Cost to Whole-House Rewiring in Philadelphia, PA (2026)
If you’re budgeting a whole-house rewiring in Philadelphia, most projects run $3,949-$16,923, 13% above the $8,000 national average. What moves that number most is usually one thing: Home Size. On its own it can swing the cost by $2,500 - $25,000, so that’s the decision to slow down on before you sweat the smaller stuff.
Easiest place to save: If your home has an accessible attic and unfinished basement, the electrician can fish most wires without opening walls - saving thousands in drywall repair
In the Northeast (where Philadelphia sits): Older housing stock means more rewiring demand. High labor rates in the Boston-NYC-DC corridor push costs 15-25% above average.
$3,949-$16,923 in Philadelphia
13% above the national average · 1.13x cost multiplier
Expect to pay $3,949-$16,923 for a whole-house rewiring in Philadelphia, about 13% above the national benchmark. The Northeast region's contractor market and material costs account for most of this difference. The detailed breakdown below shows how budget, mid-range, and premium projects compare at Philadelphia prices.
Cost Breakdown in Philadelphia
| Line Item | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per sq ft | $3 | $6 | $9 |
| Materials | $1,665 | $3,330 | $6,105 |
| Labor | $2,858 | $5,144 | $8,574 |
| Permits | $333 | $444 | $555 |
| Total | $4,856+13% vs. national avg | $9,140+13% vs. national avg | $15,789+13% vs. national avg |
Budget
Small home (under 1,200 sq ft), accessible wiring paths, basic NM-B copper wiring, standard outlets and switches, code-minimum circuit count
Mid-Range
Average home (1,500-2,000 sq ft), mix of accessible and closed walls, AFCI/GFCI breakers throughout, dedicated circuits for kitchen and laundry, 200-amp panel
Premium
Large home (2,500+ sq ft), complete drywall removal and replacement, structured wiring for data and entertainment, smart panel, whole-home surge protection, subpanels
Material Options
Material prices below are national averages; availability in Philadelphia may shift costs slightly.
| Material | Cost/Unit | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard NM-B (Romex) Copper Wiring | $0.50 - $1.50 per foot | Interior walls, most residential rewiring projectsIndustry standard, easy for electricians to work with, affordable, meets all residential codes |
| MC (Metal Clad) Cable | $1.50 - $3.00 per foot | Exposed basement runs, jurisdictions requiring metal-clad wiring, commercial-style installationsBuilt-in metal armor for protection, required in some jurisdictions (Chicago, NYC), good for exposed runs |
| THWN Wire in Conduit | $2.00 - $4.00 per foot (wire + conduit) | Outdoor runs, garage wiring, unfinished basement exposed wiring, industrial aestheticsWires can be replaced without opening walls, maximum protection, required for outdoor and garage applications |
| 14 AWG Wire (15-amp circuits) | $0.30 - $0.60 per foot | Bedroom and living room lighting circuits, general-purpose outlet circuitsLighter, easier to pull, less expensive, adequate for lighting and general-purpose outlets |
| 12 AWG Wire (20-amp circuits) | $0.50 - $0.90 per foot | Kitchen small-appliance circuits, bathroom circuits, garage circuits, home office circuitsHandles 20-amp loads, required for kitchen and bathroom circuits, more future-proof |
Other Projects in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Estimate
Typical Range
$3,949-$16,923
vs. National Average
13% above national
Cost Multiplier
1.13x
Cost Per sq ft
$3-$9
This 1.13x estimate prices Philadelphia labor from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) and applies a lighter regional adjustment to materials and permits, which vary less by metro than labor does. Actual bids vary by contractor, project scope, and timing.
See national average costs →