Whole home rewiring in Florida costs about $9,000 on average, with most projects running between $3,500 and $18,000 in 2026 depending on square footage, wall material, and panel condition. That estimate typically excludes permit fees, drywall patching, and repainting — the finishing costs a fixed bid should spell out as separate line items before you sign anything.
- Whole home rewiring cost in Florida averages $9,000, with a $3,500 to $18,000 range in 2026 depending on home size and wall type.
- Base labor and material rates run $3 to $5 per square foot before permits, drywall repair, or panel upgrades are added.
- Pre-1980s Treasure Coast homes with aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring cost more because walls, not just outlets, have to be opened.
- A full rewire typically runs 5 to 10 working days for an occupied single-family home.
- Imperium Electric LLC quotes rewiring jobs in Port St. Lucie, Stuart, and Jensen Beach as itemized bids, not flat guesses.
Why this matters
A lot of Treasure Coast homes were built before 1980, and a chunk of them still carry aluminum branch wiring or knob-and-tube runs that were never meant to handle today's electrical load — window units, EV chargers, hot tubs, and whole-house generators all draw more than a 1970s panel was designed for. Electrical rewiring for older Jensen Beach homes often surfaces during a refinance, an insurance renewal, or a kitchen remodel when an inspector flags outdated wiring.
Budgeting wrong on a rewire means one of two bad outcomes: you get quoted low and the job stalls mid-wall-opening when the real scope shows up, or you overpay because nobody itemized what's actually being replaced. Knowing the cost range and what drives it before you call anyone puts you in control of the conversation.
How much does whole home rewiring cost in Florida?
Rewiring is priced mostly by square footage, because that's what determines how many circuits, outlets, and runs of wire the job needs. Base labor and material rates in 2026 run $3 to $5 per square foot for a standard drywall home with attic or crawl space access.
| Home Size | Estimated Rewiring Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | $3,600 – $6,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $6,000 – $10,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $9,000 – $15,000 |
| 3,500+ sq ft | $12,000 – $18,000+ |
Those figures cover wire, devices, and labor for a full rewire. They don't cover a panel replacement, permit fees, or wall repair — all three show up separately on most itemized bids, and all three are worth asking about before you compare quotes side by side.
Smaller homes: $3,600 – $6,000
A 1,200 square foot home with attic access and drywall walls sits at the low end of the range. Verdict: budget the low end if your home is under 1,500 square feet with an accessible attic — the labor time drops when the crew doesn't have to fish wire through finished ceilings.
Mid-size homes: $6,000 – $10,000
Most single-family Treasure Coast homes fall in the 1,800 to 2,200 square foot range, which lands the project near the $9,000 national-scale average cited above. Verdict: this is the realistic number to plan around for a typical Port St. Lucie or Stuart home.
Larger or older homes: $9,000 – $18,000+
Homes over 3,000 square feet, or anything with plaster/lath walls instead of drywall, push toward the top of the range. Opening plaster costs more in labor time than opening drywall, and larger homes simply need more circuits and longer wire runs. Verdict: get a walk-through quote, not a phone estimate, once you're above 3,000 square feet.
Why whole home rewiring costs vary in Florida
- Wiring type already in the walls. Aluminum wiring or knob-and-tube wiring removal requires full replacement, not a patch job — this is the single biggest cost driver in pre-1980s homes.
- Wall material. Plaster and lath take longer to open and patch than drywall.
- Square footage and circuit count. More rooms means more runs, more outlets, and more time on the ladder.
- Panel condition. A rewire often surfaces a panel that's undersized or outdated, which adds a separate line item to the bid.
- Permit fees. St. Lucie and Martin County permit costs vary by scope and get added on top of labor and material.
- Accessibility. Slab homes without attic or crawl space access add labor hours because wire has to route through finished ceilings or exterior chases.
“If your quote doesn't separate panel work, permits, and drywall repair from the wiring itself, ask why before you sign.”
Get an Itemized Rewiring Quote
Walk-through pricing for Port St. Lucie, Stuart, and Jensen Beach homes.
How long does it take to rewire a whole house?
A full rewire takes 5 to 10 working days for an occupied single-family home in most cases. Larger homes, plaster walls, or a simultaneous panel upgrade push that timeline toward the higher end, and drywall patching or repainting after the electrical work adds separate days that aren't part of the electrician's schedule.
Is it cheaper to rewire room by room instead of all at once?
Phasing a rewire room by room usually costs more in total than doing the whole house at once, because each phase means a new mobilization, new drywall patching, and separate permit inspections. It does spread the expense across multiple budgets, which matters more to some homeowners than the total dollar figure.
Does Florida homeowners insurance require rewiring in older homes?
Many Florida insurers require replacement of aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring before issuing or renewing a policy on a home built before the 1970s. An electrical inspection ahead of a policy renewal or home sale is the most common trigger for a whole home rewire on the Treasure Coast, and permitting the work correctly through St. Lucie County's renovation process matters for both the insurer and a future buyer.
FAQ
What is the average whole home rewiring cost in Florida in 2026?
Whole home rewiring in Florida averages about $9,000 in 2026, with a typical range of $3,500 to $18,000 depending on square footage and wall type. Panel upgrades, permits, and drywall repair are usually priced separately from the base wiring cost.
How much does it cost per square foot to rewire a house?
Rewiring runs $3 to $5 per square foot for a standard drywall home with attic or crawl space access. Plaster walls, slab construction, or limited access push the rate toward the higher end.
Does rewiring a house include a panel upgrade?
Not automatically — a panel upgrade is usually a separate line item from wire replacement. Many rewires reveal an undersized or outdated panel during the walk-through, which adds to the total quote.
How long does whole house rewiring take?
A full rewire takes 5 to 10 working days for an average occupied home. Larger homes, plaster walls, or a simultaneous panel replacement extend the timeline.
Do I have to leave my house during a rewire?
Most homeowners stay in the home during a rewire, though power gets shut off room by room as work progresses. Homes with extensive plaster or ceiling access needs sometimes require staying elsewhere for a few days.
Is knob-and-tube wiring still legal in Florida?
Knob-and-tube wiring still in service isn't automatically illegal, but most Florida insurers won't cover a home that has it, and it fails most modern electrical inspections. Full replacement is the standard recommendation for any home that still has it.
Do I need a permit to rewire my house in Florida?
Yes — whole home rewiring requires a permit in every Treasure Coast county, and the work needs inspection before it's covered under a homeowners policy or passed at resale. Permit fees vary by county and scope of work.
One last thing
The number most homeowners miss when budgeting a whole home rewire isn't the wiring itself — it's the drywall and paint that follow it. A $9,000 rewire in 2026 can carry another few thousand in finishing work if walls have to be opened in multiple rooms, and that cost almost never shows up on the electrician's line item because it's not electrical work. Ask about it before the crew shows up, not after the walls are open.
