How Much Does Rewiring a House Cost in Nashville?

Cost Guide Nashville Electric Pros · Updated May 2026

A full home rewire is one of the biggest electrical projects a homeowner can take on. Here's what's actually involved, what it costs in Nashville, and how to tell if you really need one.

"Rewiring a house" can mean a few different things — replacing a few problem circuits, redoing the entire branch wiring system, or only swapping out aluminum or knob-and-tube. The scope and cost vary accordingly.

What "Full Rewire" Actually Means

A complete rewire typically includes:

• Removing all old branch wiring (knob-and-tube, aluminum, or just dated copper)
• Installing new copper Romex (NM-B) cable to every device
• Installing new outlets and switches
• Bringing every receptacle, switch, and circuit up to current NEC code
• Adding GFCI and AFCI protection in required locations
• Replacing the panel (almost always paired with a rewire)
• Permits and final inspection

What Drives the Price

Square Footage and Number of Circuits

Bigger homes have more circuits and more devices, which means more wire, more labor, and more boxes.

Wall and Ceiling Access

This is the biggest variable. A home with accessible attic, basement, and crawl space costs less to rewire than a slab home where every wire has to be fished through walls.

Plaster vs Drywall

Older Nashville homes often have plaster and lath walls. Plaster makes wire fishing harder and patching messier.

Number of Stories

Multi-story homes require more creative routing.

Existing Wiring Type

Removing old knob-and-tube is more work than abandoning it in place. Aluminum wiring can sometimes be remediated rather than fully replaced. Knob-and-tube is almost always replaced.

Code Upgrades

Modern code requires more circuits (kitchen counter, dishwasher, bathroom, AFCI throughout, etc.) than older homes had. The new system has more wire and more breaker positions.

Drywall and Paint Repair

The electrician opens walls and ceilings; somebody has to close them back up. Some rewires are bundled with general contractor coordination; some are quoted electrical-only.

When You Really Need a Full Rewire

• Active knob-and-tube wiring
• Significant aluminum branch wiring beyond what's economical to remediate
• Severely undersized service combined with old, deteriorating wiring
• Major fire or water damage to wiring
• Whole-home remodel where walls are already open
• Insurance carrier requiring it as a condition of coverage

When You Don't Need a Full Rewire

Many Nashville homes have older wiring that's working fine. A few targeted upgrades can address the highest-priority concerns without rewiring the whole house:

• Panel replacement with all new breakers
• Adding dedicated circuits for high-demand areas (kitchen, primary bedroom, garage)
• GFCI/AFCI protection through the panel rather than every device
• Aluminum wiring remediation with AlumiConn or COPALUM rather than full replacement

The Process and Timeline

A typical full rewire in Nashville:

1. On-site evaluation and detailed proposal
2. Permit pulled with Metro Nashville (or applicable jurisdiction)
3. Old wiring rough-in: open walls/ceilings as needed, pull new cable, install new boxes
4. Panel and meter base replacement, coordinated with NES
5. Rough inspection by the city/county
6. Devices installed, outlets, switches, fixtures connected
7. Final inspection
8. Drywall/paint repair (often a separate trade)

For a typical Nashville home, full rewires take 1–3 weeks of electrical work, plus repair time.

The Bottom Line

Rewiring a Nashville home is rarely an emergency, but it's almost always a major project. The right starting point is an electrical inspection so you know exactly what you're dealing with — and what level of work actually addresses your real risks.

A full rewire is usually triggered by one of two underlying problems: aluminum branch wiring or active knob-and-tube. If you're not sure which you have, those two pieces are the place to start.