Basement Finish Electrical
Pick your tier and scope — see circuit count, lighting plan, and sub-panel recommendation update live.
Finish Tier
Square Footage
Bedrooms Added
Each bedroom adds an AFCI-protected circuit + egress lighting + interconnected smoke detector per NEC.
Bathroom
Add-ons
Your Setup
Most popular- ~20 LED recessed lights
- ~20 outlets (code-spaced)
- 3-way + dimmer switches in common areas
- 1 bedroom: ceiling-fan rough-in, switched outlet, AFCI circuit, smoke detector
- Full bath: GFCI outlet, exhaust fan w/ timer, vanity light w/ dimmer
- 1–2 USB outlets in main living area
- Hardwired interconnected smoke + CO detectors
- Permit pulled + city/county inspection
Counts are approximations the electrician will refine on-site. Final pricing depends on existing panel headroom, run distances, and your specific layout.
The three finish tiers
Tier sets fixtures, switch types, and how much “extra” is included on top of code compliance.
- Code-minimum outlet spacing (every 12 ft)
- Standard LED recessed lights (~1 per 100 sqft)
- Single-pole switches; 3-way only where code requires
- Bedroom: ceiling box + switched outlet + smoke detector
- Bathroom (if any): GFCI outlet + code exhaust fan + single vanity light
- Wet bar (if any): 2 GFCI small-appliance circuits
- AV (if any): 1 TV-wall outlet + 1 Cat6 drop
- Everything in Basic, plus:
- More recessed lights (~2 per 100 sqft, including in bedrooms)
- 3-way + dimmer switches in common areas
- 1–2 USB outlets in main living area
- Bedroom: ceiling-fan rough-in (box + switched circuit)
- Bathroom: vanity dimmer + ventilation timer
- Wet bar: dedicated fridge circuit
- AV: TV-wall outlet + Cat6 to TV + 2-zone in-ceiling speaker pre-wire
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Maximum recessed lights (~3 per 100 sqft)
- Smart switches throughout (Lutron Caséta or similar)
- USB outlets standard in common areas
- Accent outlets (under-cabinet, holiday)
- Bedroom: recessed lights + smart switches
- Bathroom: heated floor circuit + dimmer + smart fan control
- Wet bar: dedicated 240V circuit (wine cooler/kegerator), dishwasher circuit
- AV: TV-wall + Cat6 every room + multi-zone audio + projector pre-wire
Code compliance + permit baseline
These are required by NEC and don't change between tiers. Tier only affects what we add on top.
AFCI vs. GFCI — what's the difference?
Both are safety devices. Both are required by code in different places. They protect against different hazards.
AFCI — Fire Protection
Detects arcing — the kind of damaged-wire fault that causes house fires (think a nail through a wire behind drywall, or a loose connection quietly sparking inside a wall).
Required on: bedrooms, family rooms, dining rooms, hallways, closets — basically every habitable space.
GFCI — Shock Protection
Detects current leaking to ground — the kind of fault that causes electric shocks (like a hair dryer falling into a sink).
Required on: bathrooms, kitchens, wet bars, garages, outdoors, laundry — anywhere near water.
How a basement finish unfolds
Electrical happens in two phases — we coordinate with whoever's doing the drywall and trim.
Need panel work too?
A basement finish adds a lot of circuits. If your main panel can't handle it, we pair the basement work with panel or service upgrades.
Common questions
Ready to plan your basement?
Free on-site walk-through. We'll confirm the scope, finalize the circuit layout, and quote it transparently.