | $800-$2,500 | A garage, shop, ADU, or addition on the same service |
| Whole-house surge protector | $200-$600 | Protecting electronics and appliances at the main panel |
| Generator transfer switch | $400-$1,500 | Backup power through a manual or interlock setup |
| EV charger circuit (Level 2) | $800-$3,500 | A 240V, 30-50A dedicated circuit for a home charger |
| Permit + inspection | $100-$500 | Required on essentially every panel swap |
Costs are installed and anchored to 2026 published ranges. Licensed electricians bill $50-$150 per hour. Carry a 10-15% contingency on any home built before 1980, where knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring often turns up once the panel cover comes off. Prices vary by region and jurisdiction, so always get multiple bids before you commit.
Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost Guide
Cost by service size, why 200 amp is almost always the right call, and the code work that turns a clean panel bid into a much bigger job.
How Much Does an Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost in 2026?
Most electrical panel upgrades run $1,500 to $4,000 in 2026 for the standard 200 amp service, with a typical job landing near $2,500. The price is driven by the service size, how far the panel sits from the meter, and how much of the old system has to come up to code before an inspector will sign it off.
- 100 amp service: $1,100-$2,500 installed
- 150 amp service: $1,300-$3,000 installed
- 200 amp service: $1,500-$4,000 installed (the standard upgrade)
- 400 amp service: $3,000-$8,000 installed
- New dedicated circuit: $200-$900 each
A 200 amp upgrade with a surge protector and the permit pulled comes to roughly $1,800-$5,100. Prices vary by region and by how strict the local jurisdiction is, so get multiple bids before you commit.
Key Takeaways
- 200 amp upgrade: $1,500-$4,000 installed, typical $2,500
- 400 amp service runs $3,000-$8,000 for all-electric or ADU loads
- Each new dedicated circuit adds $200-$900
What Size Service Do You Actually Need?
200 amp is the default answer for a modern home, and it is usually the right one. Going from 100 amp to 200 amp costs a few hundred dollars more than a like-for-like 100 amp swap, because most of the expense is the labor, the permit, and the service entrance, not the panel itself. Sizing up while the wall is already open is the cheapest amperage you will ever buy.
- 100 amp: Small home or condo, gas heat, gas range, no EV
- 150 amp: Mid-size home adding one or two larger loads
- 200 amp: Central AC, electric range, heat pump, EV charger
- 400 amp: Large or all-electric home, an ADU on the meter, or a shop with heavy equipment
Think about where the house is headed, not just where it is. A homeowner who adds a heat pump and an EV charger two years after a 100 amp upgrade pays for the whole job twice.
Key Takeaways
- 200 amp is the standard because labor and permit dominate the cost
- Size for the loads coming in 5 years, not just today
- Heat pump plus EV charger will outgrow a 100 amp service
The Hidden Scope That Blows Up a Panel Bid
The panel is rarely the only thing that changes. I work in the Pacific Northwest, where a lot of the housing stock was built well before modern code. The pattern I see over and over is that when you touch one system, you have to bring others up to current code with it. That is where a clean-looking $2,500 bid turns into $5,000.
- Service mast / weatherhead riser: $400-$1,500 if the overhead drop is rotted or undersized
- Grounding and bonding: New ground rods and a bonded water line the old install never had
- Arc-fault and GFCI breakers: Required on circuits that used to run on plain breakers
- Smoke and CO detectors: Many jurisdictions will not pass the final until they are in and interconnected
- Knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring: Found once the cover comes off, and it changes the whole conversation
Obsolete panels are their own line item. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels are known failure risks, and some insurers will not write a policy until they are gone. That is not an upsell, it is the reason for the job.
Key Takeaways
- Touching the service can trigger grounding, AFCI, and detector upgrades
- Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels are a safety and insurance problem
- Knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring changes the scope once the cover is off
How Contractors Price a Panel Upgrade
Price the panel by the service size, then add every code item the inspector will ask for. Electricians bill $50-$150 per hour, and a straightforward panel swap is a one to two day job with the power off for most of one of them. Build the bid from the parts you can count, then protect yourself on the parts you cannot see.
- Panel replacement: $1,100-$8,000 by service size
- Dedicated circuits: $200-$900 each, scaling with run length and distance from the panel
- Subpanel: $800-$2,500 for a 60-100 amp subpanel with 6-12 spaces
- Surge protector: $200-$600 at the main panel
- Generator transfer switch: $400-$1,500 for a manual or interlock setup
- EV charger circuit: $800-$3,500 for a Level 2 240V install
- Permit and inspection: $100-$500, varies widely by jurisdiction
Carry a 10-15% contingency on any home built before 1980. Hidden work will get you, and on electrical the surprises are behind a cover you cannot open until the power is off and the job is already sold.
Key Takeaways
- Licensed electricians bill $50-$150 per hour in 2026
- Carry 10-15% contingency on pre-1980 homes
- Permit and inspection is $100-$500 and is not optional
How to Use This Calculator
Pick the new service size
Choose 100, 150, 200, or 400 amp. A 200 amp service is the standard modern upgrade and handles central AC, an electric range, a heat pump, and an EV charger.
Add any new dedicated circuits
Enter how many new dedicated circuits the job needs at $200-$900 each. Price scales with the run length and how far the load sits from the panel.
Toggle the code and add-on items
Add the service mast riser, a subpanel, a surge protector, a generator transfer switch, an EV charger circuit, and the permit. These are the line items that separate a real bid from a guess.
Review the cost breakdown
See the panel cost, the circuits, each add-on, and a total range you can turn into a client-ready proposal.
Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost Formulas
Panel Cost = Service Size ($1,100-$8,000 installed)
Circuits = Number of Dedicated Circuits x $200-$900 each
Add-ons = Mast + Subpanel + Surge + Transfer Switch + EV Charger + Permit
Total = Panel Cost + Circuits + Add-onsWhere:
- Panel Cost
- = $1,100-$2,500 (100A) up to $3,000-$8,000 (400A), installed
- Circuits
- = Each new dedicated circuit adds $200-$900
- Add-ons
- = Service mast $400-$1,500; subpanel $800-$2,500; permit $100-$500
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to upgrade an electrical panel in 2026?
Is it worth upgrading from 100 amp to 200 amp?
Why did my electrician quote more than the panel price?
Do I need a permit to replace an electrical panel?
How do contractors estimate an electrical panel upgrade for a client?
How long does it take to estimate a panel upgrade job?
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