How to estimate electrical wiring for a house?
Electrical components are the backbone of a house task. From the morning coffee to the night routine of watching TV, everything depends on the electrical switches, circuits and wiring. Whether you are a homeowner planning to build a new home or want to renovate your 50-year-old wiring with the new one, electrical estimating and calculations can make the whole process easy for you. The standard requirement for wire is 1.5 to 2 feet for each square foot of the home; however, it may change depending on the project scope, needs, and demands.
Key Takeaways
- A standard home in the US requires 1.5-2 feet of wiring.
- The kitchen and the laundry area are the most power-consuming parts of the house and hence require more wiring, such as 275 feet for the kitchen and 120 feet for the laundry area.
- A standard bedroom with LED lights, fans and two switches requires 140 feet of wire.
- Similarly, the living area and bathroom require 150-180 feet and 70-90 feet of wires, respectively.
- 75-90 feet of wiring is required for the garage, 85 feet for the hallway, and almost 100 feet for outdoor spaces.
- Calculating all these will help you to estimate the total wiring requirement for your home and the estimated budget
Importance of Electrical Estimation
Electrical estimation gives an idea of the total material, such as switches, circuits, breakers, wires, etc. An accurate estimation also helps to understand the project’s nature and the labor expertise required for that project, ultimately helping to calculate the labor per hour rate, etc. In short, electrical estimation is beneficial for both homeowners and contractors. Homeowners can understand the budget, while contractors can confidently bid for an electrical project through estimates.
How to Calculate the Wiring of the House?
This blog will discuss the standard wiring requirements for a residential project. However, these requirements may change depending on the wiring type and the individual requirements of the house.
Standard Calculations of Wiring for a Home in the US
To calculate the overall wiring needs, one has to estimate the requirements for each space in the home, such as rooms, kitchens, lounges, etc. So, let’s start.
Wiring Estimation for A Room
Although each room has a unique setup and varying wiring requirements, here we are considering a standard room with a fan, lighting, and two switches. You will need the wire from the panel to the switch and from the switch to the lights and fans. The total wire required for a room is 140 feet.
Wiring Estimation For A Kitchen
When estimating electrical wiring, the kitchen is the most essential part of the home because it goes beyond just lighting and cooling. It is the home’s central part, which uses most of the electricity due to heavy appliances, dishwashers, microwaves, and all appliances such as blenders, toasters, etc. Two circuits of 20 amps are sufficient. At the same time, the microwave and oven need a separate setup of 120-140 volts. You will need almost 275 feet of wiring to safely work all kitchen appliances.
Wiring Estimation For Laundry Room
Just like the kitchen, the laundry room requires high voltage. The washing and dryer in the laundry area require 20-amp and 30-amp circuits, respectively. Almost 120 feet of wire is required to turn on the machines and supply electric power from switches to the machine plugs.
Wiring for the Living Room
The living room uses the standard power line of 15-amp, 20-amp or 120-volt circuits. Different switches are available to charge your phone and laptop. The total wiring needed depends upon the lounge size and customization of switches and panels. However, for
standard lounge, almost 150-180 feet of wiring is sufficient.
Wiring for the Bathrooms
Due to the presence of water, bathrooms are often used as electrical installations, and strict regulations are in place by the authorities. According to these regulations, the switches should be placed under the sink so you can use your appliances without touching the wires with wet floors. So, including all the appliances in the bathroom, such as light, heating, vent fans, and switches under the sink, you will require 70-90 feet of wiring for the bathroom.
Wiring Estimations For Garage
Grades have a central light and need electricity to open the door. These electrical setups need almost 75-90 feet of wiring.
Wiring Estimations for Hallway
Hallways need lights for security purposes. Nowadays, sensor lights are also available. The hallways usually require one central light, one or two switches, and outlets, which require 85 feet of wiring.
Wiring Estimations For Outdoor Space
Outdoor spaces must have lights and waterproof outlets, which require 85-100 feet of wiring.
You can contact our team if you need customized electrical wiring estimating services.
What Factors Should To Consider While Choosing a Wiring Setup for A Home?
Adaptable to New Advancements
Due to technological advancements, many new appliances have been introduced, and many will be in future. So, when designing electrical wiring for a home, always remember that it should have advanced and adaptable properties for any new addition to the house. For example, if you want to add a new appliance in your kitchen or any entertainment section, there will be no need to replace the whole wiring with the new one; rather, the old one must have the capacity to add some switches and circuits to give space for new appliances.
Energy Efficient
We must opt for sustainable and energy-efficient wires and electrical setups to compete with the increasing inflation rate. For example, LED lights have replaced the bulbs. They are energy-efficient and also reduce the load on the wiring, enhance its life and reduce rewiring or repair. Costs.
Read More of Our Blogs: commercial electrical wiring cost per square foot
Factors that Affect the Wiring Calculations
The following are the factors that can affect the wiring of the house
- Home size
- Electrical Codes of a particular area
- Customized requirements
Home size
The size of the home directly impacts the total wire calculations. A smaller home with two rooms and a larger home with four rooms have different wiring needs. Similarly, the house’s architecture plays a significant role in wiring calculations. Simple rooms require fewer wires, while unique rooms, hallways, complex layouts, and smart homes enhance the wiring requirements.
Electrical Codes of a Particular Area
Electrical installations must follow the country’s national electrical codes. In addition, state and city electrical codes must be followed, which vary from one area to another, affecting the wiring requirements. For example, some states require more outlet spacing, which enhances the wire needs for electrical installations.
Customized Requirements
The number and types of electrical devices that the residents of the home use also impact wiring requirements. For example, more HVAC units and kitchen appliances in the home will require more wires.
Final Thoughts
Wiring a house is essential to estimating the total budget of electrical setups. Requirements for wires are different for residential and commercial projects. If we talk about a standard home in the US, then the kitchen and laundry area are the most crucial places of the house, which need lengthy wires due to more electricity usage. You can calculate the wiring needs for other places, such as homes, bathrooms, living areas, etc, to know the total wires for the whole home wiring.
