So, you’re thinking about building a new home – congratulations! Designing, building and moving into your dream home is an exciting step in anyone’s lives. It’s a chance to let your creativity flow and get your new house looking and feeling exactly the way you want it. This is a process that shouldn’t be rushed, and there are many factors including schedules and budgets that need to be considered.
One of the biggest concerns most people have when building a home is how much it will end up costing. It’s a big process that requires a lot of input from many different professionals who will all charge their own rate based on their experience and the materials they use.
Today, we’re going to talk you through budgets from an electrician’s point of view. That is, how much it will cost to wire your new build house.
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If you are in the Greater Sydney area and looking for a reliable new build electrician , give us a quick call to organise a quote.
Overview: How much does it cost to wire a new build house?
We wish this was a clear-cut answer!
The cost to wire a new build house really depends on the scope of the project, the fixtures you’ve chosen and the cost of labour. We’ll dive into these in a bit more detail later on.
While we can’t give an exact figure on how much you should expect to spend on your new home, you should be prepared to spend anywhere from $3000-$13000 or more, depending on the project.
Since you’ll be building your home from the ground up, you’ll want to invest the money upfront to make sure the job is done well. This could save you from costly repairs in the future. |  |
What does wiring a new build house involve?
Wiring a new build house involves everything from the initial “rough-in” all the way through to the installation of appliances and fixtures.
 | 1. The planning phase
You need to start working on your electrical plan early on in the process to make sure everything will operate well and mesh with the overall architecture and design. One of the best ways to do this is to connect your team of professionals early in the process (designers, builders, architects, plumbers, electricians, etc) so they can work together to bring your plan to life - exactly how you want it.
Getting the plan right is essential before you move onto the next stage of the project. The plan will be created by the architect or engineer and will outline where everything in the house will go. Before work begins, all contractors will need to review and agree to the plan. |
2. The electrical rough-in
The rough-in is the stage of construction when all framing is up and the mechanical, electrical and plumbing lines are installed. Electrical wiring is usually installed after the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and plumbing.
The electrical rough-in involves:
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 | 3. Connecting switches & appliances
In the initial rough-in stage, you won’t be connecting the wires up to any appliances, outlets or switches, as this will happen during the later stages of construction after the walls and switches have been put in place.
This is also when you’ll want to have all your chosen appliances ready to go so that they can be installed, connected and ready to use. |
How long does it take to wire a new build house?
- How many electricians you have on-site
- The size of the home
- How many outlets you’ll need
- Whether the cables are surface or recessed
- How many appliances you’ll have
On average, wiring a new build house could take anywhere from 3-10 days, although we’d recommend expecting the job to take about a week.
Factors that determine the cost to wire a new build home
So, let’s break down the cost to wire a new build home in a bit more detail. As we’ve established, the total cost tends to vary between $3000-$8000, depending on several different factors. Here are some of the factors you should consider when estimating the cost to wire your new home.
Labour
The cost of labour will vary depending on which new build electrician you choose to complete the job. Some will charge a flat rate for the project, while others will charge an hourly rate. In Australia, the hourly rate of an electrician tends to vary between $60-100 per hour.
How much your electrical contractor charges will depend on:
You may also need to pay extra for a Call Out Fee or any urgent work that comes up out of hours. |  |
Cost of materials
In addition to the cost of labour, you’ll have to consider the cost of all the materials that will go into your electrical plan.
Outlets, switches & power points
These tend to cost between about $60-120 per switch, so multiply that number by however many you’ll need for your house.
Copper wiring
The copper wiring is what will be running electricity throughout your entire house. It generally costs $600+, depending on the size of the home.
Switchboard
An electrical switchboard is an essential part of the home and will cost from around $500-1000.
Fixtures & appliances
While not part of the initial wiring process, the cost of lights and machines shouldn't be ignored when considering your budget, as they do add up.
Expect to pay between $3000-8000+ for your fixtures and appliances, depending on the size of the home and whether you choose expensive fixtures / smart appliances.
Make sure to buy your fixtures from trustworthy places and remember to keep your electrician in the loop about what you’re choosing.
 | Size of the home
Unsurprisingly, the size of the home and the number of bedrooms will make a huge impact on the overall cost to wire a new build house.
A small studio will of course cost less than a six-bedroom home, which is why you probably won’t be able to get an accurate price estimation until you consult with an electrical contractor.
Here are some rough estimates:
Again, these are only estimates and the only way to get an accurate quote is to contact an electrician. |
Running electricity to different areas
If you're planning to run electricity to other areas of your property such as a shed, garage or granny flat, you’ll need to factor this into the cost of your overall plan.
How much it will cost to wire up a shed, garage or granny flat will depend on its location and how many outlets and lights you want.
A simple garage attached to the house with only one or two outlets and a single light will be cheaper than a large workshop further away, for example.
A granny flat will inevitably cost more as you’ll probably want multiple sockets, lights and appliances.
Wiring up a shed could cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on the electrician’s hourly rate and the location of the shed. You should expect to pay a few thousand for a granny flat. |
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 | Connecting electricity
This isn’t necessarily going to be part of your wiring cost, but it’s worth considering. Before you get any electricity to your home, you’ll need to choose an electricity provider. You’ll need to contact them around three business days before you intend to use electricity in the home to give them enough time to connect.
Each provider will charge a different amount to connect electricity, but on average it will cost between $12-90, depending on who you sign up with. |
How to avoid hidden costs of wiring a new build house
With a good plan and good communication between all parties, you should be able to avoid any hidden costs. If you want to be extra safe, however, here are some tips to keep in mind that may help go into the process confidently.
- Start talking to your electrician early in the process. Get to know them and make sure you feel confident in their hands.
- Plan! We can’t overestimate the importance of a thorough plan. Making sure all your contractors thoroughly understand your plan and vision will save costly mistakes.
- Discuss emergency fees and overtime costs with your electrician. Sometimes, things come up outside of work hours that need to be attended to immediately. Make sure you’re aware of how much these will cost to fix so you’re not surprised with a hefty bill at the end.
- Invest early. While you’ll no doubt want to save as much money as you can, (and trust us, we love a good bargain!), it’s also important you’re getting the job done right the first time around. This will save you money down the track.
How long until I have to rewire my house?
Once your house has been wired up and everything’s in working order, you likely won’t need to worry about it for another few decades.
Here are some signs that you may need your home rewired:
In these cases, it’s best to get in touch with an electrician ASAP to check the wiring and make any necessary repairs.
If everything's in working order and you want to be on the safe side, you can also get your electrician to come and check your home every decade to check it’s still up to standard. |  |
 | Choosing an electrician to wire your new house
Choosing an electrician to work on your new home isn’t a decision that should be rushed. We’d recommend talking to a few different contractors and shopping around until you find someone who you feel confident understands your project.
Some things to consider include:
If you’re looking for a team of experienced and diligent electricians to wire your new build home in Sydney, contact the team at Amber Electrical we’ll happily discuss your project with you. |
Can I wire my new build home myself?
Perhaps you've read through this guide, are horrified at how much it will cost to wire a new build house, and are wondering if you can save some money by doing it yourself.
The answer to this is no, you cannot DIY your wiring in Australia. Unless you have the right qualifications, it’s illegal (and dangerous) to do your electrical work yourself and your work won’t be certified. |  |
Find out more
Looking for a licensed electrician who can wire your new build house on time and on budget? Give the team at Amber Electrical Services a call on 1800 888 171 and we’ll be happy to chat through your project with you.