Renovating a kitchen - how much for electrical?!

[Jenny3]

I was definitely not expecting the quote I just got!

We are gutting and renovating our kitchen this summer and the estimate is almost $7,000 for new circuits, outlets and lighting. It is a big project and my home is old, so I know that is adding to the cost. I can eliminate some extras (like the under cabinet lighting) but I am really floored about this!

If you have ever renovated a kitchen, what were your electric costs? The electrician is someone we know, but I'm wondering if this is accurate or if I should shop around a bit

 

[Pixiedust34]

I know nothing about electrical costs, but for any big remodeling project or home purchase (new roof, etc.) we usually get 3 estimates so we can compare. I'd recommend getting at least one more estimate.

 

[ToddyLu]

I would shop around

 

[dpswift]

For our remodel we did 3 new outlets, under cabinet lighting and 5 recessed lights. It was no where near 7 thousand. Our contractor did ask that we buy our own lights so that we would get what we wanted. I would shop around. I believe that our total cost was closer to 2 thousand.

 

[mckelvey72]

We are a contracting company in MD and we have an electrician we use all the time and 7K seems pretty high. But there are many variables to take into consideration...size of your kitchen, how many recessed cans, what type of track lighting for under cabinets and how much.

I agree with everyone else, get 2 more quotes and be specific of what you want...I want 5 recessed cans and put them here. That type of thing. And make sure you tell each of them the same thing so everyone is quoting the exact same job.

Finally, make sure each one you get a quote from is licensed properly. You can call your local county offices (permits) as well for a list of contractors that they do alot of business with, who they recommend etc. If the permit department gives you 3 names...then they are giving you reputable electricians that open alot of permits on a monthly basis. Dont hire an unlicensed person to cut corners. Sorry if that sounds like a no brainer but you would be surprised how many times we have to fix a job cause someone hired an unlicensed person and they walked away with money. YOu will probably have to give money up front....but it will be no more than 50% of the job cost.

Lastly, look around locally and see if you see an electrician that lives in your town. Someone who lives locally is more likely to give you a better deal cause the cost of gas is lower, if they do a good job you will tell the next person etc.

Good luck!! and if you have any questions let me know!!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Do not eliminate under cabinet lighting! It shouldn't make a big difference in the total budget and it is really nice to have.

 

[Joyful3Heart]

It's def worth it to check out another quote, but depending on the size of your kitchen and how big of an upgrade you need for your service, that might be close to the quote you would get. Remember with a service upgrade (larger/higher capacity breaker box) everything in your house needs to be wired in to that, which can run up the cost of an upgrade. That in and of itself can cost upward of $2000, depending on code and requirements of your area. Add in all new wiring for appliances and outlets, etc., $$$.
Our kitchen was renovated 3 years ago and electrical was the biggest chunk of money we spent (50 year old house). I'd have to look up the exact numbers, but I remember being shocked
An electrical upgrade now, though, makes later renovations easier, we were able to add a heat pump and still have room for later add ons, like a hot tub or pool when we're ready.
Good Luck!

 

[branv]

Wow, that does sound like a lot! But, as another person said, there could be variables we're not aware of. I'm not an electrician, but DH does some amount of electrical engineering for his work, and has explained this stuff to me whenever I ask questions of "Can we..." and "What would it take..." to do electrical things around the house.

You said it's an older house -- perhaps there is some wiring not up to current code and the entire kitchen needs to be entirely rewired. Perhaps you are at the limit of what your electrical panel can handle, and you need either an upgraded panel or an additional one. Or you may even need to both a new box and will be drawing more power than is currently possible through your set up to the electrical lines outside. Which is a whole other mess of expense.

Add to that, the increased work if you're doing lighting on the first story of a two story home with limited/complicated access in the space between.

In short, it's not just important to compare with other companies, but to compare apples to apples for what they're offering or saying you need.

Sadly, if the first company says you need to do all this stuff to make it safe, you can't trust that either they aren't lying to pad the bill or that contractor #2 isn't just telling you that you don't need any of that to get the job. I'd for sure get 3-4 bids just to be safe.

 

[mrsboz]

I just did lighing in my whole house and it sounds like your quote is pretty high. I would deifnitely shop around at least you will know if it is high or not. At least you will have something for comparison.

 

[LilyWDW]

Get more quotes, but like others have said there are so many variables that it is impossible for anyone here to really give you an idea. It will depend on what you want, the age of the house, the size of the house, possible code issues, and more. You also do not want to skimp when it comes to electrical work. I have seen bad electrical work and it is terrifying!

 

[Mickey527]

Alot depends on what the electrician has to do but that does sound like alot of money.
I just redid my kitchen. I gutted it down to the studs and had the electrician put in all new wiring, outlets every 12" above the counter and 2 outlets on every wall. I also had him put one up where the cabinets were going so that when I get the above the stove microwave when my current microwave dies I just have to cut a hole in the cabinet to run the wire up. He put in 6 recessed lights above the cabinets, and a fan light above the table. I bought all the lights and outlets and wiring he needed.
He charged me $2,500 for everything. I had two other quotes for $5,000 with all equipment, I paid about $400 for everything I needed to buy.
I didn't have an electrician but was at Home Depot talking to the electrician there and asking if he knew of anyone who does outside work. He said he does and I had him come to do an estimate. We did not go through Home Depot because their contracting fees are ridiculous. He did tell me that he could get into trouble if they found out but I am not going to tell if I am able to save some money.
I have since had him replace my circuit breaker and given his name to others who were looking for an electrician. I definately think you need some more estimates, maybe even talk to the people at Home Depot and Lowes since they hire licensed electricians to work in that department.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The quote seems high.
2) Maybe the electrician was while quoting.
3) My SIL is an independent electrician and did a quickie "Guesstimate".
4) He thought
. . . if "on the clock" about $2500 for parts and labor
. . . if a "side job, off the clock" about $1400 for parts and labor *
5) He just guessed medium level parts and 2-men for 1½-days.

* Many tradesmen work "side" jobs for extra money and are
paid under-the-table or as casual-labor for that work. It can be
a cost-effective way to get work done.

 

[arthur06]

I guess I would ask how old is your home?

We recently bought a 1911 home and all the electrical was knob and tub. Our estimate was over $30,000 for the whole home.

I don't think that $7,000 is too high depending on what your getting and already have.

If you have knob and tube that has to be replaced, that will cost you. Many things in the kitchen have to be on there own circuit. Also, if your doing LED lighting that can get very, very expensive.

Without knowing all the details, I don't know if its high or not.

 

[IbeAbitGOOFY]

Like others have said, a lot of variables will drive up costs. Copper wire is expensive right now and if you are adding circuits or replacing wire, its more than just jumping off of an existing run. You would have to create a "homerun" back to the panel and depending on the length and kind of wire (12/2 vice 12/3), costs and really add up.

As PP have said, get multiple quotes and with each, get a detail of what they are charging for. Some contractors will work "after hours" for much cheaper than what it costs through a company.

By getting multiple quotes, you will know if the $7k is too high if all the others come in lower.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Two years ago we paid $7000 to take the kitchen walls to studs, partially re-do the existing electrical (7 yrs old) and add some electrical stuff, rearrange a wall, and then re-drywall, mud and sand. So I think your estimate is high.

 

[Jimsig]

As others have said, get more estimates. Sometimes a guy will go way high because he really does not want the job, but if you are willing to pay he'll take it.

We had our kitchen done three years ago and called three places. It was not a huge job to begin with, putting in 6 drop lights, dishwasher, microwave, and disposal outlets, a few new outlets to bring us to code, and changing a few existing outlets and switches. One guy came out and never called back with an estimate. Of the next two, one guy was half of what the other wanted. In the end we took the guy with the lower of the two. Unbeknownst to us he was a neighbor from a few streets over and had just redone his house, and my wife loved his house before we knew it was his.

Good luck

 

[Jenny3]

Thanks for all the feedback! I'll make some more calls.

My house was built in 1935. We updated all the electrical when we first bought it and there is plenty of room in the electrical panel. We are moving around appliances, so there are circuits to be added. We also have plaster walls, maybe that is driving up the cost?

The quote was for this:

1-Refrigerator Circuit
1-Dishwasher/Disposal Circuit
Add switch location
1-Microwave Circuit
1- Range Circuit
1- Kitchen Island outlet location
2- Kitchen Counter GFCI Circuits

Kitchen Lighting
6-8 Recess Light Locations
Add (2 (1 dimmer) switch locations
Center existing eat-in area light over table location

Kitchen Under Counter Low Voltage Package
Add (1) dimmer switch location

Demo wiring

Permit fees NOT included
Third party inspection(s) included

 

[miztressuz]

Thanks for all the feedback! I'll make some more calls.

My house was built in 1935. We updated all the electrical when we first bought it and there is plenty of room in the electrical panel. We are moving around appliances, so there are circuits to be added. We also have plaster walls, maybe that is driving up the cost?

The quote was for this:

1-Refrigerator Circuit
1-Dishwasher/Disposal Circuit
Add switch location
1-Microwave Circuit
1- Range Circuit
1- Kitchen Island outlet location
2- Kitchen Counter GFCI Circuits

Kitchen Lighting
6-8 Recess Light Locations
Add (2 (1 dimmer) switch locations
Center existing eat-in area light over table location

Kitchen Under Counter Low Voltage Package
Add (1) dimmer switch location

Demo wiring

Permit fees NOT included
Third party inspection(s) included

always get a few estimates before deciding on a professional and always make sure the estimates are for the same thing (like the list you made). also keep in mind when getting answers here, the regional differences that happen. someone doing this list in north dakota may have different prices than someone doing the same exact thing in new york.

i'm confused about the "new circuit" needed for the appliances. when i hear that i think about new outlet, wire, and breaker. if you had all the electrical upgraded already, i'm not sure why all that has to be new. i can see running new wire to the new location and moving or perhaps replacing the outlet. is that maybe what they mean?

but to keep it short, in 2007 i gutted my kitchen and baths and upgraded my service (so, new panel and new main cable). i had 6 recessed lights on a dimmer added to the kitchen, new wire and outlet for the range, new wiring for the dishwasher and garbage disposal, 2 new gfci's, 2 new outlets, moved the outlet for the refrigerator, rough wire for low voltage under cabinet lighting but no lights installed, and new wiring for vanity light in the bath plus added a gfci breaker with wiring and outlet for a jacuzzi tub. the bids ranged from $5000 - $11,000. I went with the $5000 guy and he did an excellent job. (i know a little about electrical just enough to judge his competence) now this was 6 years ago so the pricing will have inflated since, but check out the range of quotes I had as it turns out the $5000 guy was the 2nd one to bid, but it would have sucked if the $11,000 guy was first and i just went with it.