Electrical Panel Replacement Cost (2026)

Updated 2026-10-30

Replacing or upgrading an electrical panel typically costs $800 to $4,000 with installation, according to This Old House (updated March 2026); Fixr’s range is $1,500 to $4,500 with an average of about $3,000. A same-size 100 amp panel sits near the bottom ($800–$1,500 at This Old House), and most homeowners pay $1,300–$3,000 for a 200 amp upgrade, about $2,150 on average. The bill climbs when the meter, the service cable or the panel’s location has to change too.

Cost by panel size

Panel size	This Old House (2026)	Fixr (2025)
100 amp	$800–$1,500	$1,000–$1,600
150 amp	—	$1,300–$2,400
200 amp	$1,300–$3,000	$1,600–$4,000
400 amp	$2,000–$4,000	$8,000–$12,000

This Old House prices a panel plus installation; Fixr’s 100–200 amp figures are replacements with labor and its 400 amp figure is an upgrade. The two guides use different data, and for 400 amp service they are far apart — treat both columns as a sanity check for a quote, not as a price list. The panel itself is a small part of the bill: This Old House lists a 200 amp panel alone at $250–$350, so most of what you pay is labor, the permit and any work around the panel.

Replacement vs. upgrade

A replacement swaps the panel for a new one of the same capacity. An upgrade increases capacity — for example from 100 to 200 amps for an EV charger, a heat pump or an addition. Fixr puts replacements at $1,000–$3,500 and upgrades at $1,500–$5,000. An upgrade can also involve the meter base and the service cable from the utility, which a same-size swap often leaves alone.

Diagram contrasting a same-size panel replacement with an upgrade to a larger panel feeding an EV charger and heat pump — A replacement keeps the same capacity; an upgrade adds capacity for big new loads.

If you’re not sure you need more capacity, ask the electrician for a load calculation for your house before you choose.

What else can be on the quote

Item	This Old House (2026)	Fixr (2025)
Permit	$50–$300	$50–$300 or more
Meter box, installed	$1,800–$3,500	$200–$800
Moving the panel	$800–$3,000	about $1,000–$4,000
Fuse box to breaker panel	—	$1,500–$4,500
AFCI or GFCI breaker, each	$35–$60	—
Electrician labor	—	$40–$120 per hour

House wall cutaway showing service mast, meter base, service cable and the indoor panel — A quote can cover more than the panel: the meter base, service mast and cable may need work too.

Fixr notes that some municipalities require an inspection by the local power company before any work begins. Separately, an initial electrical inspection by an electrician costs $125–$250, according to Fixr. Ask whether utility coordination and any inspection fees are in the price.

How to read a quote

A clear quote lists, line by line:

the panel brand, amperage and number of spaces;
which breakers are included, and whether AFCI or GFCI breakers are required where you live;
removing the old panel and moving the existing circuits;
the permit and the inspection;
any meter base, service mast, grounding or service-cable work;
who schedules the utility disconnect and reconnect, and any utility fees;
patching drywall or siding if the panel moves.

Get at least three written quotes for the same scope so you can compare them line by line.

When a replacement is usually recommended

The inspector flagged the brand. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels have the most extensive public record: see Federal Pacific Panels: Are They Dangerous?. Some Challenger GFCI breakers were the subject of a 1988 CPSC replacement program.
You still have fuses. Converting to a breaker panel costs $1,500–$4,500 (Fixr).
Breakers keep tripping. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises finding out why a breaker trips instead of simply resetting it, and warns that a trip is often a sign of an overloaded circuit. An electrician can find the cause.
You’re adding big loads like an EV charger or a heat pump and the current service may be too small.

If a panel feels warm or buzzes, have a licensed electrician look at it soon. If you smell burning, see smoke, or the panel is hot to the touch, leave the area and call 911.

Can I replace a panel myself?

This site doesn’t give instructions for electrical work. Panel replacement involves the wires coming in from the utility, which stay live even with the main breaker off; it is a job for a licensed electrician, with a permit and an inspection. Fixr notes that some states let homeowners pull their own permit, but the safety risk doesn’t change, and unpermitted work can cause trouble with insurance and when you sell the house.

FAQ

Is a replacement worth it on an old house? If the panel is a brand that inspectors flag, still uses fuses, or can’t carry the loads you plan to add, ask a licensed electrician to evaluate it. Our Panel Risk Check helps you see how urgent a visit is and what to ask.

Will homeowners insurance pay for a new panel? Ask your insurer — and ask whether your current panel affects your policy at all.

Illustrations on this page are AI-generated to help you picture the situation. They are not photos of real homes, jobs or people.

Check your panel's risk