How Much Does a 20 Amp Circuit Breaker Cost?

The component is less expensive compared to a pizza, while the service charges are greater than the charges for car service. This is the reason why two people might ask the same question and get answers such as $8 or $350. This is how things are done according to the values that are specified on the bill, as opposed to those stated in the catalogue.

The approximate price of the single-pole type circuit breaker with 20A capacity is somewhere between $5 and $15, while the approximate price of the double-pole circuit breaker is expected to be around $10-$25, along with the GFCI circuit breaker and the AFCI circuit breaker, whose approximate price is around $30-$75. As for dual circuit breakers, the approximate cost is $120 and more. Speaking about the replacing service for a 20A single-pole circuit breaker, an estimation says it is about $150-$300 as the prices on the labor might be equivalent to the price of the circuit breaker being replaced. However, the replacement of the main circuit breaker may be considered as a separate service.

Two Numbers People Confuse

The price of the part and the price charged for the installation are not the same, and it is precisely this inconsistency that results in the homeowner’s feeling of being cheated.

One will find that replacing a single-pole 20 A breaker is quite easy, taking less than 15 minutes, while the part itself costs less than gas needed for the service. What the customer is paying for includes the professional’s time plus the cost of their insurance, a service vehicle with the needed materials, the service itself, and the guarantee that comes with it.

There’s nothing that can be counted as needless expense. Almost half of service calls starting as “I need help with replacing my breaker” will actually lead to different outcomes, as there was nothing wrong with the breaker, and the fault lied elsewhere, for instance, a nail through the wiring or faulty device plugged in the outlet. Our FAQ section covers the questions buyers ask before ordering a replacement device.

Part Prices by Type

Panel series and brand may alter this figure by $5-$15 in either sense. An older panel series unit that is out of production can be valued in multiples in comparison to the modern one, which is a market that keeps the specialists on obsolete breakers in operation.

The standard device itself is unremarkable, which is the point. A single-pole 32 to 63 A MCB in the KNB1 range shows the format: one pole, 18 mm, thermal-magnetic, a trip curve you select for the load.

What Pushes the Part Cost Up

• Pole count. In a two-pole breaker, there are two mechanisms along with one trip bar, which is the reason for the high price of the part.The construction is shown in this two-pole miniature circuit breaker, and the common trip is the part that matters: both poles must open even if only one sees the fault.
• Electronics. AFCI and GFCI devices comprise a sensing circuit, a testing circuit, and a trip solenoid. Hence, a $10 part turns into a $60 one, in addition to failing sooner than its mechanical counterparts.
• Interrupting rating. For a 10 kA breaker, you pay more than for a 6 kA breaker of the same size; however, this is the right choice when the available fault current is too high. Trying to save $3 by buying a low rating is always uneconomical.
• Panel series lock-in. The breaker has to be listed for the panel. In case the panel series is obsolete, the price is due to a low supply rather than a high price of copper.

The Installed Cost, Broken Down

• A charge for service: Typically, it varies between $75 and $150. This is billed regardless of whether a breaker is actually replaced.
• The technician takes between 15 and 30 minutes if it is a basic exchange and charges a fee between $75 and $150 hourly or per device.
• The cost of the replacement part: A $5 to $75 fee, depending on the device.
• The cost of a permit, where required: A $50 to $200 fee. There’s usually no need for a permit for direct breaker replacement but as soon as a circuit is added or modified, many regions require one for the job.
• Time for diagnostic: An unpredictable cost that makes an uncomplicated task cost two hours sometimes.

The total amount for replacing a regular 20A breaker is usually from $150 to $300, whereas replacing GFCI or AFCI will average between $200 and $450 due to the cost of both the part and the process.A two-pole 240 V breaker costs between $250 and $500, and it may be required for the washing machine or an AC unit.If you are making a circuit and not replacing a breaker, then the costs may vary too.Our technical service will quote a replacement differently from an addition, and the difference is worth knowing before you compare two quotes that look far apart.

Why a 20 A Breaker Is Not Just a Bigger 15 A

In terms of costs, the two devices are priced similarly however, the circuit isn’t.

A 15 Amp circuit breaker protects the 14 gauge copper while a 20 Am circuit breaker protects the 12 gauge wire. A 20 Amp appliance cannot be operated with the 14 gauge wire as doing so would eliminate the protection the wire was meant for since the wire can only operate at 15 Amps even for 20 Am appliances. Hence all the receptacles that the 20A circuit has will easily surpass its rating and that is why upgrading to place 20A is one of the most common forms of risky shortcuts in electrical home wiring.

In fact for a 20 Amp circuit to operate the load should consistently be at 80% of its rating which would be 16 Amp or around 1920 Watts at 120 V.

When a $10 Breaker Becomes a $2,000 Job

When the breaker indicates a problem, there is actually no problem.

• The busbar is broken. A breaker running consistently hot will cause damage to the busbar that it clips on to. Any newly installed device will run hot on the damaged busbar and will require a replacement of the entire panel.
• The panel is filled. The addition of a 20 A circuit will require two slots in a fully loaded panel. This implies installing tandem breakers in the panel or adding a subpanel. This is a job.
• The panel is outdated or failing. The Federal Pacific Stab-Lok, Zinsco and Pushmatic panels are not included in the list of panel requiring a $10 breaker. Replacement of the panel is advisable. The cost will start around $1,300 with the upper limit of $4,000.
• The service is insufficient. According to the specification for installation of a new circuit, the cost is to be incurred.A weatherproof board for an outbuilding, such as this 6 to 36 module watertight enclosure, is a cheaper answer than a service change when the load is remote from the house.

All four scenarios look identical when viewed from the telephone!

Doing It Yourself

A careful homeowner can replace a single-pole breaker, though certain jurisdictions may have laws prohibiting or restricting such an action. If you replace one, do it in this order: turn off the main breaker, test the panel to ensure it is dead, take a picture of the circuit, remove the load line, take out the breaker from the panel, install a new breaker of the same make and model, reconnect the load line at the same torque, and turn on the power and test the circuit.

The step where people usually go wrong is in the torque. Hand-tight is not a specification, and a poorly connected new breaker will create the same failure for which the old one was ordered to be replaced.

FAQ

How much does a 20 amp circuit breaker cost to replace?

The prices of parts vary between $5 and $15 per device. The price of installation ranges from $150 to $300, plus the service charge, while installing a GFCI or AFCI device costs $200 to $450.

How much should an electrician charge to replace a breaker?

Most companies charge a trip fee which is usually $75 to $150 in addition to labor charges or a fixed rate from $150 to $250 for each device. Charges when the call is made after work hours or for emergencies cost 1.5 to 2 times higher than the usual charges.

Do I need an electrician to replace a circuit breaker?

You’re not going to find anything like a trade of competence. Instead what one faces is the risk of diagnostics, bolting and of approaching live bus. In the case of an old and/or filled or damaged or unknown panel, better call an electrician.

What is the price of a 20 amp breaker?

$5 to $15 for standard single-pole devices; $10 to $25 is what one should pay for two-pole devices, and $30 to $120 when AFCI, GFCI and dual funktion are included.

References

• NEMA — Low Voltage Distribution Equipment
• Cerrowire — Wire Ampacity and Overcurrent Protection Tables
• Southwire — Cable Selection and Installation Data
• This Old House — What Electrical Work Really Costs
• Bob Vila — Circuit Breaker Replacement Costs

Conclusion

While the equipment itself costs $10, $200 is necessary for identification and proper installation of the equipment. Add the latter to the budget as well as gauge the wire to avoid the temptation of using a bigger circuit breaker before knowing whether it is essential.

Tell us the name of the panel, the circuit, and the load, and we will provide you with the correct 20A equipment, not just the one that is available.