What It Costs to Replace Different Types of Electrical Panels
An electrical panel isn't something most homeowners think about — until an inspector flags it, an insurer refuses to cover it, or the lights start flickering. Then suddenly you're getting quotes, and the numbers are all over the map. One electrician says $1,800, another says $4,500, and you have no idea why.
The reason quotes vary so much is that "replacing the panel" means very different work depending on what you're replacing. Swapping a modern breaker box for a bigger one is a straightforward job. Ripping out an old fuse box or a hazardous Federal Pacific panel is a bigger project. This guide breaks down electrical panel replacement cost by type so you know what's reasonable for your situation.
The short version: most electrical panel replacements cost $1,300 to $4,500 in 2026, with the typical job landing around $2,000 to $3,000. Where you fall depends on the panel type, the amperage, and how much rewiring the swap triggers.
Electrical Panel Replacement Cost by Type
Here's the at-a-glance breakdown. These figures include the panel, breakers, labor, and a standard permit, but not major rewiring or a service upgrade from the utility.
| Panel Type | Replacement Cost | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Modern breaker box (like-for-like) | $1,300–$2,500 | Straightforward swap, code-compliant wiring |
| Fuse box to breaker panel | $2,000–$4,000 | Old wiring often needs updates, full reconfiguration |
| Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok panel | $2,000–$4,500 | Known fire hazard, often paired with other old wiring |
| Zinsco / Sylvania-Zinsco panel | $2,000–$4,500 | Known failure-prone breakers, frequently corroded |
| Subpanel addition | $1,000–$2,000 | Smaller scope, depends on distance from main panel |
| Panel relocation | $2,500–$5,000+ | New conduit runs, possible utility coordination |
Federal Pacific Panel Replacement Cost
If your home was built or updated between roughly 1950 and 1990, there's a real chance it has a Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok panel. These are widely considered a safety hazard — independent testing has shown the breakers can fail to trip during an overload, which defeats the entire purpose of a circuit breaker and creates a fire risk.
Federal Pacific panel replacement typically costs $2,000 to $4,500. The job itself is a standard panel swap, but FPE panels rarely show up alone. Homes old enough to have one often also have aluminum branch wiring, ungrounded outlets, or undersized service — and any of those can push the cost higher.
Many home inspectors flag FPE panels automatically, and a growing number of insurers either charge more or refuse to write a policy on a home that has one. If you're buying a house with a Federal Pacific panel, it's reasonable to ask the seller to replace it or credit you for the work before closing.
Zinsco Panel Replacement Cost
Zinsco (and the later Sylvania-Zinsco) panels are the other big name on the "replace it" list. The known problem is that the breakers can melt or fuse to the bus bar, so they may not trip — and in some cases the panel stays energized even when a breaker is switched off. Corrosion is also common because of the aluminum bus design.
Zinsco panel replacement costs about $2,000 to $4,500, the same range as Federal Pacific, and for the same reason: the swap is standard, but the surrounding wiring in a Zinsco-era home often needs attention. If an electrician opens your panel and finds a Zinsco label, treat replacement as a safety priority rather than an optional upgrade.
Fuse Box to Breaker Box Replacement Cost
If your home still has a fuse box, you're working with technology that predates the 1960s in most homes. Fuses aren't inherently dangerous when sized correctly, but they're inconvenient, easy to overfuse (a serious fire risk), and often a dealbreaker for insurers and buyers.
Replacing a fuse box with a modern breaker panel costs $2,000 to $4,000. The reason it costs more than a simple breaker-to-breaker swap is that fuse-box-era wiring frequently needs updates — ungrounded circuits, cloth-insulated wire, and not enough circuits for a modern household. Many fuse-box replacements are paired with a service upgrade to 100 or 200 amps.
How Amperage Affects the Price
The panel's amperage rating is one of the biggest cost levers. Older homes often have 60-amp or 100-amp service, which simply can't keep up with central air, an electric range, a heat pump, and EV charging all at once. Upgrading the amperage usually means coordinating with your utility, which adds cost.
| Service Size | Typical Total Cost | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| 100-amp panel | $1,300–$2,500 | Smaller homes, gas heat and appliances |
| 150-amp panel | $1,800–$3,200 | Mid-size homes with some electric appliances |
| 200-amp panel | $2,000–$4,000 | Most modern homes, EV charging, heat pumps |
| 400-amp panel | $4,000–$8,000+ | Large homes, workshops, multiple EVs |
For most homeowners doing a replacement today, 200 amps is the sensible target — it gives you headroom for an EV charger, heat pump, or future addition. For a deeper look at upgrade pricing, see our electrical panel upgrade cost guide, or the side-by-side comparison in 100 vs 200 amp electrical panel cost.
Replacement Cost by Region
The same panel can cost noticeably more or less depending on where you live. Labor rates and permit fees are the main reasons. These ranges assume a standard 200-amp replacement.