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Last reviewed 2026-10-30

Subpanel Installation Cost

What adding a subpanel for a garage, addition or workshop costs, and when a subpanel beats a full upgrade.

Typical prices

Angi, This Old House and HomeAdvisor all put a subpanel at $400 to $1,750. Forbes gives $400 to $2,000, Bob Vila $530 to $1,940 and HomeGuide $500 to $1,000.

When a subpanel is enough

A subpanel adds circuit space, not capacity. If your main panel is full but your service has room for the new load, a subpanel can be the cheaper fix. If the new load (an EV charger, heat pump or addition) would push the whole house past its service rating, you need a service upgrade instead. An electrician should do a load calculation before you decide.

What changes the price

Distance from the main panel (the feeder cable run), the subpanel size, trenching to a detached garage, and the permit, typically $50 to $300.

Sources

Sources: Angi, Cost to Upgrade an Electrical Panel; This Old House, Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost (updated Mar 31, 2026); HomeAdvisor, Upgrade an Electrical Panel (Jul 6, 2022); Forbes Home, Electrical Panel Replacement Cost; Bob Vila, Electrical Panel Replacement Cost (Apr 18, 2024); HomeGuide, Electrical Panel Replacement Cost. Retrieved Oct 30, 2026.

Prices are published US ranges from the sources listed on each page; anything we calculated ourselves is labeled as an estimate. Get at least three written, itemized local quotes. Run the estimator to build your own range.

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Use the estimate above as your yardstick. A fair bid should list the panel, permit and any meter or service work separately.