Basement circuits calculator
Breakers, wire, boxes, devices and lights for finishing a basement, from its area and walls.
An estimate of the materials a job takes, worked out in your browser: check it against the job, and against your local code where it matters. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Put in the job's numbers and choices, and the list below follows them.
What it takes
Worked out for Finished area 1,000 sq ft, Foundation wall 130 ft, Partition walls 60 ft.
Panel and wire
- 20A dual-function AFCI/GFCI breaker 3 each Receptacle circuits 2 each + Lighting circuits 1 each: 3 each. Match the panel brand.
- 12-2 NM-B wire, 250 ft 3 roll Receptacle circuits 2 each + Lighting circuits 1 each: 3 roll.
- 12-3 NM-B wire, 50 ft 1 roll Three-way switches 4 each, one per 4: 1 roll.
- Wire connectors 2 pack A fixed 2: 2 pack.
- Cable staples, 1000 ct 1 box A fixed 1: 1 box.
- Steel nail plate 50 each Wall length 190 ft, one per 4: 47.5 each; plus 5% waste: 49.88; rounded up to whole each: 50. Wherever wire runs near a stud face; check local code.
Boxes and devices
- New-work box, 20 cu in 31 each (Receptacles 21 each + Single-pole switches 6 each) + Three-way switches 4 each: 31 each.
- 4 in square box and mud ring 8 each Recessed lights 32 each, one per 4: 8 each.
- 20A tamper-resistant receptacle 21 each Receptacles 21 each: 21 each. Check local code for spacing.
- Single-pole switch 6 each Single-pole switches 6 each: 6 each.
- Three-way switch 4 each Three-way switches 4 each: 4 each.
- LED-rated dimmer 4 each Three-way switches 4 each: 4 each.
- Wall plate 31 each (Receptacles 21 each + Single-pole switches 6 each) + Three-way switches 4 each: 31 each.
Lights and alarms
- 6 in canless LED recessed light, 4-pack 8 pack Recessed lights 32 each at 4 a pack: 8 pack.
- Hardwired interconnected smoke and CO alarm 3 each Finished area 1,000 sq ft, one per 400: 2.5 each; rounded up to whole each: 3. Check local code for where alarms go.
What it leaves out
- A new panel or service upgrade
- Permits and inspection fees
The same calculator in SMG Tools
In SMG Tools this calculator fills its numbers from the client's site measurements, prices every line from your own Price Book, checks the margin against your target, and carries the lines onto the proposal, the job's plan and the purchase order. It is one of the ready-made calculators SMG Tools sets up for electrical, and calculators are on every plan.