RV Electrical Hookup Cost

Last Updated on December 27, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

The term of recreational vehicle (RV) is often used as a broad category of motor vehicles and trailers that include housing designed for temporary accommodation. Types of RVs include campers, caravans (also known as travel trailers and caravan trailers), five-wheel trailers, mobile popups, motorhomes, and RV Park models.

Regardless of what type of RV you own, you will need to install an electrical hookup in it so you can have a comfortable way of life.

How Much Does an RV Electrical Hookup Cost?

The cost of RV electrical hookup installation is greatly influenced by the amount of physical work you are willing to do. It would take some hard work to dig the trench and set a treated post, but you will reduce the costs with this project if you will do this yourself. Obviously, you will not have to dig any trench if your recreational vehicle is parked close enough to your garage or home.

You might also like our articles on the cost of an RV, GFCI outlet installation, or scamp trailer.

On the other hand, you should plan on spending anywhere between $450 and $1,300, if you will hire someone to do all the work. But you may be able to reduce the costs by more than a half if you hire a licensed electrician for the dangerous work and do the rest of the work by yourself.

• Typical cost average: $820
• Average contractor installed cost: $450 – $1,300
• Average DIY cost: $210 – $320

RV Electrical Hookup

If you own an RV, you can enjoy all the benefits it can offer by installing an electrical hookup somewhere in your yard, on a dedicated concrete RV pad, or close to your driveway. You will be able to make your stay more enjoyable if your RV has power on it.

No matter where you install the electrical hookup, it will provide some additional space for guests and will let you keep the RV ready for travel at any time. In case you have an EV, you can combine the RV with the use of an electrical charging station if it is located conveniently.

There are some simple steps you need to follow in order to install an RV electrical hookup. The majority of the homeowners choose to hire a licensed electrician to hook up the wires to the power source.

First of all, you must use a 6×6 or 4×4 pressure-treated post in order to place the electrical box for the hookup. To do it you will have to dig an 8×8 hole and sink the pole at a minimum of 2 feet into the ground. Set it in place by using concrete.

Secondly, you will have to dig a trench situated below the frost line, which is around 30 inches down in Northern climates, from the junction box on the pole where the breaker box is situated at your property or the electrical outlet installed by the power company at your home.

Finally, you will need to hire a licensed electrician to hook up the wires and install the breaker and the right outlets necessary to power your recreational vehicle.

Cost of Supplies to Install an RV Power Plug

You will have to consider the costs of the supplies needed to install an RV power plug. Here is a list:

• Circuit breaker, which is anywhere between $10 and $45, depending on the brand. Most probably you will need to add another circuit breaker in the electrical box within your home when installing an electrical hookup for your RV.
• Electrical wire, that is $3 to $5 per foot. You will have to buy the right wire to go for your RV hookup to the circuit breaker box at your property, depending on what amperes your RV needs.
• Electrical box, that is anywhere between $65 and $85. This box is where you will plug in your RV to the power source which is run from your property.

Inspection, Permits, Related Costs, and Installation Time

Inspection and Permits Costs

The place where you are living, the building requirements in your area, and the local codes will determine the need to get a permit to install an electrical hookup for your RV. Make sure you check with your local county or city offices and ask what permits are required.

Expect to spend nothing to around $200 for the inspection and permits.

Related Costs and Installation Time

According to various online sources, the average cost for this project is $1,250. However, according to our previous experience, you should not spend more than $1,000 to hire a handyman to do the digging and an electrician for the connection and circuit.

If you would like to rent a trencher for digging purposes, you should expect to spend anywhere between $155 and $310 for half a day rental. But you can eliminate this cost if you choose to dig the trench yourself by hand.

A licensed electrician will need around half a day to install the circuit breaker, the wiring, and the electrical box. Taking into consideration that an electrician charges anywhere between $75 and $155 per hour, you will have to pay $300 to $650 for their work.

Costs of Related Projects

When installing an electrical hookup for your RV there are some related projects you need to do in order to complete this job. We will go through some of these below.

EV charging station. This is mandatory to recharge your vehicle if you rely on the EV as a means of daily transportation. Plan on spending around $2,250 to install an EV charging station.

Concrete patio. If you really want to enjoy your outdoor stay, set a patio with a table and chairs. Expect to spend around $10 per square foot on the concrete. But, if you are on a tight budget, you can choose to set up a gravel patio.

New electrical circuit breaker. Most probably you will need one more circuit if you have a 200 amp panel. There is also the option to add a new, smaller panel for your RV.

Hire a pro or DIY?

Depending on your electrical knowledge, you can do parts of this project or you can do the entire project by yourself.

It takes some hard work to install an electrical hookup for your RV, but this is not so complicated.

Normal
0

21

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}