Electrical service costs depend on your project and location. Check with a local pro for your specific job.
Professional electrical inspection costs range from $75 to $500, with most homeowners paying around $150 for your service.
The age and size of your home determine how long your inspection takes and whether you need specialized expertise.
Budget for potential follow-up repairs like outlet grounding, wiring upgrades, or panel replacements discovered during your inspection.
Hiring a local electric inspection professional ensures your system meets current safety codes and protects your household from fire hazards.
Electrical inspections cost $150, though you could spend as little as $75 or up to $500 depending on the type of inspection you need and the accessibility of your home. Most people only think about electrical inspections when buying a new home, but they’re also important for maintaining the safety of your current house. Whether you’re moving on up or ensuring that your lights stay on, it’s helpful to know about the factors that may affect your electrical safety inspection cost. Once you know more about the electrician’s process, you can plan your budget around the different electrical inspection types and cost factors before booking a pro to assess your home.
Whether you’re looking for a simple check-up or booking a full inspection for a potential new property, there are different factors that can affect the cost of your inspection. Learn more about them to keep your budget on track.
Electrical inspections come in a variety of types, from a simple safety check-up to an in-depth assessment of all your home’s electrical components. Once you know more about the types of inspections available, you can find something that matches your budget and the needs of your home.
| Electrical Inspection Type | What Is Covered? | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Wiring, outlets, circuit breakers, panels | $100–$200 |
| Infrared | Detect hot spots through walls and ceilings | $150–$350 |
| Full home electrical inspection | A full inspection of all electrical elements in the home | $250–$400 |
| Code compliance | Checks that new installations or repairs are up to code | Included in cost of installation or repair |
When you’re shopping for a new house, many people choose to have a full home electrical inspection. This is the most comprehensive inspection type, and your electrician will provide you with an inspection report at the end.
However, if you’re just looking for a simple home electrical inspection and you don’t have any particular concerns, a standard safety inspection can typically provide what you need.
Larger homes usually take longer to inspect, while older electrical systems may require specific expertise. When scheduling an inspection with an electrician, disclose factors like your home age, size, and location to help you get a more accurate cost estimate.
Many electricians charge a flat rate for electrical inspections, but some charge by the hour. If you have a large home, or an older one, compare flat rates and hourly rates for a few electricians since size and age can tack on a few hours to a job.
Electricians will also charge different rates based on their certification level. For example, journeymen electricians typically begin charging at $50 per hour, while more experienced master electricians start around $100 per hour.
| Certification Level | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Journeyperson | $60 |
| Master | $110 |
Electrical safety inspection costs are typically higher if you live in rural areas. Some electricians may charge a travel fee based on mileage, whereas others offer a flat rate for particular counties or regions.
In addition to your standard electrical safety inspection, your electrician may offer inspection add-ons, like an infrared inspection. Infrared inspections use thermal imaging to detect hot spots inside your walls that could indicate the beginnings of an electrical failure. The advantage of infrared is that it can give you early warnings of trouble without opening up or damaging your walls and ceilings. Infrared inspections typically cost an additional $150 to $350.
Quite often, an electrical inspection will reveal a few small problems that need to be fixed. The good news is that this will usually save you money down the line, but it can mean some additional upfront inspection costs due to maintenance, repairs, or permits for new electrical additions. This could include:
| Common Repairs | Average Cost To Repair |
|---|---|
| Outlet cover replacement | $10–$30 |
| Smoke or carbon monoxide detector installation | $90–$150 |
| Light switch replacement | $50–$250 |
| Grounding an outlet | $100–$300 |
| Basic electrical wiring | $6–$8 per foot |
| Electric panel replacement | $850–$2,500 |
| Electrical permit | $50–$350 |
There are a few steps you can take around your home and during your research to make your electrical inspection quick, easy, and more cost effective—win, win, win.
Make the space easy to work in. Remove furniture and clear items away from the work area before your pro arrives.
Make sure you know where your breaker box is. Also, take note of the exact location of all the problem areas you want the pro to work on. This will cut down on labor time.
Check (and replace, if needed) lightbulbs around your house. This is a simple job that can save you and your pro time.
Get several quotes from electrical inspectors near you. Compare quotes to see who offers the best deals for their experience and available services.
A DIY electrical inspection can help you spot obvious issues, but it’s not a replacement for a licensed electrician near you, especially if you’re selling your home, dealing with electrical problems, or planning upgrades. A professional inspection ensures your system is safe, code-compliant, and functioning properly.
Electrical inspections ensure your home is safe, and here’s why you should hire a pro for the task:
Electricians have the tools and expertise to detect hidden issues you might miss, such as damaged wiring, overloaded circuits, and hot spots behind walls.
A pro will ensure compliance with current building and safety codes.
Licensed electricians carry liability insurance and offer warranties on their work.
Professionals can complete inspections safely, thoroughly, and efficiently.
Documentation from a licensed electrician might be required for home sales, renovations, and insurance claims.
Unless you’re a certified electrician, it’s best to leave electrical inspections to the pros, but you can attempt the following tasks yourself:
Use an electrical inspection checklist to find potential problems to bring to the electrician
Look for visible warning signs such as scorch marks, loose outlets, or frequently tripped breakers
Clear space around your electrical panel, outlets, and appliances so the electrician can work efficiently
Make a list of questions or concerns to share during the inspection
If all the lights are on and you don’t have any concerns, it’s still a good idea to have a basic safety inspection every three to five years, or every two to three years for older homes. However, here are a few signs that might make it a good idea to schedule an inspection a bit sooner:
Hot spots: Sections of a wall or ceiling that feel warm or hot
Discoloration: Yellow and brown spots on the walls (caused by advanced hot spots)
Burning smells: Caused by frayed wires and other electrical failures
Rising energy bills: If you haven’t changed your energy routine but your bills are more expensive, your wiring may be inefficient
If you find burning smells in your home, it’s important to take action right away. Burning smells often lead to electrical fires. If you smell burning, especially if you’ve just turned on a light or appliance, turn it off and call an electrician immediately.
Note any potential issues with your home’s electrical system so you can inform your pro.
Ask for recommendations on how to improve your home’s electrical safety and efficiency.
Be prepared to discuss additional electrical projects, such as replacing standard outlets with GFCI outlets.
After the inspection, review the findings with your professional so you understand each issue.
Clarify estimated costs for recommended repairs.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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Great company! Price was competitive, technician showed up on time and completed the job (exterior electric Radon fan replacement) quickly. Would hire them again.
MaGen Property Inspections and Radon MitigationI conferred with 2 other contractors before Armstrong Electric. Nick and his crew showed me that the project was not as convoluted as the other contractors made it appear to be. They completed the entire project on time. They were professional, friendly and cleaned up after at completion. I...
Armstrong Electric LLCThe techs on my project, Shawn and Cliff, were great. They were prompt, courteous, and efficient. I am very happy with the results and would definitely contact Mr. Electric for any future electrical projects.
Mr. Electric of ColumbusVictor was wonderful. He was on time, professional, and explained everything he was doing. He was thorough and figured out that the problem was electrical instead of with my HVAC system. Very knowledgeable. I will be using this company in the future for any HVAC needs. Thanks!
Hubbs Heating & Air LLCThey were excellent. They did a great job. I was totally satisfied. They put tremendous effort in making sure the work was completed. They were great. They provided immediate response to any inquires I made. I would hire them again. I would recommend them to anyone who needs electrical work....
Property-Tech Industries, LLCInitially, the repairman could not find the problem. Apparently, there was some electrical shortage, but he could not find the definite problem. He left, but called back later to say he had a new idea. He returned and replaced the light switches on the doors. The refrigerator seemed to return...
Appliance Pro LLCThe initial quoted price from a walk-through seemed high, but we discussed that the quote represented worst case scenario (re-wiring to two floors) and we were excited about the opportunity to have the work done in a timely manner with closing for fire safety reasons, etc. When the job was...
I have to tell you I am all about customer service - I will go out of my way and even pay more for it if you give me great customer service. <br> <br>In a world where this is hard to find, these guys were awesome! I can not sing their praises enough. They were prompt, personable, funny, got...
Waibel ElectricWhen I challenged the markup on the generator, Bruder Electric withdrew its bid. They only want naïve customers.
We had no power to any of the electrical outlets in the MBR. We'd had an intermittent problem for a few years and they finally went out all together. We live on the 3rd floor of a 100 year old building and I know from past experience the wiring has been added to in hodgepodge ways over the...
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