// Cost Guide · 2026 · New York City
Commercial Electrical Costs in NYC
2026 hourly rates and project costs for NYC commercial electrical work — office fit-outs, restaurant wiring, retail lighting, panel upgrades, and tenant improvements.
$150/hr
New York City
Cost breakdown — NYC 2026
| Scope of Work | NYC Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial electrician hourly rate Standard business hours |
$85 – $150/hr | Rate depends on scope, crew size, and project complexity. |
| After-hours / weekend rate | $130 – $220/hr | Common for retail and restaurant work requiring off-hours access. |
| Office tenant improvement Per square foot, new build-out or renovation |
$12 – $35/sq ft | Includes circuits, panels, outlets, data rough-in, lighting. Wide range based on density of work. |
| Restaurant electrical fit-out Full kitchen and dining room |
$8,000 – $35,000+ | Kitchen equipment loads, hood exhaust circuits, dining lighting. Highly variable by size. |
| Retail lighting installation Per 1,000 sq ft |
$2,500 – $6,000 | Track lighting, recessed, accent. Includes circuit runs and dimmer controls. |
| Commercial panel upgrade 3-phase, 200A–400A |
$4,500 – $12,000 | Includes ConEd coordination, permits, and load calculation documentation. |
| NYC DOB commercial permit | $500 – $2,500 | Varies by job scope and total electrical value. Always included in our project quotes. |
What affects cost in NYC
Job type drives cost more than size in commercial work. A restaurant electrical fit-out involves high-amperage kitchen equipment circuits, hood exhaust wiring, grease trap outlets, and health code compliance — far more complexity per square foot than an office. A retail fit-out is typically the most straightforward. Office work falls in between, with data and AV rough-in adding to base electrical scope.
After-hours requirements are very common in NYC commercial work. Retail and restaurant clients often can’t afford downtime during business hours, so electrical work happens nights and weekends. This adds 50–100% to hourly labor cost but is sometimes the only practical option.
How we price commercial work: For jobs over $2,500, we provide a fixed-price itemized proposal rather than hourly billing. You know exactly what you’re paying before work starts. Hourly rates apply to small repairs, emergency calls, and diagnostic work.
Frequently asked questions
Commercial electrician rates in NYC run $85–$150/hour for standard hours, and $130–$220/hour after-hours or on weekends. Most significant commercial projects are quoted as fixed-price jobs rather than hourly — better for budgeting and project management.
A commercial TI electrical job typically includes new circuit runs, panel upgrades or sub-panels, lighting installation, outlet and data drops, AV and security rough-in, and compliance with NYC DOB and fire code requirements. We provide itemized fixed-price proposals for all TI work.
Yes. All significant commercial electrical work in NYC requires DOB permits, and inspections must be passed before occupancy. We handle all DOB filings, applications, and inspection scheduling as part of every commercial project.
Yes — restaurants are one of our most common commercial clients. We understand the specific requirements: high-amperage equipment circuits, 3-phase power for large HVAC and refrigeration, hood exhaust circuits, health code compliance, and the need for tight scheduling around service hours.
For jobs over $2,500, we provide a fixed-price itemized proposal after a site walk. You know exactly what you’re paying before we start. For small repairs, diagnostic work, and emergency calls, we bill hourly at agreed rates. We never pad hourly jobs.
Get a free commercial electrical quote
Tell us your property type, scope of work, and timeline — we’ll provide a fixed-price itemized proposal within 48 hours of a site walk.