How much does it cost to replace a GFCI outlet in Virginia?

There is no standard Virginia price for replacing a GFCI outlet, and we did not find a dated, primary-source price list for it, so we give no figure. The device itself is a small part of the bill. Most of what you pay is the visit: the minimum charge, the time to find out why it failed and the labor to swap it.

Use the factors below to compare quotes, and the checklist at the end to make them comparable.

What drives the price

Why it is being replaced. A GFCI that has simply worn out is the cheap case. The CPSC says that if the light does not come back on when you press reset during its test, the GFCI should be replaced.^[1] A GFCI that keeps tripping may be responding to a real fault on the circuit, and tracing that costs more than the device.

Diagnosis time. If a GFCI protects other outlets, the electrician may have to work out which receptacle or connection is causing the trip. Ask whether the first visit carries a minimum charge and whether it is credited toward the repair.

How many are replaced. A house with several GFCIs of the same age often has more than one failing. Ask for a price per device and for the quote to say what happens to the visit charge when you add a second.

A breaker versus an outlet. Some GFCIs are circuit breakers in the panel rather than receptacles. The CPSC says a defective GFCI circuit breaker should be replaced by a qualified electrician.^[1] Panel work is priced differently from a wall outlet.

Location and condition. An outlet in an open garage is quicker than one in a finished bathroom with a damaged box, or one outdoors that has been soaked. Corroded or scorched wiring changes the job and the quote. Ask for what the electrician finds in writing, with photos, before you agree to more work.

The type of outlet. Outdoor locations, child-accessible locations and 240-volt circuits may call for a different type of receptacle than a basic one, so ask the electrician which type they are quoting and why.

Permit

Virginia's building code lists replacement of 125 volt, 15 or 20 ampere receptacles in a single dwelling unit among the work that needs no permit,^[2] and the exemption does not exempt the work from other applicable requirements of the code.^[2] A new circuit, a changed circuit or a panel change is a different job and may need a permit from your locality, so ask the electrician which applies.

Who may do the work

The Code of Virginia says no individual shall engage in, or offer to engage in, work as a tradesman unless licensed under that article, apart from individuals working under the supervision of a licensed tradesman in that specialty.^[3] DPOR says a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required when the work is valued at $1,000 or more,^[4] and warns that if you contract with someone who does not hold a license, the Board for Contractors may not be able to help you resolve a complaint.^[4]

Getting a quote you can compare

Ask each electrician for a written quote that states the diagnosis or minimum charge, the price per device, the type of outlet being installed, whether a permit is needed and who pulls it, and the warranty on the work. Virginia law requires licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work,^[4] and DPOR suggests an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less.^[4] A small repair often needs no deposit.

When to call a licensed pro

For the replacement itself. Press test and reset yourself if you like, but leave the device swap to a licensed electrician, and call at once if the outlet is warm, scorched, buzzing or has been underwater. See what a GFCI outlet does for how to test one, and where Virginia code requires GFCI outlets for where they belong. For related pricing, compare fixing a dead outlet and adding an outlet. Browse more electrical repair answers or electrical services.

To get a price for your own outlets, describe the problem once and licensed local electricians quote it.