Fully rewiring a house in Ireland costs roughly €3,500–€8,000 for a 3-bed semi and €8,000–€15,000 for larger or older homes (indicative 2026 ranges). The price depends on the number of electrical points, how accessible the cabling is, the age of the property and the fittings you choose.
House rewiring cost by size
| Property | Typical scope | Indicative 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|
| 3-bed semi-detached | Standard point count, reasonable access | €3,500–€8,000 |
| 4-bed detached | More points, larger area | €7,000–€12,000 |
| Large or older home | Difficult access, period features, high point count | €8,000–€15,000+ |
Signs you need rewiring
It’s worth getting an electrician’s opinion if you notice any of these:
- An old fuse board with rewireable fuses instead of modern circuit breakers.
- No RCD protection on the consumer unit.
- Rubber, fabric or lead-sheathed cabling (common in pre-1970s homes).
- Frequent tripping, flickering lights or warm switches.
- Scorch marks, discolouration or a burning smell at sockets — get this checked urgently.
- Too few sockets, leading to banks of extension leads.
- Buying an older home that has never been rewired.
What’s included
A full rewire typically covers:
- New consumer unit (fuse board) with RCD/RCBO protection.
- New cabling throughout, run to current standards.
- New sockets, switches and light fittings (or refitting existing).
- Earthing and bonding upgrades.
- Smoke and heat alarms, mains-wired and interlinked.
- Testing, certification and a completion cert.
The work must be done by a registered electrical contractor, and you should receive a completion certificate confirming compliance with the national wiring rules — keep it for insurance and any future sale.
What affects the price
- House size and point count. More sockets, lights and circuits cost more.
- Access. Solid floors, finished ceilings and plastered walls mean more chasing and making good.
- Age and condition. Period homes and awkward layouts take longer.
- Spec of fittings. Standard white plastic vs designer switches and smart controls.
- Extras. EV charger circuits, outdoor power, networking and home-automation cabling.
Remember that rewiring usually leaves walls and ceilings to be re-plastered and decorated, so factor that making-good cost in too — it’s sometimes quoted separately.
Save by doing it while walls are open
The single biggest saving on a rewire is timing it with other works. When a house is being fully renovated, gutted, replastered or extended, the walls and floors are already open — so the electrician can run cables without the destructive chasing and the expensive making-good that a rewire normally involves. If you’re planning a renovation, schedule the rewire into that programme rather than as a standalone job later. It’s also the right moment to add EV-charger and future-proofing circuits while access is easy.
Ways to save
- Coordinate with renovation works so cabling goes in while walls are open.
- Reuse existing fittings where they’re in good condition.
- Plan your point layout once, up front, to avoid costly changes mid-job.
- Get at least three written quotes from registered contractors, each itemising the consumer unit, point count and making-good.
Confirm whether re-plastering and decoration are included or extra, and always insist on full certification on completion.