How Much Does It Cost to Install Whole-House Knob-and-Tube or Old Wiring Replacement vs. an Arc Fault (AFCI) Breaker Upgrade in Florida? (2026)

Replacing old or knob-and-tube wiring in a Florida home is a major whole-house project that typically runs from a few thousand to many thousands of dollars, depending on home size and access. By contrast, upgrading to arc fault (AFCI) breakers is a much smaller job—usually a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars for a panel's worth of breakers and labor. The right choice depends on whether your wiring itself is unsafe or whether you simply need modern breaker protection.

How Much Does It Cost to Install Whole-House Old Wiring Replacement vs. an AFCI Breaker Upgrade in Florida? (2026)

Whole-house rewiring costs far more than an AFCI breaker upgrade because it touches every room, while AFCI breakers are a targeted swap inside your existing electrical panel. Rewiring commonly costs several thousand to many thousands of dollars; an AFCI upgrade commonly costs a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars.

These two projects solve different problems:

• Rewiring replaces the actual wires running through your walls—needed when wiring is damaged, degraded, or outdated (such as knob-and-tube).
• AFCI breakers are safety devices that detect dangerous electrical arcing and shut off power before it can start a fire. They protect the circuits you already have.

A licensed electrician should inspect your system before you choose, because a worn panel or unsafe wiring may make a breaker-only upgrade impossible or unwise.

What drives the price of each project?

Several factors move your cost up or down. Getting a written, itemized quote from a licensed pro is the best way to know your real number.

Cost factors for whole-house rewiring:

• Home square footage and number of circuits.
• Wall and attic access (older plaster or tight crawl spaces cost more).
• Whether drywall repair and repainting are included.
• Permit and inspection requirements in your city or county.
• Panel replacement if the existing one can't support the new wiring.

Cost factors for an AFCI breaker upgrade:

• Number of circuits that need AFCI protection.
• Your panel's brand and compatibility with modern AFCI breakers.
• Whether the panel is in good condition or must be replaced first.
• Local permit and inspection fees.

What homeowners should know

Before you spend anything, have a licensed electrician inspect your wiring and panel. The inspection tells you whether you need a full rewire, a simple breaker upgrade, or something in between—and it protects you from paying for work you don't need.

A few things to keep in mind in Florida:

• Permits and inspections are typically required for both rewiring and panel-level work. Your electrician should pull permits, not ask you to.
• Older homes are more likely to have outdated wiring that a breaker upgrade alone won't fix.
• AFCI requirements are driven by electrical code and may apply when you remodel or upgrade. Ask your pro what applies to your home.
• Never skip verification. Electrical work carries real fire and shock risk, so hire only a licensed, insured contractor.

Zip.Agency surfaces one verified Top Pro per zip code per trade—licensed, insured, background-checked, and backed by verified customer reviews—so you don't have to vet a long list of names yourself. You can browse our home-services guides for more background, or find the Top Electrical pro in your zip when you're ready for a quote.

AFCI breaker cost Florida

An AFCI breaker upgrade in Florida typically costs from a few hundred dollars for a small number of breakers to a couple thousand dollars for a fuller upgrade, including labor, permits, and inspection. The final price depends on how many circuits need protection and whether your panel supports modern AFCI breakers.

If your panel is old, incompatible, or unsafe, your electrician may recommend a panel replacement first, which raises the total cost. Always ask for an itemized quote so you can see breaker, labor, and permit costs separately.