Cost to Upgrade to 200 Amp Panel

There are several reasons homeowners upgrade their electrical panel to 200 amps service:

Homeowners Upgrade Their Electrical Panel to 200 Amps

Meeting increased electrical demands: First is meeting increased electrical demands. As homeowners add more electrical devices and appliances to their homes, the demand for electricity increases. A 200 amp panel can provide the additional electrical capacity needed to power these devices and appliances.
Supporting home renovations: Next, when planning a major home renovation, such as adding a new room or upgrading their kitchen or bathroom, upgrading your electrical service may be required to not overload your panel. These renovations often require more electrical capacity than the existing panel can provide.
Improving home safety: Another important reason for upgrading your panel is Safety. Older panels may not be equipped to handle modern electrical demands, which can lead to safety issues such as electrical fires or shock hazards. Upgrading to a 200 amp panel can improve the safety of the electrical system in the home.
Increasing home value: Finally, a home with a modern, up-to-date electrical system is more attractive to buyers and is one of the highest ROI investments you can make in a home you’re preparing to sell. Seriously. Buyers view outdated plumbing and electrical as some of the largest unknown fears for potential homes. Upgrading to a 200 amp panel is a great investment in your home.

So what’s the Cost to Upgrade to a 200 Amp Panel? As with most things in life, electrical panel upgrade depends on several factors. The biggest ticket items include the size of the panel, the age of the existing wiring, and the complexity of the installation. But on average, you’re looking at about $2,300 to $3,500 to upgrade a residential electrical panel to 200 amps.

Here are some additional factors that can affect the cost:

Existing wiring: If the existing wiring is outdated or in poor condition, it may need to be replaced or upgraded, which can add to the overall cost.
Accessibility: If your existing panel is difficult to access or in a hard-to-reach location, the installation may be more complex and take longer, which can increase the cost.
Permitting: In most areas, we will need to obtain permits and inspections from your local building department, which of course we handle for you.

It's also important to note that the size of the electrical panel is not the same as the capacity of the service entrance cable or the main breaker. The service entrance cable is the cable that runs from the utility company's meter to the electrical panel, and the main breaker is the device that controls the electrical flow to the entire panel.

Lastly, make sure that the best electrician you choose is properly licensed, bonded, insured, and experienced in upgrading electrical panels.

200 Amp Panel Upgrade: Is it Needed?

Many homes built before 2015 have a 100 Amp or 150 Amp 30/60-circuit electrical panel. This means that the panel can theoretically supply up to 100 or 150Amps and fit 30 single breakers or 60 tandem breakers–tandem breakers are where two breakers are fit into one open space.

Smaller Panels Pose Substantial Safety Hazards

These smaller panels pose substantial safety hazards and can affect the functionality of your entire home.

Tripping Breakers

Firstly, When you overload your electrical panel, the circuit breakers can trip, shutting off power to the affected circuits. This can be inconvenient and frustrating if it happens frequently, but that’s the least of your problems.

Damage to Appliances and Devices

Next, it’ll fry your appliances and devices that are connected to it. How much money have you invested in the appliances and devices plugged into your home electrical system?

Electrical Fires

Overloading your electrical panel can also create heat buildup, which can damage wiring insulation and potentially cause an electrical fire.

Electrical Shock

Lastly, is a crowd favorite: getting electrocuted. When the electrical demand exceeds the capacity of the panel, it can cause the voltage to drop, which can cause electrical components themselves to become a huge safety hazard.

If your panel is overloaded, you need to address the issue, yesterday. This may involve upgrading your electrical panel to a larger capacity, or it may require redistributing the electrical load to different circuits. Touchstone Electric will help properly diagnose and propose a solution for your home.

Upgrading an electrical panel is a complex and dangerous task if you’re not an experienced electrician. We’d be happy to assess your current electrical system and determine whether upgrading to a 200 amp panel is the right choice for your home.