How Much Does It Cost to Run Power to a Detached Garage? (2026)

As of 2026, running power to a detached garage costs $1,200 to $7,100 total. That covers the supply run plus interior wiring. Just the underground supply run alone runs $10 to $25 per linear foot. The biggest factors are the distance from your main panel and whether you need one circuit or a full subpanel. Rufino Electric checks your setup and gives you a clear, written price before starting.

How much does it cost to run power to a detached garage in 2026?

A single 20-amp circuit, 50-foot overhead run: $500 to $900. This covers basic lights and outlets and nothing more.

A 100-amp subpanel, 60-foot underground run: $1,800 to $3,200. A subpanel gives the garage its own breakers, so you can run tools, a fridge, or an AC unit without tripping the house panel.

A 100-amp subpanel, 150-foot underground run: $2,800 to $5,000. The extra distance means more trenching and often a bigger wire.

A full-scope reference, supply run plus interior wiring: $1,200 to $7,100 total, based on published 2026 cost guides.

These are market ranges, not a Rufino Electric quote. One licensed electrician sizes the run, pulls the permit, and gives you a price in writing before any digging starts.

What decides whether you need a single circuit or a subpanel?

A single circuit is enough for a light and an outlet or two. Rufino Electric sizes the circuit for what you plan to run, so your tools, appliances, and gear work right.

A subpanel makes more sense once the garage does real work. Think power tools, an EV charger, a mini-split, a well pump, or an RV hookup. A subpanel gives the garage its own breakers. One tripped circuit will not take down everything else out there. It also leaves room to add more circuits later, without digging another trench.

Why does the distance change the price so much?

Trenching is priced by the foot. A run that is three times as long costs roughly three times as much just for the ditch work. Distance also changes the wire itself. A longer run needs a bigger wire, so the power does not weaken before it reaches the garage. That bigger wire, plus more trenching and conduit, is why a 150-foot run to a subpanel costs more than double a 60-foot run to the same size subpanel.

Most Victor Valley properties make this job easier than in a tightly packed neighborhood. About 78% of Apple Valley homes and 82% of Hesperia homes sit on their own detached lot, and Hesperia's share is the highest in the Victor Valley (ACS 2019-2023). That usually means open yard access for the trench. No shared wall or HOA common area to cross first.

Why long runs in the High Desert need real wire sizing

A wire that is too thin for its length loses power along the way. This is called voltage drop. The rule of thumb is keeping that drop under 3 percent on the run. A 100-amp subpanel run up to 100 feet needs at least a #4 AWG copper wire. A run between 100 and 200 feet needs a heavier #2 AWG. On a long run, aluminum wire can cost less than copper. It just has to be one size bigger, and connected the right way.

Guessing at wire size is how a garage subpanel ends up underpowered. That means a well pump or an AC unit that runs poorly, or breakers that trip under load. Rufino Electric runs the numbers for your actual distance and load before pulling any wire.

Do you need a permit for this?

Yes. Running new power to a detached garage is new electrical service, not a simple swap. It needs a permit and inspection in every city Rufino Electric serves: Adelanto, Victorville, Apple Valley, and Hesperia. See when an electrical permit is required for the full breakdown. Permit fees for this kind of job typically run $50 to $200, on top of the wiring cost itself.

Rufino Electric pulls the permit for you and schedules the inspection, so the job is legal, safe, and done once.

Frequently asked questions

How far can you run electrical wire to a garage? There is no hard distance limit, but the wire has to get bigger as the run gets longer to keep voltage drop under control. A 100-amp subpanel run over 100 feet needs a heavier wire than the same subpanel at 60 feet. Rufino Electric measures your actual distance and sizes the wire to match, instead of guessing.

Do I need a permit to run electricity to a detached garage? Yes. New electrical service to a detached structure needs a permit and inspection in Adelanto, Victorville, Apple Valley, and Hesperia. Rufino Electric pulls the permit and schedules the inspection as part of the job.

What size wire do I need to run power to a garage? It depends on the subpanel size and the distance. For a 100-amp subpanel, expect at least #4 AWG copper up to 100 feet, and a heavier #2 AWG from 100 to 200 feet. Rufino Electric sizes the wire for your exact run so the power you get at the garage is the power you paid for.

Get a free estimate from Rufino Electric

Rufino Electric is a licensed, veteran-owned and family-owned electrical contractor (CSLB #1148482) based in Adelanto. We serve Victorville, Apple Valley, Hesperia, and the wider Victor Valley. Three generations and 45 years of family electrical experience back every job, and we back the work itself with a 1-year labor warranty and a 2-year warranty on parts and equipment. If a job in your home needs attention too, like a panel with no room left for a new circuit or a breaker that keeps tripping, tell us when you call. Call (714) 631-4562 or request a free estimate, and we will size the job before we quote it.

Related service: Wiring & Rewiring