What it costs to add an outlet

Adding an outlet can be a short visit or half a day. It depends on where the power comes from and what the wall is hiding.

Calls are answered by an independent provider that serves your ZIP code. You decide whether to hire.

The short version

What sets the price: How far the new outlet is from existing power, and what is inside the wall.
Where GFCI applies: Bathrooms, kitchens, garages, outdoors, crawl spaces and unfinished basements.
Ask first: Whether the outlet extends an existing circuit or needs a new one.

Extend or add?An outlet fed from a nearby one is the simple case, provided that circuit has room for more load.
A dedicated circuitA microwave, a treadmill or a window air conditioner may need a circuit of its own, run from the panel.
GFCI locationsThe CPSC lists the places code has required GFCI protection over the years: outdoors, bathrooms, garages, kitchens, crawl spaces and unfinished basements, wet bar and laundry sinks.
PermitRules for small jobs differ by city and county. The office named in our city guides is the one to ask.

The electrician checks where power can come from and how loaded that circuit is.
A route is chosen through the wall, attic or crawl space.
The cable is run and the outlet is installed and tested.
Any permit inspection is passed and the wall is closed up.

On GFCI outlets the CPSC says: "When in doubt about the proper procedure, contact a qualified electrician; do not attempt to install it yourself."