How Much Does Rewiring a House Cost in Chicago? [2025 Data]
Rewiring a house in Chicago, IL, costs $1,576 on average, with most homeowners spending between $683 and $2,525.
Rewiring a home refers to replacing the current wiring, a common project for wiring that’s decades old or needs to be updated to meet modern electrical needs.
In Chicago, homeowners can expect to pay $2 to $4 per square foot for rewiring, with larger or harder-to-access homes costing more.
Rewiring costs can vary by home size, how much wiring needs to be replaced, and if other components, like electrical boxes, also need replacing.
Rewiring is an important type of remodel for home safety and requires an inspection by a certified electrician.
Older homes in Chicago may run on an outdated wiring system that no longer meets modern electrical codes or presents a growing risk of fire. Rewiring a house in Chicago costs $1,576 on average, with most homeowners spending between $683 and $2,525.
In particularly old Illinois homes, aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring may still be used, a sure sign that it’s time for a replacement. The pricing details vary based on your project, which is why you should start by hiring a local electrician for an estimate.
Rewiring a House Cost Factors in Chicago
| Cost Calculator | Quantity | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Rewiring Labor and Materials | 2,500 square feet | $5,000–$10,000 |
| Permit Costs | 1 electrical permit | $75–$150 |
| Post-Rewiring Inspection | 1 electrical inspection | $100–$125 |
| Optional: Install New outlet | 1 new outlet | $100–$185 |
| Total | $5,175–$10,275 | |
| Total per Square Foot | $2–$4 | |
| Total with Options | $5,275 | |
| Total per Square Foot with Options | $2.10–$4.20 |
Rewiring, which often involves an entire home, is a large electrical project that requires hiring certified electricians. Here are the factors to consider when budgeting for this major upgrade.
Home Size
The size of your home and its number of circuits is the most important cost factor. The more wires, the higher the price of rewiring. To rewire your home, you can expect to pay between $2 to $4 per square foot for rewiring.
| House Size in Square Feet | Total Cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $2,000–$4,000 |
| 1,500 | $3,000–$6,000 |
| 2,000 | $4,000–$8,000 |
| 2,500 | $5,000–$10,000 |
| 3,000 | $6,000–$12,000 |
Materials
In addition to standard home wiring, homeowners can add specialized wiring to houses, such as wiring with better fire resistance, wiring routed outside, or wiring that supports larger appliances. The type of material will impact costs, depending on the type of wiring and its length.
| Wire Type | Cost per Linear Foot | Description |
|---|---|---|
| NM Cable | $0.40 to $0.80 | Consists of a current-carrying wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire inside a protective plastic jacket or sheathing |
| UF Cable | $0.50 to $0.75 | Same as an NM cable, except it works underground or moist areas |
| THHN/THWN Wire | $0.80 to $1.60 | Used in unfinished spaces, like garages or basements, or for short exposed runs, like for hot water heaters or garbage disposals |
| Coaxial Cable | $0.25 to $0.35 | Less common; used for televisions and video equipment |
| Low-Voltage Wire | $0.25 to $0.35 | Circuits using less than 50 volts, like doorbell wires or thermostat wires |
Home Age
Older homes may require extra work when rewiring, like replacing additional electrical components, upgrading outlets, replacing old fuse boxes and other projects that are common alongside a full rewiring. These add-on projects will add to the overall cost.
Accessibility
Some home wiring is relatively easy to access, while other wiring is buried deep in walls and takes time and specialized tools to reach and replace. In many cases, electricians have to make cuts into drywall to access certain wiring. All of these additional steps add to labor and material costs, increasing the overall pricing of rewiring in your Chicago home.
Repairs and Clean Up
Since rewiring requires drywall work and other changes that electricians need to make, there’s often significant cleanup work after a wiring project is finished. Electricians will often offer to patch drywall holes and other cleanup tasks, but these tasks will cost extra. Homeowners may be able to save money by taking care of some of the repair work themselves, such as repairing small drywall patches.
Government Incentives
Chicago homeowners may also have access to government incentives to help save on major rewiring projects. For example, the HOMES (Home Efficiency Rebate Program) is one of the latest programs designed to help low-income Illinois homeowners pay for various electrical upgrades.
Owners may also be able to get help from the Chicago PACE program, and projects like the Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program, which makes taking out loans for large home projects more affordable. The Inflation Reduction Act also provided rebates for up to $2,500 for electric wiring projects in Illinois.
Electrician Pro Costs in Chicago
Rewiring a house is a major project that requires extensive experience, proper tools, and knowledge of the electrical system. That means a local certified electrician needs to tackle this job, which comes with additional costs for labor and other factors.
Licensing and Insurance
Always choose a licensed and insured electrician to work on your home. When hiring an electrician for this type of project, verify their licensure and insurance prior to starting work on your home. Only experienced electricians will be able to offer advice on your wiring and replace wiring safely. Your electricians should have experience with similar projects and be able to provide permit-pulling services to meet local and state building codes.
Hourly Rates
Chicago electricians charge around $80 per hour, although this rate can vary based on their level of experience and the type of wiring work. For whole home rewiring, it’s common for electricians to charge a flat fee with all services bundled together, with add-ons included.
Tipping
It’s not necessary to tip electricians in Illinois and most don’t expect it. But with a large project with lots of work throughout your house, you may want to consider tipping if electricians do a great job with minimal damage and good repairs. Tipping 10% to 15% on the project is reasonable to support your local electrical team.
Permits
Chicago requires permits for significant electrical projects like rewiring. Electricians will take care of the permit applications in most cases, but they typically pass the costs onto homeowners, which are $100 to $200, depending on the extent of the work. The post-work electrical inspection will also require an additional fee.
Does a New Wiring Increase Home Value?
Rewiring your home in Chicago can offer a great return on your investment, especially if you’re investing in the cost of replacing knob and tube wiring or other outdated components.
If your home needs rewiring, that’s a very important step to finish before trying to sell your home. An upgraded electrical system improves safety, ensures local code compliance, and supports modern energy-efficient appliances and gadgets. A full rewire improves your home’s function and can be a key factor in successful inspections and home appraisals across the Chicago metro area.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
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 survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from 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.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
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