Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost Calculator

Electrical panel upgrade costs range from $500–$6,000 depending on the type. A 100A to 200A upgrade costs $1,500–$3,000, a new 200A panel $2,000–$4,000, a 200A to 400A upgrade $3,000–$6,000, and adding a subpanel $500–$1,500. Add $100–$500 for permits, $300–$800 for meter base replacement, and $200–$500 for a whole-home surge protector. Total project cost with all add-ons typically runs $2,000–$7,000.

Upgrade your panel if: you have a 100A panel and adding high-demand appliances (EV charger, heat pump, hot tub), breakers trip frequently under normal use, you are adding a room addition or major renovation, the panel uses obsolete fuse box or Federal Pacific/Zinsco breakers (safety hazard), your insurance requires it, or you are installing solar panels. Homes built before 1980 with original panels should be evaluated. A licensed electrician can assess whether repair or full upgrade is needed.

A standard 100A to 200A panel upgrade takes 6–10 hours (1 day). New 200A panel installation takes 8–12 hours (1–2 days). A 200A to 400A upgrade may take 2–3 days due to utility coordination and additional wiring. Subpanel addition takes 4–6 hours. Your power will be off for 4–8 hours during the swap. The electrician will coordinate with your utility company for a temporary disconnect during the panel change. Permit inspection adds 1–2 weeks to total timeline.

Yes, electrical panel upgrades require a permit in virtually all jurisdictions, costing $100–$500. The permit ensures work meets the National Electrical Code (NEC) and local amendments. Inspection by a city/county electrical inspector is required before energizing the new panel. Working without a permit can void insurance, create liability issues, and cause problems when selling the home. Your electrician typically pulls the permit and schedules the inspection.

100 Amp: Standard for homes built before 1980. Supports basic lighting, appliances, and a few 240V circuits. Insufficient for modern homes with AC, EV chargers, or electric ranges. 200 Amp: Current standard for most new homes. Supports central AC, electric dryer, range, water heater, and moderate additional loads. Sufficient for most families. 400 Amp: For large homes (3,500+ sqft), homes with workshops, multiple EV chargers, pools, or extensive electric heating. Typically two 200A panels with a 400A service.

Yes, upgrading from a fuse box to a circuit breaker panel ($1,500–$3,000) is strongly recommended. Fuse boxes are outdated, lack GFCI/AFCI protection required by modern code, and may not meet insurance requirements. Fuses blow and must be replaced; breakers simply reset. Improper fuse replacement (wrong amperage) is a leading cause of electrical fires. Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels are particular safety hazards with documented breaker failure rates — replace immediately if present.

A new meter base ($300–$800) is needed when: upgrading from 100A to 200A service (meter base must match amperage), the existing meter base is damaged or corroded, your utility company requires it for the service upgrade, or local code requires a meter/main combo panel. The meter base is owned by the utility company in some areas and by the homeowner in others — check with your utility. The electrician coordinates with the utility for the meter pull and reseat.

A whole-home surge protector ($200–$500 installed) mounts at the electrical panel and protects all circuits from voltage spikes caused by lightning, utility switching, or downed power lines. It's different from plug-in power strips — it protects hardwired appliances like AC units, refrigerators, washers, and ovens that can't use plug-in protectors. Protects electronics worth $10,000–$50,000+ in a typical home. Recommended addition during any panel upgrade since the electrician is already working on the panel.