Whole-house rewire: what is replaced and how long it takes

When a whole-house rewire is the right call

Do it when the old wiring is everywhere, not in one corner. Two common cases: knob-and-tube that runs through most of the house, and aluminum branch wiring where the owner wants it gone for good. A third case is a remodel that already opens the walls. Then the extra labor is smaller. If only one area is bad, a partial rewire costs less.

Cost in brief

The typical SoCal range is $8,000 to $20,000 as of October 2026 for a home of about 1,500 to 2,500 square feet, with patching and paint extra. Wall type, access, the number of stories and a new panel move it most. The whole-house rewire cost page has the size breakdown and the full list of factors.

Step by step

1. Walkthrough. The electrician tests outlets, checks cable markings and looks in the attic and crawl space.
2. Plan. Circuits are laid out, and the plan adds required GFCI and arc-fault protection, smoke alarms where the city asks, and a new panel if needed.
3. Permit. The electrician files for an electrical permit.
4. Rough-in. New cable goes to every box. Old wiring is cut back or removed.
5. Rough inspection. The city checks the cable before the walls close.
6. Finish. Devices, covers and the panel go in. The old panel comes out.
7. Final inspection and walk-through. The city signs off, and you get a labeled panel directory.

What a rewire often reveals

Old houses hide surprises. Cut-off cables in the attic, splices inside walls, ungrounded outlets, missing boxes and overloaded circuits. If the walls open and the electrician finds a problem, the price may change. Ask how change orders are handled before you start.

If the original wiring is aluminum, read aluminum wiring first, since repair may be an alternative. For old cloth wiring, read knob-and-tube replacement.

Panel and service

Many homes that are rewired also get a panel upgrade. Adding an EV charger, heat pump or ADU later is much easier if the service is sized first. The electrician can check the load and tell you whether the existing service fits.

Permit and inspection

A rewire is a permitted job in California cities. The inspector checks the work in at least two steps, once at rough-in and once at final. See electrical permits in Southern California.

Comparing bids

Ask each bidder to write out:

• The panel size and brand
• Number of circuits and outlets
• Who does patching and paint
• Whether the permit and inspections are included
• How a hidden-condition change is priced
• Your options for living in the house during the work

Before the crew arrives

Clear access to the panel, the attic hatch and the crawl space. Move furniture away from walls where cable will be fished. Decide who will patch and paint, and when. Tell the electrician about any circuits that must stay on, such as a refrigerator or medical device, so a temporary feed can be arranged during the work.

Timeline you can plan around

The electrician walks the house and writes the bid in a few days. Permits take as long as the city takes, which varies. Rough-in on an average home usually runs several days to a week or more. The rough inspection can add a day or two of waiting. Finish work and the final inspection follow. If the house is occupied, ask for a room-by-room order so the kitchen is down for the shortest time.

Some owners combine the rewire with other work while the walls are open: insulation, recessed lights, data cable and extra outlets. Open walls make those cheaper to add, but each one belongs on the permit and the bid.