Cost to Whole-House Rewiring in San Francisco, CA (2026)
If you’re budgeting a whole-house rewiring in San Francisco, most projects run $4,800-$20,570, 37% 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 West Coast (where San Francisco sits): California Title 24, strict permitting, and high electrician wages add 20-35%. Earthquake retrofitting may be required simultaneously.
$4,800-$20,570 in San Francisco
37% above the national average · 1.37x cost multiplier
Expect to pay $4,800-$20,570 for a whole-house rewiring in San Francisco, about 37% above the national benchmark. The West Coast 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 San Francisco prices.
Cost Breakdown in San Francisco
| Line Item | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per sq ft | $4 | $7 | $11 |
| Materials | $1,912 | $3,825 | $7,012 |
| Labor | $3,626 | $6,527 | $10,878 |
| Permits | $383 | $510 | $638 |
| Total | $5,921+38% vs. national avg | $11,117+37% vs. national avg | $19,166+37% 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco
San Francisco Estimate
Typical Range
$4,800-$20,570
vs. National Average
37% above national
Cost Multiplier
1.37x
Cost Per sq ft
$4-$11
This 1.37x estimate prices San Francisco 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 →