Electrical panel upgrade: cost and permits
Published national ranges for upgrading to 200 A service or replacing a panel, permit fee examples, and what the 25C credit's end means for 2026 work.
On this page: 3 sections
The figures here are published national ranges from cost guides. They aren't quotes. Use them to plan, then ask electricians near you to look at your panel.
What a panel upgrade costs
| Job | Published range |
|---|---|
| Upgrading from 100 A to 200 A service | $1,300 to $4,500; the utility may add its own charges1-3 |
| Replacing a panel at the same amperage | $850 to $4,0001-3 |
A survey of contractors' estimates by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory put the median single-family panel upgrade, on the customer's side, at $2,800, and a same-size replacement at $3,500. It's a small survey, so treat it as a check on the ranges above rather than a price.4
Permits
Your state's rules page on this site says whether the state requires a permit for panel work, or leaves it to your city or county. Fees are set locally. Three schedules show the spread: Riverside, California charges $90 for 0 to 200 A plus a $41 issuance fee,5 Bridgewater, Massachusetts charges $125,6 and San Diego charges $176.57 for a panel replacement or upgrade up to 200 A.7 These are examples from single towns, not a range for any state.
Pick your state's rules page
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The federal credit has ended
The federal 25C credit covered 200 A panelboards up to $600, for work done through December 31, 2025. There's no federal credit for a panel upgrade done in 2026.8
The figures are published national ranges, not quotes, and local prices vary. For prices for your own job, get quotes from electricians near you.
Ranges compiled from HomeAdvisor, HomeGuide and Fixr, with LBNL's survey and city fee schedules, checked October 2026.
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Sources (8)
- HomeAdvisor: electrical panel upgrade cost ↑
- HomeGuide: electrical panel cost ↑
- Fixr: electrical panel upgrade cost ↑
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Understanding the Costs and Barriers of Residential Electrical Panel and Service Upgrades ↑
- City of Riverside: Schedule of Fees and Charges FY 2026/27 ↑
- Town of Bridgewater: Residential Electrical Permit Fees ↑
- City of San Diego: Information Bulletin 103 ↑
- IRS: Energy efficient home improvement credit ↑