How Much Does a Circuit Breaker Installation Cost?

You should change your circuit breaker if you're building a new house, expanding an existing one, or installing a big item like a hot tub or air conditioner. Circuit breaker installation normally costs $300 to $2,000 in total. We'll discuss some factors that determine the cost of installing a circuit breaker because of its vast range.

The price range for installing a circuit breaker is between the following:

• Size of circuit breakers

• Protection from GFCI/AFCI Accessibility of the Circuit Wiring Subpanel and Circuit Length Electrician You Hire for Add-Ons

• To provide a precise quote, we must first inspect the wiring and configuration of your home's electrical system. Continue reading to find out if your project is priced at the low or high end of the range supplied, as well as to get a general sense.

Size of Circuit Breakers

Amperage determines the size of a circuit breaker. Circuit breaker installation will be more expensive the more amperage (amps) your property requires.

There may be 15, 20, 30, or 50 amps in your home per circuit. At least 20 amps are usually required by large equipment like refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines. To prevent electrical sparks and fires, some devices need access to greater amps because they consume more power than what is available in a regular socket.

Your circuit breaker should be marked with the highest amp it can handle. Due to the lack of electrical infrastructure before 1960, most homes only had 100 amps. However, most households nowadays need at least 200 amps to meet their energy needs.

Superior Subpanels

Subpanels assist in distributing the electrical power to your home more evenly. If more subpanels and the main circuit panel must be installed, the installation cost will increase.

The main circuit panel supplies power to several circuit panels also referred to as subpanels. Due to their independence from the main circuit panel, subpanels allow you to switch off the energy to the area of your home that they supply without shutting off the electricity to the entire building. This can be helpful if the sub panel provides power to a part of your house that is only seldom used, such as a garage or a pole barn.

Due to excessive circuits in their main circuit panel and frequent circuit breakers tripping, some homeowners install subpanels. Your main circuit breaker ought to trip less frequently if you channel some of the energy in your house through a sub-panel.

Protecting GFCI/AFCI

Some outlets and circuits require additional safety precautions to prevent fires and electric shocks from occurring. Your installation will cost extra if you want GFCI or AFCI protection while installing a circuit breaker.

Outlets and circuit breakers with GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protection are used to prevent electric shock. Any outlet outside or within 6 feet of a water source and all circuits in the kitchen and bathroom must be protected by a GFCI on your circuit breaker.

Every bedroom outlet and the circuit must be AFCI-protected (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter). Electrical fires are prevented via AFCI circuits.

The outlet and the circuit breaker will be more expensive when GFCI or AFCI protection is required.

Width of a Circle

The distance between your outlets and the circuit breaker typically affects how much it will cost to install a circuit breaker.

Longer circuits require more wire, which raises the cost of materials. They also take longer to complete, which increases the cost of labor. Therefore, if this is your first time installing a circuit breaker, choosing a central place is a sensible decision. You can shorten your circuit by doing this.

The Wiring of Circuits is Feasible.

Installing a circuit breaker will be less expensive in an unfinished, single-story home than in a finished, multi-level one. Since it would be more difficult for an electrician to access your circuit wire, the installation cost will be more.

Since no drywall is removed (or replaced) during installation, unfinished dwellings are less expensive. Costs for multi-story residences are higher because special wiring is required to reach outlets on higher floors.

Engage an Electrician

The cost of installing your circuit breakers will also be influenced by the electrician you select. For licensed, covered, and more seasoned electricians, prices will rise.

Learn how to make an appointment and do some preliminary research before calling the cheapest electrician. It's crucial to perform electrical work appropriately to avoid any negative effects.

Even if a novice electrician can turn on the lights, there is still a chance that improper electrical work will result in a fire or a power outage. Your home will be safe from electrical issues if you hire a qualified and experienced electrician who will complete the job correctly the first time.

Read reviews to see if an electrician has the required experience. Customers are always the most truthful reviewers, so we're happy to have 8,000 reviews that can be independently verified.