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How much does new 240-volt dedicated circuit cost in California?

Updated September 2026 · California price index 1.15 for electrical work (national = 1.00)

In California, a licensed electrician typically charges $290 to $1,150 to run a new dedicated 240V circuit for a dryer, range or EV charger, with most jobs landing near $700. That is about 15% above the national average of $250–$1,000, based on what electricians earn in California.

Low end

$290

Most jobs

$700

High end

$1,150

Got a quote for this in California? Check if it's fair — free

AI-powered second opinion using these same California figures. No account, no card. Need someone to do the work? Verified pros in California took the Fair Price Pledge.

What a California quote means

Quote for this job	What it means
Under $174	Suspiciously low — ask what is excluded, and check licensing and insurance
$174 – $1,265	Fair price — inside the typical range (up to 10% over the top is still normal)
$1,265 – $2,013	Running high — get the quote itemized, and get a second one
Over $2,013	Ripoff territory — more than 1.75× the high end of the typical range

Same rules the QuoteJury checker uses on every quote.

What you're paying for

What is usually included: A double-pole breaker, appropriately sized cable for the run, a receptacle or hardwired termination, permit where required, and 2–4 hours of labor.

What moves the price:

Distance from the panel and whether the cable can run through an unfinished basement or must be fished through walls
Wire gauge: 50-amp circuits need heavier, pricier copper than 30-amp
Available panel capacity; a full panel can turn this into a subpanel or panel-upgrade job
Permit and inspection requirements, which vary by city

Distance from the panel, amperage/wire gauge (30A dryer vs. 50A range or EV), fishing through finished walls, and whether the panel has space.

New 240-volt dedicated circuit cost across California

Typical range by metro and rural area, from BLS wage data for electricians in each area.

Area	Typical range	Most jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$270 – $1,100	$670
Chico, CA	$250 – $1,000	$610
El Centro, CA	$270 – $1,050	$650
Fresno, CA	$260 – $1,050	$640
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$300 – $1,200	$720
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$280 – $1,100	$680
Merced, CA	$270 – $1,100	$670
Modesto, CA	$280 – $1,100	$680
Napa, CA	$290 – $1,150	$700
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$260 – $1,000	$620
Redding, CA	$260 – $1,050	$640
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$270 – $1,050	$650
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$290 – $1,150	$700
Salinas, CA	$280 – $1,100	$680
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$290 – $1,150	$700
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$340 – $1,350	$840
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$350 – $1,400	$860
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$280 – $1,100	$680
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$280 – $1,150	$690
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$280 – $1,100	$680
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$290 – $1,150	$700
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$280 – $1,100	$670
Vallejo, CA	$290 – $1,200	$720
Visalia, CA	$250 – $980	$600
Yuba City, CA	$250 – $1,000	$620
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$280 – $1,100	$680
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$280 – $1,100	$680
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$280 – $1,100	$680

Frequently asked

Is $700 a fair price for new 240-volt dedicated circuit in California?

Yes. $700 is right around what most homeowners in California pay. Anything from $174 to $1,265 is inside the normal range for a licensed electrician; above $1,265 it is worth getting a second quote.

Why do quotes for the same job vary so much?

Distance from the panel and whether the cable can run through an unfinished basement or must be fished through walls. Wire gauge: 50-amp circuits need heavier, pricier copper than 30-amp. Company overhead matters too: a large company with trucks, dispatchers and a warranty department charges more than a one-person shop, and both can be honest prices.

When should I get a second quote?

Any time a quote lands above $1,265, or when the contractor cannot break it into parts, labor and fees. Ask for the itemized version, ask what would change the price, and confirm licensing and insurance. You can also paste the quote into the free QuoteJury checker for an instant second opinion.

Other electrical jobs in California

New 240-volt dedicated circuit in other states

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Sources

HomeGuide (2025): $250–$900 nationally
HomeGuide (2026): $250–$800 nationally
HomeAdvisor (2026): $570–$1,000 nationally
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — median hourly wages by state and metro area

About these numbers. Ranges are typical market rates for a licensed, insured contractor, blended from published U.S. cost guides and adjusted with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data (OEWS, May 2025) for each state and metro area. They are estimates, not a bid, appraisal or inspection. Real prices move with parts, access, permits and code requirements. The quote checker is AI-powered and labeled as such.