Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost Estimator
Price an electrical panel upgrade before you call an electrician: amperage, panel condition, new circuits, and complexity. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.
In 2026, the national average cost to upgrade a residential electrical panel is about $1,600, with most homeowners spending $1,200 to $2,000. A standard 100-amp to 200-amp upgrade runs $1,300 to $2,000; a same-amperage panel replacement $800 to $1,500; and a 200-amp to 400-amp upgrade $2,000 to $4,000. Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels should be replaced regardless of amperage for safety reasons.
Estimate your panel upgrade
Figures current as of October 2026. Sources: HomeGuide and contractor-published 2026 cost guides; CPSC documentation on Federal Pacific panels.
How the math worked
This is an estimate for planning only, not a quote. Panel upgrade costs vary by region, service type (overhead vs underground), and how much surrounding wiring must be brought to code. Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels have documented safety defects; have them evaluated immediately. Always hire a licensed electrician and pull a permit.
Learn how panel upgrades work
2026 Electrical Panel Upgrade Costs
Installed costs from 2026 cost guides (HomeGuide and contractor-published data). Includes panel, breakers, labor, permit, and inspection.
| Upgrade path | Equipment only | Total installed | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60A to 100A | $100 to $200 | $850 to $1,100 | 1 day |
| 100A panel replacement (same amps) | $150 to $300 | $800 to $1,500 | 4 to 8 hours |
| 100A to 200A (most common) | $250 to $350 | $1,300 to $2,000 | 1 day |
| 150A to 200A | $250 to $350 | $1,300 to $2,000 | 1 day |
| 200A to 400A | $500+ | $2,000 to $4,000 | 1 to 2 days |
| 400A complex (dual panels, trenching) | $800+ | $8,000 to $12,000 | 2 to 4 days |
| Subpanel (60A) | $100 to $250 | $500 to $1,000 | Half day |
| New dedicated circuit (adder) | $50 to $150 | $150 to $300 | Per circuit |
| EV charger circuit (adder) | $100 to $250 | $570 to $1,000 | Per circuit |
| Permit and inspection (adder) | n/a | $100 to $300 | 1 to 3 weeks lead time |
The panel is the gatekeeper for electrification
Nearly every major home upgrade now runs through the electrical panel: EV chargers draw 40 to 60 amps, heat pumps 30 to 60, induction ranges 40 to 50, hot tubs 50 to 60. A 100-amp panel that was fine in 1985 is a bottleneck in 2026. The panel upgrade is rarely the project you wanted; it is the project your other projects require.
Capacity is about the service, not just the box. Swapping a 100-amp panel for a bigger 100-amp panel changes nothing about capacity. A true upgrade increases the service size: new service-entrance conductors, often a new meter socket and mast, utility coordination for the disconnect and reconnect, and then the panel itself. That is why an "upgrade" costs more than a "replacement" and why quotes should specify which one you are getting.
Federal Pacific and Zinsco are special cases. These panels have documented breaker failure rates far above normal; the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission investigated Federal Pacific panels, and electricians widely recommend replacing both brands on sight. If you have one, the upgrade is a safety project first and a capacity project second, and some insurers will require replacement before writing a policy.
Think in circuits, not just amps. A 200-amp panel with no free breaker spaces still needs work (subpanel or tandem breakers, $500 to $1,000). When you get the upgrade, ask for a 40-space panel even if the load calculation says 30 spaces suffice; the marginal cost is small and future you, adding the EV charger, will be grateful.