How Much Does an Electrical Panel Upgrade (or Service Upgrade) Cost in 2026?
I’ve watched this exact conversation play out a bunch of times:
“My friend upgraded his panel for like $1,700.”
“Cool. Mine is $6,400.”
“That’s a scam.”
It might be a scam. But most of the time it’s something less dramatic.
Most of the time, you’re both using the same phrase—“panel upgrade”—for two different jobs.
One job is basically a swap. The other is a service change that drags in the meter, the utility, permits, inspections, and whatever weird rule your local power company swears is “standard.”