I picked up some wood boards over the weekend, and… ouch. Lumber prices have been inflated for several months now, and with no relief in sight. Copper has also been way up, driving up the price of wiring products as well.
I searched around, and Zoro seems to be the best place to buy Southwire Romex NM-B wiring right now. They have 2- and 3-conductor wire at what look to be regular prices. These days, “regular prices” can mean a hefty discount compared to home center and electrical supplier pricing.
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Surprising, Walmart also has shorter lengths of Romex wire at normalish levels, but they’re only available for in-store pickup and you’re limited to 25′ lengths.
Here’s a snapshot of current pricing:
Romex 14/2 x 25′ Prices
- Home Depot: $23.42
- Lowe’s: $21.48
- Zoro: $10.76
Romex 12/2 x 25′ Prices
- Home Depot: $34.84
- Lowe’s: $31.98
- Zoro: $17.95
Romex 250′ Prices
- 14/2: $104 via Lowe’s
- 14/2: $81.99 via Zoro
- 12/2: $140 via Lowe’s
- 12/2: $134.99 via Zoro
Zoro has 25′ through 250′ lengths, although the 100′ and 250′ sizes all seem to be backordered at the moment. You can buy now to lock in the price, but there are no delivery estimates.
Surprisingly, Lowe’s has 250′ wire for only a little more than via Zoro, but they have it in stock.
14/2 x 25′
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Buy Nowvia Zoro
Buy Now via Walmart
Buy Now via Home Depot
Buy Now via Lowe’s
12/2 x 25′
Buy Now via Zoro
Buy Now via Walmart
Buy Now via Home Depot
Buy Now via Lowe’s
50′ Lengths
Buy Now: 14 AWG 50′ via Zoro
Buy Now: 12 AWG 50′ via Zoro
250′ Lengths
Buy Now: 14 AWG 250′ via Lowe’s
Buy Now: 12 AWG 250′ via Lowe’s
Jim Felt
We’ve never purchased “Romex” at Zoro but that’s a nice (non contractor-like) price.
Also we’ve never bought less then 250’ coils. Or wire reels.
Of course as a commodity metal these prices have risen and fallen for decades.
fred might have a better sense of historic price tracking then I.
Interesting comparison.
Thanks Stuart.
fred
We subbed out our electrical work. We had the needed licenses and registrations (as required in the states/cities) where we worked for carpentery, plumbing, steamfitting, gasfitting, fire-suppression piping, site-safety and welding – but skipped over “master electrician”.
Jeremiah Ducate
I had to get 12/2-250′ for a project recently and did a little research. I found a forum online that mentioned lowes has been the best retail price and at the end of 2019 was $80. I looked about 3 weeks ago at menards and it was $150, a week later it was $220 or $230. My assumption is they had to reorder or renew a contract from the supplier at the corporate level and updated the pricing in their systemwide computer.
Jim (Philly Fixed)
Nice!! Thanks, Stuart!
Tom D
Another place to check are local stores without websites – for example Your local Ace will have usually been higher price than others, but they may have not updated their pricing.
IronWood
We’re finishing up rewiring our house. New service a year ago, shop sub-panel and underground feeder 6 months ago, and now just finishing up the interior. So I’ve had a good view of watching prices climb. I only buy 250′ rolls unless it’s something specific (dryer, range, etc.) We paid about $60 for 14/2, $80 for 12/2 a year ago, just paid $90 and $140 respectively at the local building supply yesterday. Paid $140 for 10/2 about six months ago, now it’s $280. I don’t even want to know what the 2 AWG Cu I used for the garage feeder would be now! Glad that’s done. I really feel for people that started building last year and are getting blindsided by these cost increases. At some point it’s going to have to start affecting housing starts and new remodels, the market can only absorb so much…
Mike
Lowes has great pricing on Romex and THHN wire by the foot.
Sure it can be found a little cheaper, but convenience is a factor also.
Ian Random
I wanted to put a daily timer on a fan, but required 3 insulated conductor 25′ romex. It was $75 at the blue/orange hardware stores, but saw it for $35 on Ebay. So $50 including the timer. I ended up getting a Shelly WiFi relay for $20 and it has great scheduling capabilities.