Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost: What You Pay and Why (2026 Guide)

What a panel upgrade actually is

The electrical panel is the box that distributes power from the utility to every circuit in your home. A '100A to 200A upgrade' means replacing that distribution equipment and increasing the service capacity from 100 amps to 200 amps, which is the modern baseline for an all-electric household.

There are two different jobs hiding behind one phrase. A panel replacement swaps failing equipment for new equipment at the same capacity. A service upgrade increases capacity, which usually means new service entrance conductors, a new meter base and coordination with the utility. Pricing differs accordingly.

2026 cost ranges

For a straightforward replacement in a single-family home, the national band in 2026 is $1,300 to $4,000, with most jobs landing in the $1,800 to $3,500 range once a permit and standard code corrections are included.

• 100A to 200A overhead service upgrade: $1,800 - $3,500
• 100A to 200A underground service upgrade: $2,400 - $4,500
• Panel replacement without capacity change: $1,300 - $3,000
• Fuse box converted to a breaker panel: $1,600 - $4,200
• 200A to 400A service: $4,500 - $9,500
• Sub-panel for garage, shop or outbuilding: $1,200 - $2,800
• Meter base and mast replacement: $400 - $1,400

What should be in the quote

A complete quote for a panel upgrade is not just a box and a day of labour. Insist on seeing these line items, because the difference between a cheap bid and a complete bid is usually one of them.

• The new panel enclosure, main breaker and the branch breakers themselves
• Re-termination of every existing branch circuit onto the new bus
• Grounding electrode conductor and bonding corrections to current code
• New service entrance conductors and weatherhead or meter socket where needed
• Permit filing and the municipal inspection
• Utility disconnect and reconnect coordination
• Haul-away of the old panel, plus circuit labelling

Why quotes vary so much

The biggest variable is hidden until the cover comes off. If the existing service entrance, meter base or mast is damaged or undersized, the scope grows. A contractor quoting from a photo is guessing; a contractor who opens the panel is not.

Panel brand availability also matters. After years of supply disruption, certain brands and breaker families cost more or take longer to source, and that shows up in the price.

Finally, local permit and utility rules vary enormously. Some jurisdictions allow the contractor to coordinate the meter pull directly, others require a utility crew and add a day. That single difference can swing a quote by several hundred dollars.

Signs you need one sooner than you think

Panel replacement is not cosmetic maintenance. These conditions are the ones electricians treat as genuinely urgent.

• Buzzing, crackling or a burning smell at the panel
• Scorch marks, rust or water staining inside the enclosure
• A known problem brand such as Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco
• Breakers that will not reset, or that feel hot to the touch
• Double-tapped breakers, or circuits with no equipment ground
• No spare spaces on a 60 or 100 amp service in a modern home
• Insurance or an inspector requiring an upgrade before coverage continues

Questions worth asking before you sign

Panel work is permitted, inspected and high-current. A few direct questions separate the contractors you want from the ones you do not.

• Will you pull the permit, and can I see the inspection record afterwards?
• How long will the power be off, and what should I do beforehand?
• What happens if the meter base or mast turns out to be damaged?
• Are you installing new breakers for existing circuits, or reusing old ones?
• How is the panel labelled, and do I get a copy of the circuit directory?
• What is the warranty on the labour, separate from the manufacturer warranty?