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What a panel replacement costs, and why quotes differ

Two quotes for the same house can be far apart and both be honest. The difference is almost always in what each one includes.

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The short version

What sets the price
Panel size, whether the service to the house is upgraded, and the local permit.
Before you ask for quotes
Photograph the panel label showing brand and amperage.
Compare quotes on
Permit, power company coordination, breakers included and wall repair.

A quote should spell out

  • The amperage and brand of the new panel.
  • Whether the meter base and service cable are replaced.
  • Who pulls the permit and books the inspection.
  • Which breakers are included, with any GFCI or AFCI types.

What pushes the price up

  • Upgrading the service from the power company, for example 100 to 200 amps.
  • Moving the panel to a new location.
  • Bringing grounding and bonding up to current code.
  • Repairing damaged wiring found once the old panel is open.

The four parts of the job

  • CapacityA like-for-like swap is the simplest case. Adding capacity for a charger, a heat pump or an addition changes the scope.
  • Permit and inspectionA panel replacement is permitted work in most places. Which office issues the permit depends on the city, and our city guides name it.
  • The power companyPower to the house has to be disconnected and reconnected, and the schedule is partly theirs.
  • The old panelSome older panels are replaced for safety reasons more than capacity. See our page on Federal Pacific panels.

How the job usually goes

  1. A site visit to look at the panel, the service and the loads in the house.
  2. The permit is pulled before work starts.
  3. Power is shut off, the panel is swapped and every circuit is reconnected and labeled.
  4. The inspection is passed and the power company reconnects.

This page gives no dollar figures on purpose. Published national averages vary widely and say little about a quote in your city. Two or three written quotes for the same scope will tell you more.

Related guides

Sources

  • Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office
  • Alabama Electrical Contractors Board
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