How much does it cost to rewire a house in Washington, DC?

Rewiring a house in Washington, DC typically costs $4,000–$12,000 for most homes — roughly $2–$6 per square foot — with knob-and-tube replacement and difficult access at the top of the range. It's disruptive but rarely requires gutting: good electricians fish wire through walls and patch as they go. Insurance is often the forcing function — many insurers won't cover active knob-and-tube wiring.

Likely causes

• Knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring — Pre-1950 knob-and-tube and 1960s–70s aluminum branch wiring are the usual triggers.
• Insurance or sale requirement — Buyers and insurers flag ungrounded, cloth-insulated, or undersized wiring.
• Chronic electrical symptoms — Frequent trips, warm outlets, and two-prong outlets throughout say the system is at end of life.

What you can check yourself

• Find out what wiring you actually have before assuming a full rewire — partial rewires of the worst circuits are common and much cheaper.
• Ask whether the price includes patching and paint, or just open holes — the difference is thousands.
• Time it with other work: rewiring during a remodel, or while the house is empty, costs less.

Typical cost

Typical in Washington, DC: partial rewire $1,500–$4,000; full rewire $4,000–$12,000+ by size and access. A panel upgrade is often bundled ($1,800–$3,500) — ask for the combined price.

When to call a pro

Cloth-insulated or knob-and-tube wiring buried under blown-in insulation is a genuine fire risk — if an inspector flags it, prioritize getting the quote, not joining a waitlist.

Electrician pros in Washington, DC

• 1
  D C Electric ★ Recommended

  Washington, DC · 17712491591

We're still verifying other pros nearby before naming them.

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Data by Servik — verified local pros from official license records and public sources. Cost figures are typical ranges, not quotes; a pro's written estimate is the real number.