How much does a 400 amp service upgrade cost?

Expect $8,000 to $12,000 for a 400-amp service upgrade, a typical SoCal range as of October 2026 that matches the national cost site’s 400A figure. The price covers the 400-amp service, the meter socket and the panel or panels. That is a heavy job: bigger wire, bigger equipment, utility approval and often a wall of stucco to cut through.

To see who needs this size and how the utility’s part works, read the 400 amp service page.

Ask the first question before the price

Most houses do not need 400 amps. A 200-amp service carries a typical home plus an EV charger, and often a heat pump too. The load calculation decides. Read the guide on how a load calculation works and look at the 200-amp cost page first. The 400-amp job fits these cases:

• A large house with two air handlers or more
• A house with a pool, a spa and an ADU on the same service
• Two or more EV chargers plus electric heat and a hot tub
• A property that will be split into units with separate loads
• A small business on a residential lot (see commercial)

One big service or two 200s

The national cost site notes that two 200-amp panels can cost less than one 400-amp service when the utility requires placement at the back of the property. A paired setup can also reduce the size of the wire run. The tradeoff is more equipment and a second set of breakers to manage. Ask each bidder to price both.

Why 400-amp service costs so much more than 200

The jump from 200 to 400 is not only a bigger panel. It usually means:

1. Heavier service conductors and conduit
2. A different meter socket that the utility must accept
3. Trenching for underground service. The national data warns this can add several thousand dollars at 400A.
4. Utility engineering review before the work is approved

Each step has a waiting line. The utility coordination guide shows how that works.

The money gap is the real question

A 400-amp job costs about $5,500 to $7,500 more than the common 200-amp swap, using the two ranges on this site ($8,000 to $12,000 against $2,500 to $4,500). Before you pay that gap, ask what else would solve the problem. A load-management device for an EV charger runs $300 to $700 in NRG’s California data. A subpanel can fix a full panel. Two 200-amp panels may fit the load for less. Choose 400 amps when the load calculation says the house truly needs it, not because a bigger number feels safer.

Utility rules and permit fees

Because the service itself changes, the utility is a partner in the job, not just a bystander. Fees and timelines differ for SCE, SDG&E, LADWP and municipal utilities. See the city pages for your utility, or start at the county hub: Los Angeles, San Diego or Riverside. This site does not quote utility charges, because they change and depend on your address.

Comparing quotes

• Is the quote one 400A service or two 200A panels? Make every bidder price the same layout, then ask for the alternative.
• Does the price include trenching, or is that a separate provider? National data says trenching may be billed apart.
• Who handles the utility application and the meter?
• Does the quote name what happens to stucco, concrete or landscaping that gets cut?
• What does the electrician assume about the existing service? Ask for a site visit before the number is final.

What is not included

Trenching if billed separately, concrete and landscaping repair, stucco and paint, new circuits or rewiring found to be needed, and utility charges that the electrician does not collect. The range also assumes a normal home, not a multi-unit building.