Estimate panel swap, service upgrade, or sub-panel add. 2026 NEC code (surge protector, AFCI) included. Not a contractor bid.
| Item | Quantity | Estimated range |
|---|
Got an electrician quote? Compare it to the planning range.
What this is: a planning-range electrical-panel calculator informed by 2024 NEC, manufacturer pricing (Square D, Eaton, Siemens), and HomeGuide/HomeAdvisor.
Labor is modeled from per-unit installed rates with a crew-rate sanity check ($80-$150/crew-hr loaded billing rate), informed by BLS OEWS 47-2111 (Electricians).
Code references: 2024 NEC 230.67 (whole-home surge), 210.12 (AFCI), 250 (grounding), 230 (service entrance).
Last updated: May 2026. Full methodology →
| Scope | Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Like-for-like 200A swap | $1,500-$3,500 | 1 day |
| 100A to 200A service upgrade | $2,500-$5,500 | 1-2 days |
| Upgrade to 400A | $4,000-$10,000 | 2-3 days |
| Sub-panel (100A) install | $1,000-$2,500 | 1 day |
| Knob-tube remove + 200A upgrade | $5,000-$15,000+ | 1-2 weeks |
Clear signals it's time: breakers that trip regularly, a fuse box or a known-hazard panel (Federal Pacific, Zinsco), no open slots for new circuits, scorch marks or a warm panel, or a major new load on the horizon — an EV charger, heat pump, induction range, or hot tub. Older homes on 100-amp service frequently can't carry today's all-electric additions, which is what pushes most upgrades to 200 amps.
Need more circuits but not more service capacity? A sub-panel ($1,000–$2,500) adds slots without a full service upgrade.
A panel upgrade is rarely just the panel. Depending on the home, the quote can include utility coordination to disconnect/reconnect the service ($470–$800), a new meter base ($294–$500), service-entrance cable ($470–$800), a grounding/bonding upgrade to current code ($235–$400), and the permit + inspection. Old homes are where it climbs — removing knob-and-tube wiring alongside the upgrade can add $1,470–$2,500 and turn a one-day job into a one-to-two-week project. This is licensed-electrician work end to end; it's not a DIY panel.
Like-for-like 200A panel swap runs $1,500-$3,500 in 2026. 100A to 200A service upgrade (with new mast and meter): $2,500-$5,500. Upgrade to 400A for EV + electrification: $4,000-$10,000. Adding a 100A sub-panel: $1,000-$2,500.
Modern homes with EV chargers (40-80A), heat pumps (30-60A), induction ranges (40-50A), and solar/battery systems quickly outgrow 100A service. 200A is today's default; 400A is becoming standard for all-electric homes with EV + heat pump + battery.
Yes — main panel work always requires a permit and licensed electrician in nearly every US jurisdiction. Service-side work (mast, meter base) requires utility coordination too. Permit pull is a $150-$1,500 line item.
1 day for swap. 1-2 days for service upgrade. 2-3 days for 400A. Power off 4-8 hours during work.
Whole-home surge protector (NEC 230.67), AFCI breakers on most circuits (210.12), tamper-resistant outlets, GFCI on all bedrooms.
A like-for-like 200A panel swap runs $1,500-$3,500. Upgrading 100-amp service up to 200 amps is $2,500-$5,500 because it adds utility coordination, a new meter base, and service-entrance work. Going to 400 amps is $4,000-$10,000.
Often, yes. Many older 100-amp panels do not have spare capacity for a Level 2 EV charger or a heat pump, so an upgrade to 200 amps is required first. An electrician can run a load calculation to confirm before you commit.
The panel itself is a fraction of it. The cost is utility coordination, a new meter base and service-entrance cable, grounding brought to current code, the permit and inspection, and - in older homes - possible knob-and-tube removal ($1,470-$2,500).
