Electrical Work For Garage Upgrades

By | June 16, 2025

Electrical Work For Garage Upgrades – $400 to $600 to install a 50 amp subpanel, $500 to $1,500 to install a 100 amp subpanel

The average cost to install a subpanel is $400-$600 for a 50 amp or $500 for a 500 amp, $500 for a 500 amp including labor and materials.

Electrical Work For Garage Upgrades

The actual usable power of the subpanel is the amperage of the 240V circuit breaker that supplies power from the main panel.

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Subpanel installation costs depend on the wiring distance from the main electrical panel and the number of circuits.

Installing a sub-panel in a detached garage or structure requires a connecting switch, more materials and digging a hole to run the wires underground from the main structure.

Electricians charge $40 to $100 an hour to replace a service panel. Most electricians charge between $75 and $55 for a service call.

Labor costs depend on the size and number of circuits and whether current circuits need to be coded or rewritten.

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New subpanel wiring is $7 to $10 per linear foot. Wiring costs depend on the location of the submersible, the number of circuits, the distance between the wires and the operation of the drying tool.

Wiring through walls or underground takes longer and costs more than outside wiring. Renovating a home costs between $2 and $4 per square foot.

Fuse boxes and 60-100 amp main service panels common in older homes are not designed to operate most modern appliances.

Professionals recommend retrofitting a 200-amp main panel when installing a 100-amp subpanel. Subpanel amperes should not exceed 50% of main panel amperes.

Electrical Panels, Panel Upgrades

A subpanel is a smaller service panel fed by a 240V breaker on the main panel to expand the circuit capacity.

A subpanel does not increase the overall power of the house, it is only useful for power distribution options, adding a circuit to a specific location such as a new room or garage.

Improper subpanel wiring can cause corrosion, shock, or electrical fire. Consult a licensed electrician to ensure wiring, grounding, and code compliance.

Subpanel installation takes an average of 4-8 hours, depending on the number of circuits, spacing between panels, and the amount of drywall repair required.

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Subpanels installed close to the main service panel take less time than those installed further away or requiring extensive rework.

Upgrade your subpanel if it’s over 25 years old or if your home needs more circuitry than your current subpanel supplies.

Because of the fire hazard with these brands, replace Federal Pacific and Zinsco subpanels as soon as possible. Professionals recommend upgrading older Challenger and PushMatic/Bulldog panels.

Adding a strong demand may require updating the main service panel instead of adding a sub-panel. Signs that your dashboard is overloaded:

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Subpanels do not require a main breaker when installed in the same building as the main service panel. The main breaker on the main service panel acts like a subpanel breaker.

A sub-panel mounted on another structure requires a master breaker for quick disconnection if necessary.

In most cases, you can add a subpanel if additional demand exceeds the scope of the main service panel.

Calculate the demand for a new subpanel using National Electrical Code (NEC) load calculation guidelines, or consult an electrician to confirm that a new subpanel is feasible and appropriate.

Electrical Upgrades To Consider

If you know how to work with electrical wiring and local building codes and national safety requirements, you can build a small panel yourself, but it’s best to hire an electrician.

A licensed electrician has the proper training, tools, and equipment to ensure the installation is safe and up to code.

Subpanels located further away from the main panel require thicker cables to account for the voltage drop due to increased spacing. Subpanels installed in a building other than the main panel require removal.

There is no limit to the size of the subpanel amp. However, the subpanel is limited to the amp rating of the main breaker panel and the circuit breaker that feeds it.

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We track the millions of estimates homeowners receive from contractors and share those prices with you. We adhere to strict editorial integrity. The average cost of replacing an electrical panel is between $850 and $2,500, depending on the amperage. A 100 amp service panel upgrade is $850 to $1,600, a 200 amp breaker box replacement is $1,800 to $2,500, and a 400 amp electrical service upgrade is $2,000,000 to $4,000.

The average cost of replacing a breaker box is $1,475, with most homeowners spending between $1,287 and $1,707. Total costs depend on the type of house, number of circuits and amperage.

Our homes use more energy than ever before, and an electrical system built decades ago may not have the capacity to handle today’s demanding electrical load. Proper electrical panel rating for proper home operation can prevent fires by eliminating tripped circuit breakers.

The average cost to replace an electrical panel is $850 to $100 per 100 amps, or $1,200 to $100, requiring a new service panel. Expect to spend $1,300 to $2,500 for a 200 amp upgrade, or $2,000,000 to $4,000 for a 400 amp upgrade. Low-amp subpanels range from $500 to $1,000.

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Replacing an electrical panel typically takes 8-10 hours, including 200 amps of power, a main breaker and ten circuit breakers, labor, and all necessary materials. The biggest cost for most electrical jobs is labor. An electrician’s hourly rate can range from $40 to $100, with an initial hourly rate of $75 to $120, and labor costs of $400 to $800.

It costs $1,300 to $1,600 to upgrade an electrical panel to a 200 amp rating, or $1,800 to $2,500 if a new service panel is needed. Installation costs are associated with the labor required. You may need to add new wires or replace them, or bring something to code.

If you’re shopping for one at your local home improvement store, a 200-amp panel can cost anywhere from $41 for a 16-cell panel to $387 for a 42-cell panel.

The average cost to install a new 100 amp service is $1,200 to $1,600, or $850 to $150 if the service panel needs to be replaced. A 100-amp breaker box may be sufficient for low-energy households, but most modern homes require 200 amps.

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The average cost of replacing a blown fuse box with a breaker panel is $1,100 to $4,000,000, depending on the rating of the new breaker panel. There are several reasons for installing a new breaker box on top of an existing fuse box.

A chain breaker switch costs between $150 and $200, including labor and materials. Fuse holders can be purchased for anywhere from $5 to $40, depending on the type of home you have. Most of the costs are for labor, the average electrician costs $40-$99 per hour, which can take 2-3 hours.

Replacing a main circuit breaker costs between $40-$100 per part and $40-$100 per hour for electrical installation. A mains circuit breaker turns off the electricity to the house in one action.

If one of the smaller circuit breakers fails to trip, the main breaker will trip as a backup. It will also trip if there is a significant electrical current, such as lightning. If it travels frequently, the pressure should be replaced. If you see them walking around regularly, you may want to consider replacing them or upgrading your panel box.

Cost To Install A Subpanel — By Amps & Factors

The average cost of replacing an electrical meter box is between $200 and $500, depending on the number of circuits it serves, which can range from 8 to 30. Some are more durable and can be buried underground.

Old meter boxes contain toxic mercury. Newer electricity meter boxes are digital and provide a more accurate record of usage. They also record other information such as the date and time of any electricity use. This allows you to identify your peak usage time and find ways to reduce it, thereby saving you money.

If you need to repair or replace your meter box, it’s not a good idea to attempt this yourself. It can prove to be frustrating, take longer than expected, and can even be dangerous. Hire a licensed electrician to do the job.

The average cost of installing a sub-panel is between $500 and $1,000. A 40-amp mini-panel costs $452 to install, and a 50-amp mini-panel costs $482. A lower panel box is smaller and usually supplies electricity to a garage or small building.

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It costs less than what you’d pay for a basic power panel because it’s smaller and has fewer wires. A sub-panel is also a good solution to the electrical needs created when finishing a floor or adding to a room. Instead of adding circuit breakers to your main electrical panel, add a subpanel.

The cost of moving an electrical panel is $800 to $2,500. The cheapest price is to move it 10 feet with nothing to repair or bring up to code; electricity should only extend the connections. If