Outlet and GFCI Repair Cost

As of 2026, most outlet repairs cost $75 to $200, with a national average of $140 (Fixr). Installing or replacing a GFCI outlet typically runs $150 to $350 (Fixr). Burned outlets, wiring problems and new circuits cost more.

This guide covers what different outlet problems cost to fix, what GFCI outlets do and why they stop working, what you can safely check yourself, and what to ask an electrician. Every figure links to the page it came from, and all are national ranges.

First, is your outlet a safety problem?

Outlets are small, but a failing one can start a fire. If you see sparks, smoke or flames, or smell burning from an outlet, get everyone out of the house and call 911 from outside. Don't go back in.

If an outlet smells hot or burnt and there's no smoke or fire, turn off that circuit's breaker and leave it off. Don't use the outlet until an electrician checks it.

Other rules to follow:

• Don't touch an outlet that's wet, or one where the floor around it is wet.
• Stop using an outlet that feels warm or makes the wall around it warm. Fixr warns that a warm wall near an outlet may be a fire hazard (Fixr).
• Leave cover plates on. Taking an outlet apart is a job for a pro.

NFPA says to call a qualified electrician if you have warm or discolored outlets, a burning or rubbery smell, or sparks from an outlet (NFPA).

What are the signs an outlet needs repair?

Outlets usually give some warning before they fail completely. Fixr lists these signs (Fixr):

• A loose faceplate or an outlet that wobbles in the wall.
• Plugs that fall out or don't stay in firmly.
• Cracks in the outlet face.
• Black or brown discoloration around the slots.
• A warm wall near the outlet.
• Sparks or smoke, especially sparking each time you plug in or unplug.
• A breaker that trips over and over.
• Water exposure, which can cause shorts, fires and corrosion.

This Old House adds buzzing or humming from outlets or switches, which it says often means loose connections or arcing (This Old House).

What causes outlets to fail?

Most outlet problems come from age, wear or the wiring behind them. Common causes include:

• Age and wear. Outlets wear out with years of use, and dirt or moisture speeds that up.
• Worn slots that no longer grip a plug.
• Loose or poor connections, sometimes from the original install or from later renovation work.
• Overloading, like running several high-power appliances from one outlet.
• Physical damage from bumps and accidents.
• The wrong rating, such as a 20-amp device plugged into a 15-amp outlet.

These come from Fixr's outlet repair guide (Fixr). NFPA suggests plugging only one heat-producing appliance, such as a space heater, toaster or coffee maker, into an outlet at a time (NFPA).

What does outlet repair cost by type of repair?

Fixr breaks outlet repairs down by what's being fixed. These averages include labor:

• Plaster around the outlet: $50 to $150 (Fixr).
• Switch: $50 to $150 (Fixr).
• Socket: $50 to $200 (Fixr).
• Box replacement: $75 to $300 (Fixr).
• Wiring replacement: $300 to $500 (Fixr).

Fixr says the high end of outlet repair is $500, for extensive rewiring of an outlet that's hard to reach (Fixr).

What does outlet repair cost by problem?

Fixr also lists costs by the symptom you notice. These are averages with labor included:

• Loose outlet: $50 to $125 (Fixr).
• Bad connection: $50 to $150 (Fixr).
• Short circuit: $75 to $200 (Fixr).
• Cracked outlet: $120 to $200 (Fixr).
• Warm wall: $120 to $200 (Fixr).
• Plug falling out: $120 to $200 (Fixr).
• Moisture: $120 to $200 (Fixr).
• Burned outlet: $150 to $400 (Fixr).
• Sparking and smoking: $150 to $400 (Fixr).
• Breaker tripping: $200 to $2,000 (Fixr).

The tripping range is wide because the cause could be a single outlet, a fault in the wiring or a problem at the panel. See the circuit breaker replacement cost guide for more on that.

How much does it cost to replace or add an outlet?

Replacing an outlet is usually a short job. Fixr says replacement outlets cost $120 to $200 on average (Fixr), and that replacing a single outlet usually takes half an hour to an hour of labor (Fixr).

Adding a new outlet can take longer, especially if the electrician has to run new wire. Fixr's figures for new outlets:

• Typical new outlet: $120 to $200, with a national average of $141 (Fixr).
• Basic 15-amp outlet at the low end: $85 (Fixr).
• 15-amp GFCI unit at the high end: $275 (Fixr).
• Simple outdoor outlet: $250 to $400, including labor and materials (Fixr).
• Replacing every outlet in a house: $900 to $2,000, depending on how many you have (Fixr).

This Old House lists wiring a 220/240-volt outlet, the kind used for dryers and some ranges, at $200 to $400 (This Old House).

How much does a GFCI outlet cost?

A GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlet cuts power in a split second when it senses current leaking where it shouldn't, such as through water or a person. That's why they're used in kitchens, bathrooms and outdoors. The cost guides give these figures:

• Installing or replacing a GFCI outlet: $150 to $350 (Fixr).
• New GFCI outlet with new wiring: $250 to $500 or more (Fixr).
• Installing a GFCI outlet: $120 to $200 (This Old House).
• GFCI or AFCI devices: $130 to $300 per device (This Old House).

The GFCI itself is inexpensive. This Old House lists $15 to $50 for the device and $210 for professional installation (This Old House). Most of the cost is the electrician's time.

Should you use a GFCI outlet or a GFCI breaker?

A GFCI breaker sits in the panel and protects a whole circuit. A GFCI outlet protects itself and, depending on how it's wired, other outlets on the same circuit. Fixr puts the installed cost of a GFCI circuit breaker at $307 to $373 per breaker as of May 2026 (Fixr).

There's a practical trade-off too. This Old House points out that every time a GFCI breaker trips, you have to go to the panel to reset it (This Old House). A GFCI outlet can be reset right where you are. An electrician can tell you which makes more sense for your setup.

Where should you have GFCI protection?

NFPA says GFCIs should be installed in bathrooms, kitchens, garages and basements, and that all outdoor outlets should be GFCI protected (NFPA). This Old House notes that older homes are typically grandfathered in, so an older home may not have GFCIs everywhere a new home would (This Old House).

NFPA also recommends testing GFCIs and AFCIs once a month, following the maker's instructions (NFPA).

What about AFCI, USB and tamper-resistant outlets?

GFCI isn't the only special outlet. Here's what the others do and what the part costs before labor, from Fixr's outlet installation guide:

• AFCI outlets are designed to reduce fire risk from arcing faults, the small sparks that can happen at damaged or loose wiring. The outlet costs $20 to $32 (Fixr). NFPA suggests considering AFCIs for your home (NFPA).
• Tamper-resistant outlets have shutters that only open when two prongs go in at once, which helps keep children from pushing objects into the slots. They cost $1 to $6 (Fixr).
• USB outlets let you charge devices without a plug-in adapter. They cost $20 to $40 (Fixr).
• Smart outlets can be controlled from your phone. They cost $20 to $80 (Fixr).

The part is a small share of the bill. Labor to install it, and any wiring changes behind the wall, make up most of the cost.

Why won't a GFCI outlet reset?

A GFCI that won't reset is doing its job or has worn out. Common causes include:

• Moisture in or near the outlet. It has to dry fully before it will reset.
• A tripped breaker for that circuit, so the GFCI has no power to reset.
• Loose wiring at the outlet.
• Too many things plugged in on the circuit.
• A short circuit somewhere on the circuit.
• A worn-out GFCI that needs replacing.

Bob Vila lists moisture, dust, loose wiring, overloads, a tripped breaker and short circuits (Bob Vila). It also notes that newer GFCIs have indicator lights that show when the outlet is faulty, while older ones have to be tested by hand.

Why are several outlets dead at once?

Bob Vila notes that multiple outlets in a room can be on the same circuit, so one faulty GFCI can affect outlets nearby (Bob Vila). This Old House says a tripped breaker is the most common reason an outlet stops working, and that several dead outlets in one area point to the breaker (This Old House).

If a bathroom or kitchen outlet is dead, look for a GFCI outlet in the same room, a nearby bathroom, the garage or outside, and try its reset button.

What can you safely check before you call?

A few checks can save a service call. Stop if anything feels warm, smells burnt or looks scorched.

1. Try a different device in the outlet. The problem may be the plug or cord.
2. Look at the outlet without touching the inside. Discoloration, cracks or burn marks mean you should stop and call a pro.
3. Press test, then reset on any GFCI outlet nearby.
4. Check the breaker. If one is tripped, reset it once. If it trips again right away, leave it off and call an electrician.
5. Note what else is affected, like other outlets or lights in the room.

This Old House lists these kinds of checks and says to call a pro for a burning smell, scorch marks, sparks, an outlet that's warm, or a breaker you have to reset over and over (This Old House).

What about old two-prong outlets?

Two-prong outlets have no ground wire. This Old House explains that without a ground, a fault in a metal appliance has no safe path, which raises the risk of shock (This Old House). The options it lists:

• Run a ground wire from the outlet to the panel or a grounded box.
• Install a GFCI outlet in place of the two-prong outlet.
• Use a combination GFCI/AFCI device.
• Rewire the circuit.

A GFCI protects people from shock without a ground wire, but it doesn't create a ground. This Old House says the code requires a GFCI used this way to be labeled "No Equipment Ground" (This Old House). This Old House lists grounding an outlet at $50 to $100 (This Old House).

Avoid three-prong adapters as a long-term fix. This Old House warns they can damage what you plug in (This Old House).

What if your home has aluminum wiring?

Some homes built from the mid-1960s into the 1970s have aluminum branch wiring. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says homes built before 1972 with aluminum wiring were found 55 times more likely to have outlet connections reach fire hazard conditions than homes wired with copper (CPSC). It also says failing aluminum connections seldom give easy warning signs, and recommends having a qualified electrician do the repair.

Fixr says replacing aluminum wiring connections at outlets averages $300 to $500 per outlet (Fixr). If you know or suspect your home has aluminum wiring, mention it when you book.

Repair or replace?

For a single outlet, the difference is small. A worn or cracked outlet is usually replaced rather than repaired. Fixr suggests outlets 40 or more years old, or ones that need frequent repairs, may be better replaced (Fixr).

Think bigger when:

• Several outlets are worn, loose or warm.
• The same outlet keeps failing.
• You have two-prong outlets in rooms where you use computers or appliances.
• You have aluminum wiring.
• Kitchens, bathrooms or outdoor areas lack GFCI protection.

If you're not sure what's causing the problem, you can check my electrical to see likely causes and typical costs.

What questions should you ask for a fair quote?

• Is there a service call fee, and does it go toward the repair?
• What do you think is causing this, and how did you confirm it?
• Is it the outlet, the wiring behind it or the circuit?
• Should this be a GFCI outlet or a GFCI breaker?
• Are there other outlets on this circuit that should be checked?
• Does this job need a permit where I live?
• Can I get the price in writing before you start?
• Is your work guaranteed, and for how long?

The bottom line

Most outlet and GFCI fixes cost a few hundred dollars or less. Costs climb when the problem is in the wiring, when an outlet has burned, or when a new circuit is needed. Treat burning, sparking and heat as safety problems first. For a broader look at pricing, see how much an electrician costs.