An electrician service call costs $100 to $200 in 2026
For most electricians the service call fee covers the visit and the first hour of work, so a small job like a dead outlet can be done for the fee alone. Some charge a separate $40-$100 trip fee plus hourly labor instead.
What you get for the fee
| What the fee covers | Travel, setup, and usually the first hour of the electrician's time. Consultations and safety inspections are priced as service calls too. |
|---|---|
| Hourly labor after the first hour | $50-$130 per hour. Apprentices are at the low end, master electricians at the top. |
| Minimum charge | Many electricians bill a one- to two-hour minimum even if the job takes 20 minutes. |
| Separate trip fee | Some companies charge $40-$100 just to arrive, not credited to labor. Ask which model they use. |
| Nights, weekends, holidays | $100-$260 per hour, or 1.5× to 2× the standard rate. |
| Permits | Not part of the service call. Panel work and rewiring often need a permit, $200-$900 on older homes. |
| Estimates | A quote for an already-identified job is usually free. Finding the problem is a paid service call. |
Why electrician companies charge it
Electricians carry expensive tools, insurance and licensing, and a short troubleshooting call takes as long to drive to as a full-day job. The service call fee makes small jobs worth taking. Because it usually includes the first hour, it is closer to a minimum charge than a pure trip fee.
Service call fee calculator
For contractors. Cost out the trip, then add your margin. The fee updates as you type.
Updates as you type. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Run a trade business? Find out if ChatGPT recommends you.
When a homeowner asks ChatGPT, Google or Perplexity for the best plumber, HVAC or electrician in town, one business gets named. Seen AI checks whether it is you, and fixes it if it is not.
Book a free 15 minute call No pitch deck. We run your audit live on the call.How the calculator works
A service call fee has to cover everything that happens before a repair is approved. The calculator adds those costs and then applies your margin.
- Burdened labor rate = wage × (1 + burden%) ÷ billable%. A $32/hr technician with 35% burden who is billable 70% of the day really costs $61.71 per productive hour.
- Travel labor = burdened rate × drive minutes ÷ 60.
- Vehicle cost = round-trip miles × cost per mile. The IRS business rate is 76¢ per mile from July 1, 2026, up from 72.5¢ in the first half of the year.
- Included on-site time = burdened rate × on-site minutes ÷ 60.
- Break-even = travel labor + vehicle cost + on-site time + dispatch cost.
- Fee = break-even ÷ (1 − margin%). Dividing by (1 − margin) gives a true margin on price; multiplying by (1 + margin) would be markup, which is smaller.
Worked example: $32 wage, 35% burden, 70% billable, 45 minutes of driving, 24 miles, 30 minutes on site, $15 dispatch, 30% margin. Break-even is $46.28 + $18.24 + $30.86 + $15.00 = $110.38. Fee = $110.38 ÷ 0.70 = $157.69, which sits inside the normal HVAC range.
Common questions
How much does an electrician charge for a service call?
$100 to $200 in 2026, and that usually includes the first hour of labor. Additional hours run $50-$130.
Is the electrician service call fee credited to the repair?
When it includes the first hour, it is the repair for small jobs. A separate trip fee of $40-$100 is generally not credited.
Why is my electrician charging a two-hour minimum?
To cover travel, insurance and setup on jobs that finish quickly. It is common practice; ask about it when booking.
What does an electrical inspection cost?
$100 to $200, priced the same as a service call.
Do electricians charge more after hours?
Yes. Expect 1.5× to 2× the normal rate, roughly $100-$260 per hour.