Copper wire prices are up 30.8% from a year ago, the steepest rise in five years, and that changes how electricians should bid jobs.
The price manufacturers charge for copper wire and cable was 30.8% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index. That’s the biggest yearly jump since August 2021. Over two years, copper wire prices are up 46.3%.
The increase isn’t a one-month blip. Every month of 2026 so far, copper wire prices have been between 13% and 31% higher than a year before.
Other supplies electricians buy rose too, though less:
- Switchgear and panelboards: +12.3%
- Boxes, fittings and similar wiring parts: +6.6%
- Switches, outlets and other wiring devices: +3.4%
Overall consumer prices rose 3.7% over the same year.
Why copper wire costs more
A big driver is the price of copper itself. The global copper price averaged about $13,543 a metric ton in July 2026, 38.6% higher than a year earlier, according to International Monetary Fund figures published by the St. Louis Fed. Demand from data centers, power grid upgrades and electric vehicles is often cited as a reason. U.S. tariffs on imported copper products, in place since August 2025, are another factor. The price index can’t show how much of the rise comes from each cause.
Contractors are feeling it across the board. HVAC suppliers announced another round of price increases for October, mostly 3% to 6%, ACHR News reported on October 7. One maker of copper line sets, the tubing that connects air conditioners, raised prices an average of 12.9%.
What this means for electrical jobs
Wire is one of the biggest material costs on a rewiring job or a new service, so a 30% jump can wipe out the margin on a fixed-price bid. Many electricians now:
- Quote material separately from labor, and keep quotes valid for a short time, such as 15 or 30 days
- Add a price-adjustment clause to longer jobs, tied to a published index like the BLS series above
- Buy wire for a specific job when the contract is signed, rather than months later
Your insurance should also match the size of the jobs you’re taking on. See our guides to electrician insurance in North Carolina and electrician insurance in Illinois. HVAC contractors, who use copper line sets, can check HVAC insurance in Ohio.
How we got these numbers
Price changes come from BLS Producer Price Index series for copper wire and cable (WPU10260314), copper and brass mill shapes (WPU102502), switchgear and switchboard apparatus (PCU335313335313), noncurrent-carrying wiring devices (PCU335932335932) and current-carrying wiring devices (PCU335931335931), not seasonally adjusted. These track prices manufacturers receive, not what a supply house charges a contractor. BLS revises the latest four months of PPI data, so recent figures may change. The global copper price is the IMF’s monthly average (FRED series PCOPPUSDM). Data pulled October 18, 2026.