Whole-Home Rewiring Cost in Toronto: What to Expect

Whole-home rewiring is the largest residential electrical job there is, and it is quoted per home — not from a price list. Here is what actually drives the number in Toronto and the GTA.

For the service itself, see Aluminum & Knob-and-Tube Wiring Services.

What decides the price

• **Size and layout of the home**, and the number of circuits, outlets and switches being replaced
• **Access.** Open walls during a renovation cost far less than fishing wire through finished plaster in an occupied century home
• **Wiring type being removed.** Knob-and-tube must be replaced; aluminum branch wiring can often be remediated instead
• **Panel capacity.** A rewire usually comes with a panel or service upgrade — a 100 amp to 200 amp upgrade is **$3,500 to $5,000+** with the ESA permit and Hydro coordination included
• **Finishing.** Drywall patching, plaster repair and painting after the wire is in

We do not quote rewires hourly — you get a flat, written scope and price after an on-site assessment, so the number does not drift.

You may not need a full rewire

This is the part most homeowners are not told. Many homes only need a partial rewire — the knob-and-tube circuits that are still live, plus the panel — while later renovation wiring is perfectly sound. Homes with aluminum branch wiring often need copper pigtailing with CO/ALR-rated devices instead, which is a fraction of a full rewire and satisfies insurers.

We assess circuit by circuit and recommend the least invasive option that passes inspection.

Signs your home needs rewiring

• Knob-and-tube or ungrounded two-prong outlets
• Aluminum branch wiring from the late 1960s and 1970s
• Repeated breaker trips, flickering lights, warm switch plates or a burning smell
• Brittle, cloth-covered or crumbling insulation
• An insurer refusing to renew coverage until the wiring is remediated

How much damage does it cause?

Less than most people expect. We fish new grounded cable through existing wall and ceiling cavities wherever possible and open drywall only where it is genuinely necessary, cutting cleanly so patching is simple.

What is included

Assessment, ESA permit under our ECRA/ESA licence, new grounded circuits and devices, panel work where required, inspection, and the ESA certificate your insurer or a buyer will ask for. Work can be phased so the home stays livable.