Cost Guide · San Francisco

Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost in San Francisco: When and Why You Need One

By Solid Bay Construction SF | Updated 2026

Many SF homes built before 1950 still have original knob-and-tube wiring or a 60–100 amp panel — nowhere near enough capacity for a modern kitchen, EV charging, and the electronics load of a typical household today. Here's what upgrading actually costs.

Cost by Scope

Panel Upgrade Alone vs. Rewiring

A panel upgrade alone makes sense when your existing wiring is modern copper in good condition, but the panel itself is undersized for your current or planned electrical load — adding an EV charger, an induction range, or central air conditioning, for example. If your home still has knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum branch wiring, or two-prong ungrounded outlets throughout, a rewire is needed regardless of what the panel looks like.

Signs You Likely Need More Than a Panel Upgrade

• Breakers trip regularly under normal household use
• Two-prong (ungrounded) outlets anywhere in the home
• Visible knob-and-tube wiring in the attic, basement, or crawlspace
• Lights dim when larger appliances turn on
• The home hasn't had electrical work done since before 1970

Why This Usually Comes Up During a Larger Remodel

Electrical work is disruptive to open walls for, which is why panel upgrades and rewiring are most cost-effective when bundled into a kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, or full house renovation where walls are already open — rather than done as a standalone project years later.