How much does it cost to rewire a house? [2024]

If you have an older house, having it rewired is an important home improvement. Older houses may have frayed wires that can pose a fire hazard and they often don't have enough wiring for the needs of today's households.

The average cost to rewire a house is between $3000 and $9000, but it can be more. Having a home rewired can be expensive, but it will give you the peace of mind of knowing your home is not in danger and that you'll have enough wiring for all your needs. Read this guide to find out:

• Why should you rewire a house?
• Warning signs that you should rewire your house
• What does rewiring a house involve?
• How often do you need to rewire a house?
• How long does it take to rewire a house?
• How much does it cost to rewire a house?
• How to choose an electrician
• Getting quotes for rewiring a house
• Other considerations when rewiring an old house

Why should you rewire a house?

Fire hazard may be the main reason for having a house rewired. Electrical standards have changed in recent years, as has our demand for power. Sometimes, older homes just aren't up to scratch. 

The fire hazard increases if you use too much electricity for your existing wiring. This can include having extension cords with extra plugs, which can overload the system. Rather than improvise and risk a fire, having the house rewired can help you have everything you need for a modern lifestyle.

Electricians will charge according to the size of your house, but they will also include outlets, lighting and other electrical connections you need. Make sure you include everything you need in your initial consultation and the cost will be lower than if you forget something and the electrician has to come back later to install something extra.

Warning signs that you should rewire your house

It's important to be aware of the common warning signs that could tell you your house needs rewiring. Some of these can include:

• Frequently blown fuses
• An over-fused electrical panel
• Dimming or flickering lights
• Hot or discoloured switch plates, cords or plugs
• Frequent light bulb replacements
• Buzzing sounds from electrical outlets
• A burning smell
• Sparks from an outlet when you plug in an appliance

If you get a minor shock when you plug in an appliance, this is a sure sign that you need to have your house rewired. A burning smell or other issues should alert you to an important problem, because they could lead to a house fire.

What does rewiring a house involve?

Any rewiring is a serious job that needs to be handled by a licensed professional. At the very least, rewiring a house means removing the old wires and replacing them with newer ones. It's likely that there may be other upgrades too, like replacing sockets and installing new power points.

Wiring is often difficult to access and the electrician may have to run wiring through difficult areas. They do this in different ways and usually don't damage the walls, but in some cases they may have to drill holes through timber to install new wiring.

They can thread wiring through existing wiring in many cases, but if you need new wiring in walls, they may have to remove some cladding, and having this repaired or replaced will be an extra expense. They may be able to access the wiring from outside the house, but it will depend on the type of cladding you have.

How often do you need to rewire a house?

Even if your house isn't showing any of the tell-tale signs that it needs to be rewired, it's better to be ahead of the curve than behind it. For example, an electrician 50 years ago wouldn't have needed to know how to wire a dimmer switch, something that is now second nature to most sparkies.

Wiring needs change dramatically in just a couple of decades, so it's a good idea to rewire your home every 20 years or so. To be safe, you should get an electrician to check it every decade to make sure it still meets Australian electrical standards and your personal needs.

How long does it take to rewire a house?

There are many factors that can affect how long rewiring a house takes, but it could take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to completely rewire a home.

The size of your home, the number of modifications and the ease of access to the wiring all affect the length of the job. If your electrician needs to know how to wire a ceiling fan as well as lights, USB wall sockets and other modern gadgets, this can also add to the time involved.

How much does it cost to rewire a house?

Some of the main costs to rewire a house that you need to know are:

• Copper wiring can cost around $600 to $650
• An electrician's hourly rate can vary between $35 and $110 per hour, depending on your location
• Installing a single outlet, switch or power point costs $65 to $120
• A new switchboard can cost $700 to $1000
• Cabling for a new switchboard might cost another $2000 to $3000
• Some wiring can be more difficult to access than other wiring

The total cost of rewiring a home largely depends on its size. Expect to pay around:

• $1500 to $5000 to rewire a 2 bedroom house
• $3000 to $10,000 to rewire a 3 bedroom house
• $10,000 to $12,000 to rewire a 4 bedroom house

Whatever the cost of rewiring your house may be, it will add value to your home and the extra value may be more than you paid to rewire the house. When someone who is interested in buying the house knows that it has been rewired, this will add to its value and give them the peace of mind of knowing their new house does not pose a fire danger.

For more information about switchboard costs, read how much does it cost to replace a switchboard?

For electrician rates in different parts of Australia, read how much do electricians charge?

How to choose an electrician

The cost of an electrician isn't the only thing you should base your decision on. Electricians need to be licensed in every state in Australia, so checking they have a valid licence should be your first priority. The electrician should also:

• Be well established in your area
• Be able to provide you with references
• Have insurance
• Give you a firm quote
• Give you a compliance certificate when they complete the job

A compliance certificate is important, because it tells you they have completed the job to Australian standards. Keep the compliance certificate in a safe place, because you may need it later if something goes wrong.

If you've chosen a reputable electrician in your area, nothing should go wrong, but having the compliance certificate is a safeguard that you can use and the electrician may have to make necessary repairs for free.

Getting quotes for rewiring a house

It's recommended that you get 3 initial quotes from electricians in your area so you can compare prices fairly. Most electricians won't give you a final quote for the cost to rewire a house until they have inspected your property.

When you get online quotes, tell them about the job in as much detail as possible, including the number of rooms in the house and the extras you need. They will then be able to give you an estimate that is closer to the firm quote if they have a clear picture of the extent of the job.

An experienced electrician will be able to give you a firm quote based on rewiring jobs they have done in the past. Each job will have a different cost though, because of the size of the house and the amount of rewiring that needs to be done. Other factors such as the number of outlets, light switches and lighting connections you need will also be factored into their quotes.

Don't just take the lowest quote unless the electrician has been working for a long time in your area and has a good reputation. Some electricians may try to undercut the cost in order to get a job, but you can't take chances with electricity. An experienced electrician with a good reputation may cost more, but you'll know they have done a good job and that you can trust their work.

Other considerations when rewiring an old house

If you live in an older home, particularly one that was built before the 1960s, you may have experienced electrical issues such as fuses blowing and circuit breakers tripping on a regular basis. These are signs that rewiring is needed urgently, especially if you're not aware of it having been done before.

Major issues with older homes include:

• Degraded wiring – wiring in the 1960s was still routinely covered in lead and rubber, which can become dangerous as the coverings degrade.
• No safety switches – adding safety switches is strongly recommended to prevent electric shocks and fire risk.

Make sure you choose an electrician who is experienced in working with older buildings. Rewiring an old home can cost from $6000 to $8000 for a 3 to 5 bedroom property, but this should be considered a necessary expense to protect yourself, your family and your home.

*Costs and prices in this article are indicative and should only be used as a guide. They also vary locally and are subject to market forces.