Panel upgrades are bread-and-butter work for electricians, and the demand keeps growing. Every homeowner adding an EV charger, heat pump, or home battery needs more capacity. Every older home with a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel is a safety hazard waiting for an insurance claim. And every real estate transaction on a house with a 60-amp panel triggers the same question: how much to upgrade?
If you're an electrician, you're probably already doing several of these a month. The question is whether you're pricing them correctly. Let's break it down.
Panel upgrade costs by size
| Upgrade Type | Panel + Materials | Labor | Total Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100A to 200A (same location) | $500–$1,200 | $800–$1,800 | $1,300–$3,000 |
| 100A to 200A (panel relocation) | $600–$1,400 | $1,500–$3,500 | $2,100–$4,900 |
| 200A panel replacement (like-for-like) | $400–$1,000 | $600–$1,500 | $1,000–$2,500 |
| 200A to 400A upgrade | $1,500–$3,500 | $2,000–$5,000 | $3,500–$8,500 |
| Subpanel addition (60–100A) | $300–$800 | $500–$1,200 | $800–$2,000 |
| Meter base + panel combo | $800–$2,000 | $1,200–$3,000 | $2,000–$5,000 |
| Federal Pacific / Zinsco replacement | $500–$1,200 | $1,000–$2,500 | $1,500–$3,700 |
The most common job — 100A to 200A at the same location — typically lands between $1,800 and $2,500 for most electricians in average-cost markets. If you're consistently quoting below $1,500, you're probably not accounting for all your costs.
What's included in the cost
A panel upgrade isn't just swapping a box. Here's what the job actually involves:
- New panel and breakers: A 200A main breaker panel with 30–40 spaces runs $150–$400 wholesale. Add $200–$600 in breakers depending on how many circuits the home has.
- Service entrance cable (SEC): If the existing SEC is undersized (common on 100A services), you're running new 4/0 aluminum or 2/0 copper from the meter to the panel. Materials: $150–$400. Labor depends on routing distance.
- Meter base: If the utility requires a new meter base for the higher amperage, add $100–$300 for the base plus $200–$500 in labor. Some utilities provide the meter base, some don't — know your local utility's policy.
- Grounding and bonding: Upgrading the grounding electrode system to current code. Ground rods, water pipe bonds, intersystem bonding. Materials: $50–$150. Labor: $100–$400.
- Permits and inspection: Electrical permits for panel upgrades range from $75–$350 depending on jurisdiction. The inspection is usually included in the permit fee.
- Utility coordination: Someone has to schedule the disconnect and reconnect with the utility. In some areas this is free, in others there's a $50–$200 fee. Either way, it adds coordination time to your day.
Factors that affect pricing
Panel location and accessibility
A panel on the garage wall at chest height is a 4–6 hour job. A panel in a finished basement behind drywall, or in a closet where you can barely open the door, adds hours. If the customer wants the panel relocated — say, from inside the house to the garage — you're looking at an additional $800–$2,000 in labor for the new feed and mounting.
Number of circuits
Transferring 20 circuits from an old panel to a new one takes meaningfully longer than transferring 12. Each circuit needs to be identified, labeled, disconnected, and reconnected. If existing wiring is short, you're adding junction boxes and extending circuits. Budget 15–25 minutes per circuit on average.
Code upgrades required
When you open a panel permit, the inspector may require additional code compliance beyond the panel itself. Common requirements: AFCI protection on bedroom circuits, GFCI protection on kitchen/bath/garage circuits, proper bonding of gas lines and water pipes. These are legitimate safety improvements, but they add time and materials. Make sure your customer understands this upfront.
Existing wiring condition
Aluminum branch circuit wiring (common in 1960s–1970s homes) may need remediation at the panel with approved connectors. Cloth-insulated wiring may need to be assessed. Knob and tube — well, that's a whole different conversation and probably a separate estimate.
Utility requirements
Every utility has its own requirements for service upgrades. Some require the homeowner to pay for a new service drop from the transformer. That can add $500–$2,000+ to the project cost and isn't within your control. Always call the utility before quoting if you suspect the service lateral or transformer may need work.
Regional price variations
| Region | Adjustment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | +15% to +25% | Older housing stock, more complex upgrades, higher permit fees |
| Southeast | -5% to +5% | Standard pricing, newer homes often already have 200A |
| Midwest | -10% to +5% | Lower labor rates, high demand for hazardous panel replacements |
| Southwest | +0% to +10% | Growing demand from EV charger and solar installations |
| West Coast | +20% to +35% | Highest labor costs, stringent code requirements, long permit timelines |
What electricians should charge
A well-run electrical panel upgrade should hit 40–55% gross margin. The materials cost is relatively low compared to the skill and liability involved. This is licensed work that requires permits, inspection, and utility coordination — price accordingly.
- Hourly rate: $90–$160/hour billed for a journeyman electrician, depending on market. Your fully burdened cost for a $35/hour journeyman is probably $48–$55/hour. The spread between your cost and your billed rate is your gross margin on labor.
- Materials markup: 30–50% on panels, breakers, wire, and fittings. The panel itself might cost you $250 wholesale — sell it for $350–$400.
- Flat rate pricing: Most successful electrical contractors price panel upgrades as flat-rate jobs rather than T&M. You know roughly how long a standard 100-to-200A upgrade takes in your market. Price it, protect your margin, and manage your efficiency.
Run your numbers through a job cost estimator before sending quotes. It takes two minutes and keeps you from accidentally pricing a job at 20% margin when you thought it was 45%.
The EV charger upsell
If you're doing a panel upgrade and the customer has an EV or is considering one, offering a 240V circuit for an EV charger at the same time is a natural add-on. You're already in the panel, you've already got the permit, and the incremental cost to you is $200–$400 in materials and 1–2 hours of labor. Price it at $500–$1,000. It's a high-margin add-on that the customer appreciates because it saves them a separate service call later.
Common pricing mistakes
- Not visiting the site before quoting. Panel upgrades have too many variables to price over the phone. The panel location, wire routing, utility requirements, and existing conditions all affect the price. Charge a service call fee if you need to, but see the job first.
- Ignoring utility lead times. In some areas, scheduling a disconnect/reconnect with the utility takes 2–4 weeks. If you're booking jobs without accounting for this, you're creating scheduling chaos.
- Underpricing hazardous panel replacements. Federal Pacific, Zinsco, and Challenger panels have documented safety issues. Homeowners and insurance companies are motivated buyers. Don't discount this work — the urgency justifies premium pricing.
- Not charging for code-required upgrades. When the inspector requires AFCI breakers on 8 bedroom circuits, that's $300–$500 in breakers alone. Don't eat that cost. Include it in your original estimate or present it as a clearly documented addition.
- Competing on price with handymen. Unlicensed people do panel work. It's illegal in every state, but it happens. Don't try to match their prices. Compete on licensing, insurance, warranty, and the fact that your work passes inspection. Customers who choose the cheapest option for electrical work aren't your customers.
Building panel upgrades into a recurring revenue model
Every panel upgrade is an entry point to a long-term customer relationship. While you're in the home, you can identify other electrical needs: outdated wiring, missing smoke detectors, insufficient outdoor lighting, generator hookups. A margin calculator helps you price these add-ons quickly in the field.
Some electricians offer a "whole-home electrical assessment" as a follow-up to every panel upgrade — a 1-hour inspection with a written report on recommended improvements. It costs you an hour and generates $2,000–$10,000 in additional work from the same customer.
Price every panel job with confidence
Free job cost templates, margin calculators, and pricing guides for electricians.
Download Free →Bottom line
Electrical panel upgrades in 2026 range from $1,000 for a simple like-for-like replacement to $8,500+ for a 200A-to-400A upgrade. Demand is growing because of EV adoption, heat pump installations, and aging housing stock. Price for the skill and liability the work requires, track your costs on every job, and don't leave money on the table.
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