If you have an older home in Fort Worth, Arlington, or anywhere in the greater DFW metroplex, you may be wondering if the wiring in your walls is still up to snuff. There are many signs of an aging electrical system, such as flickering lights and repeatedly tripping breakers. Because rewiring a house is a substantial expense, it’s helpful to know what to expect before you call in Fort Worth electricians. Here’s what you need to know about the cost of rewiring a house in Fort Worth.
What Is A Full House Rewire And Why Does My Fort Worth Home Need One?
Full-house rewiring is the process of replacing all of the electrical wiring in your home with new wire that meets current electrical codes. This differs from replacing a panel or adding a new circuit because new wiring is required for each outlet, switch, and light fixture. Rewiring your home can also involve upgrading the electrical panel and installing arc-fault and ground-fault protection.
Thousands of DFW homes built between the 1940s and 1970s are still operating with their original electrical wiring. However, many of these homes were wired for much less electricity than we consume today. If your home has knob-and-tube, aluminum branch, or deteriorated cloth-insulated wiring, rewiring might be a necessary safety improvement.
Signs Your Fort Worth Home Needs Rewiring
If any of the following are true, you should have a licensed electrician take a closer look at your electrical system:
- Lights flicker or dim when large appliances are turned on.
- Breakers trip frequently.
- Outlets or switch plates feel warm or emit a burning smell.
- The home still uses ungrounded two-prong outlets.
- The home is equipped with an older fuse box rather than a circuit breaker panel.
- The home was built before 1970 and has not been significantly updated.
One symptom doesn’t always indicate you need a full rewiring job, but several symptoms often suggest an aging electrical system.
How Much Does A Full House Rewire Cost In Fort Worth?
The average cost to rewire a house in the DFW area ranges from $8,000 to $30,000, with most homeowners spending between $12,000 and $20,000 for a standard single-family home.
In general, a house rewiring project will cost between $5 and $17 per square foot. Here are some average prices for rewiring different-sized homes in Fort Worth:
- 1,000 square feet: $8,000 to $12,000.
- 1,500 square feet: $12,000 to $18,000.
- 2,000 square feet: $15,000 to $25,000.
- 2,500 square feet or larger: $20,000 to $30,000 or more.
The above figures are typical estimates for the DFW area in 2026. Your actual cost will depend on the specifics of your home, and a qualified electrician should give you a written, itemized quote.
What Affects The Cost Of Rewiring A House In Fort Worth?
Home Size And Layout
The larger your home, the more wire, labor, and materials are needed. A one-story ranch-style home is easier to rewire than a two-story home with finished spaces or hard-to-reach areas.
Wall Access And Finish Work
It is much easier for electricians to install new wiring in open walls. When the walls are finished, electricians must cut access holes, fish wire through the walls, and patch up the openings. Older homes with plaster walls may incur additional cost because plaster is difficult to cut and restore.
Electrical Panel Upgrade
Many older homes also require an electrical panel upgrade. A 100-amp or lower service, or an outdated or recalled panel, must be upgraded to a 200-amp panel, which costs approximately $1,500 to $3,500.
Number Of Outlets, Switches, And Circuits
Older homes typically have fewer outlets than modern electrical codes require. Adding outlets and dividing the electrical load across more circuits increases the amount of materials and labor needed, but creates a safer and more functional electrical system.
Type Of Wiring To Be Removed
Removing knob-and-tube wiring can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially if it is secured to the framing or run through porcelain knobs. Aluminum wiring also requires special care. The time it takes to remove old wiring adds to the overall cost.
Permits And Inspections
Most cities in the DFW area, including Fort Worth, require a permit and inspection to do a full rewiring project. The fee for permits can run anywhere from $100 to $500, and your electrician can normally do the application for you. Work that isn’t properly permitted can become a problem when you go to sell your home or file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance.
How Long Does It Take to Rewire a House?
The average time for a DFW whole-house rewire project is three to ten working days. Homes on the smaller end and those that have easy access to wiring can be completed in as little as three to five days. The larger homes or the ones that have difficult access might take two weeks.
Your electrician will need to cut off power to parts of your home throughout the course of the project, and while most people can live in their homes throughout the course of rewiring, if it’s a complete rewire and electrical panel change, you may lose power in your entire home for a day.
Does Rewiring a House Increase Home Value in Fort Worth?
If you have any unsafe or outdated electrical wiring, rewiring can remove that issue that could concern potential buyers or lead to the failure of your sale once the buyer’s home inspection takes place.
In older Fort Worth neighborhoods, a home with a brand-new wiring system and panel might be more desirable than a similar home with its original wiring. While you might not see all of your investment back in a higher sale price, a completely rewired house might avoid the buyer’s demands for price reductions or for them to walk away from the deal altogether.
Getting a More Accurate Whole-House Rewiring Quote in DFW
When getting quotes from two or three different licensed electricians, make sure they’re providing quotes for the exact same things:
- Are drywall repairs and patching part of the scope of work?
- Is the replacement of the electrical panel included if it is required?
- Are the permit and inspection fees covered?
- How many outlets and circuits will be installed?
- Are they licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and do they carry general liability insurance?
Any qualified electrician should look at the current state of your wiring and provide a detailed list of items that need to be addressed. If one quote is far cheaper than the rest, ask why. There may be differences in materials, safety devices, or whether permits will be pulled and inspections passed.
Choosing a Qualified Electrician for Whole-House Rewiring in Fort Worth
Any licensed residential electrician who has experience working with older DFW homes and local building codes can safely rewire a house.
We’ve been rewiring homes throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex since 1995. KSI Electric is a family-built and locally-owned company, not a national franchise call center. When you request a quote from us, you’ll hear back within one business hour. We provide free estimates without high pressure sales tactics. All of our work is explained upfront, including costs and what’s being done, and every job we complete follows local code and is permitted. If you’d like to know whether your home needs rewiring, call us at (817) 932-5882 or visit ksiresidentialelectric.com to request a free estimate.
Common Questions About Home Rewiring
How much does it cost to rewire a 2,000-square-foot house in Texas?
If you own a 2,000-square-foot home in DFW, you can expect to pay between $15,000 and $25,000 to have it rewired. The final cost will depend on how easy it is to access the wiring, whether a new panel is needed, how many outlets and circuits are required, and the existing wiring in your home. If you have plaster walls or hard-to-access areas, you can expect the rewiring to cost more.
Can you rewire a house without opening up the walls?
Electricians can often drill very small holes in your walls and fish new wiring through the wall cavities instead of tearing down your walls. This means that some drywall or plaster repair will still be necessary. If your home has plaster walls, lots of insulation, or complicated framing, your electrician might need to cut bigger holes.
Does rewiring a house increase home value?
Usually, rewiring a house doesn’t increase the value of your house more than the cost of the rewiring itself. However, it eliminates the electrical hazard that could concern buyers and home inspectors. Your home will be easier to sell and get insured when it has been rewired and has a modern electrical panel, and you won’t run into issues with potential buyers requesting price reductions. In older neighborhoods in Fort Worth, rewiring a house is more about maintaining its value than increasing its value.
