Wires and cables — price, types and what to check
Hidden in walls for decades — never compromise here.
Wiring is the one material you can't inspect once the walls are plastered. Correct size and flame-safe insulation prevent the overheating behind most house fires.
The basics
- Size by cross-section: 1.5 sq mm for lights and fans, 2.5 for sockets, 4 for AC and geyser, 6 for mains.
- Insulation: FR (flame retardant), FRLS (low smoke), HFFR/ZHFR (zero halogen, safest).
- House wires come in 90 m coils.
Wires and cables types and price ranges in India
| Type | Specification | Best used for | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 sq mm FRLS | 90 m coil, IS 694 | Lights and fans | ₹1,200–2,000 |
| 2.5 sq mm FRLS | 90 m coil | 6A/16A sockets | ₹1,900–3,100 |
| 4 sq mm FRLS | 90 m coil | AC, geyser, kitchen | ₹3,000–4,800 |
| 6 sq mm FRLS | 90 m coil | Main feeder to DB | ₹4,500–7,200 |
| HFFR / ZHFR wire | Zero halogen | Safest for homes | ₹1,500–8,500 |
| Armoured cable | Al / Cu | Meter to house, outdoor | ₹80–400 |
| PVC conduit and boxes | IS 9537 | Concealing wiring | ₹25–80 |
| LAN, TV and CCTV cable | Cat6 / coax | Data and security | ₹20–60 |
Quality checks before you accept delivery
- Copper should be bright, flexible and multi-strand.
- Coil must state 90 m length and carry the ISI mark.
- Insulation thickness should be uniform; FR insulation self-extinguishes when the flame is removed.
- Weigh the coil — underweight coils often mean thinner copper.
- Printing should show brand, size, voltage and IS 694 along the length.
- Strip a sample: strands should be bright, flexible copper.
Pro tips
- Colour code: red or brown phase, black or blue neutral, green earth.
- Run separate circuits for AC and kitchen; never share neutrals across circuits.
- Don't fill a conduit beyond 40% — use 25 mm conduit for more than four wires.
- Provide two earth pits and keep earth resistance low, ideally under 5 ohms.
- Leave a draw wire in every empty conduit for future cables.
- Label every circuit in the DB.
- Run a correctly sized earth conductor on every circuit.
- Get an insulation resistance (megger) test before handover.
Mistakes to avoid
- Joints hidden inside conduits.
- Unbranded wire to save a few thousand rupees.
- Data cables in the same conduit as power.
- Taped joints instead of proper connectors.
- Aluminium wiring inside the house.
Where you can save
- Order full coils against a circuit plan — loose metres cost more.
- Don't downsize socket circuits to save on copper; it costs more in repairs.
How much you need
A 2BHK typically uses 12–18 coils of mixed sizes.
Brands to know
Polycab, Havells, Finolex, KEI, RR Kabel, V-Guard, Anchor
Related materials
Switches, MCB and DBModular switches, sockets and circuit protection.Lights and fansLED lighting, BLDC fans and exhausts.Air conditioning and ventilationSplit, ducted and VRF systems, copper piping, ventilation.Security, automation and fire safetyCCTV, video door phones, sensors, detectors, EV charging.Home liftsTraction, hydraulic, screw and vacuum lifts for homes.