Electrical cost benchmarks are useful for two things: anchoring a customer or GC conversation early, and sanity-checking your own estimate before you send it. They are not a substitute for line-item takeoff. The benchmarks below are 2026 national averages for residential service, residential remodel and rewire, and commercial new construction and TI, drawn from aggregated electrical unit-cost data calibrated against the BLS Producer Price Index for copper and steel and BLS wage indices for licensed electricians.
BuildCrux maintains a unit-cost lookup table referenced by every AI estimate run on the platform. The electrical entries are calibrated quarterly against copper futures, the BLS Producer Price Index for electrical equipment, and BLS wage indices for journeyman and master electricians by region. The benchmarks on this page are derived from that table and from estimating runs across the BuildCrux customer base.
How to read these benchmarks
Every benchmark below is a national average expressed as a range. Three tiers — basic, standard, premium — capture roughly the 25th, 50th, and 90th percentile of finished cost. Basic assumes builder-grade devices and fixtures (Leviton white, recessed cans, surface mounts). Standard assumes mid-tier devices and fixtures with some specification work (decora-style, LED downlights with dimming, occupancy sensors per code). Premium assumes designer-spec, integrated controls, high-end fixtures, and lighting design.
Service call pricing 2026
Service calls are priced on the truck. The flat-rate pricing book most successful service electricians use is structured around the call-out fee plus a fixed price per task. Hourly billing has largely faded except for unusual diagnostic work or commercial maintenance contracts.
2026 service-call pricing for residential electrical work, national average flat rates.
| Service item | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service call-out (truck arrival) | $95 - $145 | $145 - $195 | $195 - $295 |
| Diagnostic + 1 fix (1 hr) | $185 - $285 | $285 - $425 | $425 - $625 |
| Receptacle replace (each, after first) | $45 - $85 | $85 - $135 | $135 - $225 |
| Switch replace (each) | $55 - $95 | $95 - $145 | $145 - $245 |
| GFCI install / replace | $135 - $225 | $225 - $335 | $335 - $475 |
| AFCI breaker swap | $185 - $285 | $285 - $425 | $425 - $625 |
| Light fixture install (existing wiring) | $135 - $245 | $245 - $385 | $385 - $625 |
| Recessed can (cut + wire + trim) | $225 - $385 | $385 - $585 | $585 - $885 |
| Ceiling fan install (existing box, with switch) | $285 - $445 | $445 - $625 | $625 - $925 |
| Whole-home surge protector | $425 - $625 | $625 - $895 | $895 - $1,285 |
| Smoke / CO detector replace (each) | $95 - $145 | $145 - $225 | $225 - $385 |
| EV charger install (Level 2, existing 240V circuit) | $485 - $825 | $825 - $1,285 | $1,285 - $2,485 |
| EV charger + new circuit (50A) | $1,485 - $2,285 | $2,285 - $3,485 | $3,485 - $5,485 |
Residential rewire and panel upgrade 2026
Whole-home rewire and panel upgrades are the bridge between service work and remodel sub-work. Pricing depends heavily on existing conditions (accessible attic and crawlspace vs full drywall opening), service size, and whether knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring needs removal.
2026 residential rewire and panel-upgrade cost ranges, national average.
| Scope | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service upgrade 100A → 200A | $2,485 - $3,985 | $3,985 - $5,485 | $5,485 - $7,985 |
| Service upgrade 200A → 400A (split service) | $5,485 - $8,485 | $8,485 - $11,985 | $11,985 - $16,485 |
| Panel replacement (same amperage, 200A) | $2,285 - $3,485 | $3,485 - $4,985 | $4,985 - $7,285 |
| Sub-panel install (60-100A, 50ft from main) | $1,485 - $2,485 | $2,485 - $3,685 | $3,685 - $5,485 |
| Rewire 1,200 sqft single-story (accessible) | $8,485 - $12,485 | $12,485 - $17,485 | $17,485 - $24,485 |
| Rewire 2,000 sqft two-story (drywall open) | $14,485 - $21,485 | $21,485 - $29,485 | $29,485 - $42,485 |
| Knob-and-tube removal + rewire (per sqft) | $8.50 - $13.50 | $13.50 - $18.50 | $18.50 - $28.50 |
| Aluminum branch wiring remediation (per receptacle) | $185 - $285 | $285 - $425 | $425 - $625 |
| Whole-home generator transfer switch | $1,485 - $2,485 | $2,485 - $3,685 | $3,685 - $5,485 |
Residential remodel electrical 2026
Electrical scope inside a residential remodel run by a GC. The numbers below are the electrical sub-bid only, separate from any general contractor markup.
2026 residential remodel electrical sub-bid ranges, electrical scope only (not GC markup).
| Remodel type | Standard sub-bid range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bath remodel (existing footprint) | $1,485 - $3,485 | 4-8 receptacles, GFCI, exhaust, vanity light, recessed cans |
| Primary bath remodel | $3,485 - $7,485 | 12-20 receptacles, dimmers, heated floor circuit, dedicated jacuzzi |
| Kitchen remodel (200 sqft) | $4,485 - $9,485 | 20-30 receptacles, GFCI, 4-8 recessed cans, undercabinet, dedicated circuits for range, dishwasher, disposal, microwave |
| Kitchen + appliance package (premium) | $9,485 - $18,485 | Above plus induction range circuit, wine cooler, warming drawer, dual ovens |
| Whole-house remodel (2,000 sqft, light) | $6,485 - $11,485 | Fixture upgrades, dimmers, modest device upgrades |
| Whole-house remodel (2,000 sqft, gut) | $18,485 - $32,485 | Full rewire from existing panel, panel upgrade if needed |
| Addition (single room, 300 sqft) | $3,485 - $6,485 | New branch circuits, receptacles per code, lighting |
| ADU (600 sqft, full service) | $8,485 - $16,485 | New sub-panel from main, full code-compliant electrical |
Commercial new construction $/sqft
Commercial new construction electrical pricing is normalized to $/sqft. The figures below are 2026 national averages for the electrical subcontract value, including gear, panels, branch wiring, devices, fixtures, low-voltage rough, and fire alarm rough. Excludes specialty trades like data center power distribution or hospital isolation panels.
2026 commercial electrical new-construction $/sqft, national average, subcontract value.
| Building type | $/sqft (basic) | $/sqft (standard) | $/sqft (premium) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office (low-rise, open plan) | $12.50 - $18.50 | $18.50 - $26.50 | $26.50 - $38.50 |
| Retail (anchor) | $10.50 - $15.50 | $15.50 - $22.50 | $22.50 - $32.50 |
| Retail (small format, inline) | $14.50 - $21.50 | $21.50 - $29.50 | $29.50 - $42.50 |
| Restaurant (quick-service) | $24.50 - $34.50 | $34.50 - $48.50 | $48.50 - $68.50 |
| Restaurant (full-service) | $32.50 - $46.50 | $46.50 - $64.50 | $64.50 - $92.50 |
| Warehouse (high-bay lighting) | $5.50 - $8.50 | $8.50 - $12.50 | $12.50 - $18.50 |
| Manufacturing (light) | $18.50 - $26.50 | $26.50 - $38.50 | $38.50 - $58.50 |
| Healthcare (clinic / urgent care) | $32.50 - $46.50 | $46.50 - $64.50 | $64.50 - $92.50 |
| Multifamily (per unit, mid-rise) | $5,500 - $8,500 per unit | $8,500 - $13,500 per unit | $13,500 - $19,500 per unit |
Commercial TI $/sqft by building type
Tenant improvements re-use the building shell, so electrical TI pricing is structurally different from new construction. Less gear, more device and fixture work, more code-compliance upgrades to bring an old shell up to current standards.
2026 commercial TI electrical $/sqft ranges, national average. TI pricing assumes existing shell with adequate base service.
| TI type | $/sqft (standard) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Office TI (open plan, light reconfigure) | $8.50 - $14.50 | Add receptacles per code, lighting upgrade, low-voltage rough |
| Office TI (private offices, full build-out) | $14.50 - $22.50 | Above plus conference room AV, occupancy sensors, dimming |
| Restaurant TI (existing kitchen) | $28.50 - $42.50 | Kitchen equipment connections, dining lighting, POS circuits |
| Restaurant TI (new kitchen) | $48.50 - $72.50 | Full kitchen exhaust controls, walk-in cooler power, gear upgrade likely |
| Dental / medspa TI | $32.50 - $48.50 | Chair circuits, exam room lighting, dedicated equipment power |
| Cannabis dispensary TI | $36.50 - $54.50 | Security power, vault lighting, POS, climate control circuits |
| Pharma compounding center TI | $58.50 - $92.50 | ISO-classified lighting, UPS-backed circuits, lab equipment power |
| Retail TI (mall inline) | $18.50 - $28.50 | Track lighting, POS circuits, signage power |
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Get StartedRegional cost adjustments
The benchmarks above are national averages. Electrical work shows more regional variance than most trades because licensed electrician labor pools are structurally tighter in some markets. Apply the multiplier below to translate to your market.
2026 regional cost multipliers for electrical contracting trades.
| Region | Multiplier vs national avg | Example markets |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast (urban) | 1.35 - 1.55 | NYC metro, Boston, Philadelphia |
| Northeast (suburban/rural) | 1.10 - 1.25 | Upstate NY, Vermont, Maine |
| West Coast (urban) | 1.40 - 1.60 | SF Bay, LA, Seattle, Portland (Bay Area highest) |
| West Coast (suburban) | 1.20 - 1.35 | Sacramento, Inland Empire, Tacoma |
| Mountain West | 1.00 - 1.15 | Denver, Salt Lake, Boise, Phoenix |
| Midwest (urban) | 0.95 - 1.10 | Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit |
| Midwest (suburban/rural) | 0.80 - 0.95 | Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana |
| Southeast (urban) | 0.90 - 1.05 | Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville |
| Southeast (suburban/rural) | 0.75 - 0.90 | Alabama, Mississippi, rural GA |
| Texas (urban) | 0.95 - 1.10 | Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio |
| Texas (suburban/rural) | 0.85 - 0.95 | East TX, West TX, rural TX |
| Florida | 0.95 - 1.15 | Miami, Tampa, Orlando (Miami highest) |
Labor vs material vs gear split
Electrical work has a three-way split: labor (skilled licensed electrician hours), material (copper wire, devices, fixtures, conduit), and gear (panels, switchgear, transformers, UPS, low-voltage racks). The split shifts dramatically by bid type.
| Scope | Labor % | Material % | Gear % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service call | 70-80% | 20-30% | 0% | Truck-hour driven |
| Residential remodel sub | 55-65% | 30-40% | 5-10% | Some panel work |
| Residential rewire (whole home) | 55-65% | 30-40% | 5-10% | New panel typically |
| Commercial office TI | 45-55% | 30-40% | 15-25% | Lighting + devices dominate |
| Commercial restaurant TI | 40-50% | 30-40% | 15-25% | Kitchen equipment connections |
| Commercial new construction | 35-45% | 25-35% | 25-40% | Heavy gear procurement |
| Healthcare / lab | 30-40% | 20-30% | 35-50% | Isolation panels, UPS, specialty gear |
Line-item unit cost reference
For sanity-checking your own takeoff, the unit costs below are 2026 national averages for residential and light-commercial electrical work. All figures include labor + material + sub markup. Add overhead and profit on top.
2026 electrical unit costs — national averages including labor, material, sub markup. Add overhead and profit on top.
| Line item | Unit | 2026 unit cost |
|---|---|---|
| Branch wiring rough (12-2 Romex) | lf | $2.85 - $4.85 |
| Branch wiring rough (12-3 Romex) | lf | $3.85 - $5.85 |
| EMT 1/2 in (commercial) | lf | $5.85 - $8.85 |
| EMT 3/4 in (commercial) | lf | $7.85 - $11.85 |
| MC cable 12-2 | lf | $3.85 - $5.85 |
| Receptacle 15A duplex (Decora, install) | ea | $85 - $145 |
| Receptacle 20A duplex (commercial) | ea | $125 - $185 |
| GFCI receptacle | ea | $145 - $225 |
| Switch single-pole (install) | ea | $75 - $125 |
| Switch 3-way (install) | ea | $95 - $155 |
| Dimmer (LED-compatible) | ea | $135 - $225 |
| Occupancy sensor (wall) | ea | $185 - $285 |
| Recessed can 6 in LED (residential) | ea | $185 - $325 |
| LED downlight 4 in (commercial) | ea | $245 - $385 |
| 2x4 LED troffer (install) | ea | $285 - $445 |
| High-bay LED fixture (warehouse) | ea | $485 - $785 |
| Exit sign with battery | ea | $185 - $285 |
| Emergency light (combo) | ea | $245 - $385 |
| Panel 200A residential (replace) | ea | $2,285 - $3,485 |
| Sub-panel 100A (install) | ea | $1,285 - $1,985 |
| Commercial panelboard 400A 480V | ea | $4,485 - $7,485 |
| Switchgear 600A 480V (standard) | ea | $18,485 - $28,485 |
| Transformer 75 kVA dry-type | ea | $4,485 - $7,485 |
| UPS 5 kVA rack | ea | $3,485 - $5,485 |
| Generator transfer switch (200A) | ea | $1,485 - $2,485 |
| Smoke detector hard-wired (install) | ea | $185 - $285 |
| Fire alarm pull station (install) | ea | $285 - $425 |
| Cat6 cable run (per drop) | ea | $185 - $285 |
| Data rack 42U (install) | ea | $1,485 - $2,485 |
| EV charger Level 2 (with 50A circuit) | ea | $1,485 - $2,485 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a residential rewire in 2026?+
A 2,000 sqft two-story rewire with drywall open runs $14,485 to $21,485 for basic, $21,485 to $29,485 for standard, and $29,485 to $42,485 for premium scope in 2026. A 1,200 sqft single-story rewire with accessible attic and crawlspace runs roughly 40 percent less per square foot because labor productivity is much higher when wiring does not require drywall cuts and patches.
How much does commercial electrical work cost per square foot in 2026?+
New construction office runs $12.50 to $26.50/sqft for standard grade. Restaurant runs higher at $24.50 to $48.50/sqft for quick-service and $32.50 to $64.50/sqft for full-service. Healthcare clinics run $32.50 to $64.50/sqft. Apply the regional multiplier from the table above to translate to your market.
How much should I charge for a service call?+
Truck arrival fees run $95 to $295 in 2026, with the spread driven by market and brand positioning. A typical diagnostic-plus-one-fix call runs $185 to $625 flat-rate. The flat-rate approach has displaced hourly billing for residential service because customers prefer price certainty and electricians prefer predictable revenue per truck-hour.
Why are electrical costs higher in some regions?+
Three drivers: licensed electrician labor pools (West Coast and Northeast pay 40 to 60 percent above the national average), copper logistics in remote markets, and inspection burden in dense urban jurisdictions. The biggest variable is labor; copper moves the same nationally, but a journeyman electrician in San Francisco bills 2x what one in rural Texas does.
Should I expect copper prices to keep rising?+
Copper has been volatile but range-bound between $4 and $5 per pound at the LME for most of 2025-2026. Long-term trend is up because EV and grid build-out is structural. Plan for 5 to 10 percent annual material inflation on copper-heavy scopes (rewires, big commercial branch work) and quote with a material escalation clause on bids longer than 90 days out.
How do I sanity-check a commercial electrical estimate before sending it?+
Three checks: (1) divide your total by square feet and confirm the $/sqft falls inside the tier range above for the building type; (2) confirm your labor-vs-material-vs-gear split is in the typical range for the scope; (3) confirm your overhead and profit layers are present and reasonable. If any of the three is out of range, recheck the takeoff, the unit costs, or the gear specification.
The bottom line
Cost benchmarks anchor the early conversation with a customer or GC and sanity-check your bid before it goes out. They are not a substitute for line-item takeoff, but they tell you when something has gone wrong — a commercial office TI bid at $6/sqft is missing scope; a kitchen remodel sub-bid at $25K is overbid. The 2026 ranges on this page are calibrated quarterly against copper, steel, and electrician wage indices. For your actual bid, run the takeoff and apply your own calibrated unit costs.
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