Plumber Pricing Guide: What to Charge Per Job
Pricing plumbing work is part math, part market research, and part confidence. Charge too little and you're working for free. Charge too much and the phone stops ringing.
This guide gives you real pricing for the most common plumbing jobs in 2026, based on actual market data — not the outdated numbers you'll find on most websites. Use these as a starting point and adjust for your local market, overhead, and experience level.
How Plumbing Pricing Works
Before we get into per-job pricing, understand the two pricing models:
Hourly Rate
You charge by the hour plus materials.
- Average plumber hourly rate (2026): $85-$135/hour
- Apprentice/helper rate: $45-$65/hour
- Emergency/after-hours rate: $125-$200/hour (1.5x to 2x standard)
Hourly works for: - Diagnostic/troubleshooting calls - Unpredictable jobs ("find the leak") - Time-and-materials contracts
Hourly doesn't work for: - Jobs where speed means less revenue - Customers who watch the clock - Building a scalable business (your revenue is capped by hours)
Flat Rate
You charge a predetermined price for each type of job, regardless of how long it takes.
- Based on average time + materials + overhead + profit margin
- Customer knows the total before you start
- Faster work = higher effective hourly rate
Flat rate works for: - Common, repeatable jobs (faucet replacement, toilet install) - Building customer trust ("no surprises") - Scaling your business (efficiency = profit)
Flat rate doesn't work for: - Unusual or diagnostic jobs - Jobs with high uncertainty - New plumbers who haven't established time benchmarks
Most successful plumbing businesses use flat rate for standard jobs and hourly for diagnostic/custom work.
Per-Job Pricing Guide
Service Call / Diagnostic Fee
What it covers: Showing up, diagnosing the problem, providing a quote for repair.
- Typical charge: $75-$150
- Some plumbers waive this if the customer approves the repair
- Emergency diagnostic: $125-$225
Never waive the diagnostic fee for a customer who doesn't hire you. Your time and expertise have value. The diagnostic fee filters out tire-kickers.
Faucet Replacement
Labor: 45 min to 1.5 hours depending on access and existing plumbing condition.
- Standard faucet replacement (customer-supplied faucet): $125-$200
- Standard faucet replacement (contractor-supplied faucet): $225-$450
- Kitchen faucet with sprayer: $175-$275 labor
- Bathroom faucet (single-hole): $125-$200 labor
- Wall-mount faucet (new install): $350-$600 labor
Materials markup: 25-40% on faucets you supply. A $150 faucet gets marked up to $190-$210.
Toilet Replacement
Labor: 1-2 hours. Most are straightforward; old cast iron flanges or rotted subfloors add time.
- Standard toilet replacement (customer-supplied): $175-$275
- Standard toilet replacement (contractor-supplied): $375-$650
- Toilet replacement with flange repair: $275-$425
- Toilet replacement with subfloor repair: $400-$700
- Bidet toilet seat installation: $85-$150
The toilet itself ranges from $150 (basic Kohler/American Standard) to $600+ (Toto, comfort height, elongated). Your markup on contractor-supplied toilets should be 20-30%.
Water Heater Replacement
This is one of the highest-value standard plumbing jobs.
- Tank water heater replacement (40-50 gallon gas): $1,200-$2,000 installed
- Tank water heater replacement (40-50 gallon electric): $1,000-$1,600 installed
- Tankless water heater installation (gas): $2,500-$4,500 installed
- Tankless water heater installation (electric): $1,800-$3,000 installed
- Expansion tank addition: $75-$150 installed
Breakdown of a typical $1,600 gas water heater replacement: - Water heater (50-gal Rheem): $750 - Flex connectors, gas line, fittings: $85 - Expansion tank: $45 - Labor (3-4 hours): $380 - Old unit disposal: $50 - Permit: $65 - Your profit: $225 (14%)
Water heaters should be a profit center. Your close rate on water heater calls is high (the old one is already broken) and the customer has limited leverage to shop around because they need hot water now.
Drain Clearing
- Sink drain clearing (snake): $125-$225
- Toilet clearing (auger): $150-$275
- Main sewer line clearing (cable machine): $250-$500
- Hydro jetting: $350-$800
- Camera inspection (sewer scope): $200-$400
Drain clearing is high-margin work because your material costs are near zero — it's almost pure labor. A $275 main line clearing that takes you 45 minutes is an effective rate of $366/hour.
Garbage Disposal
- Garbage disposal replacement (contractor-supplied): $275-$450 installed
- Garbage disposal replacement (customer-supplied): $125-$200 labor
- New garbage disposal installation (no existing unit): $350-$550
Pipe Repair
- Pipe leak repair (accessible, single joint): $150-$350
- Pipe leak repair (behind wall, drywall cut needed): $350-$750
- Burst pipe repair (emergency): $500-$1,500
- Pipe reroute: $500-$2,000 depending on length
- Repiping full house (copper to PEX): $4,000-$10,000
Pipe work behind walls gets expensive fast because of access. Be clear in your quote about drywall repair: either include it or explicitly exclude it. "Drywall patching and painting are not included" prevents scope disputes.
Sewer Line
- Sewer line repair (spot repair, accessible): $1,500-$3,500
- Sewer line replacement (trenchless/pipe bursting): $3,500-$8,000
- Sewer line replacement (traditional trench): $5,000-$15,000
- Cleanout installation: $500-$1,200
Sewer work is high-revenue but capital-intensive. You need specialized equipment. Many plumbers sub this out or rent equipment for specific jobs.
Water Line
- Water line repair (exterior, accessible): $500-$1,500
- Water line replacement (street to house): $2,000-$5,000
- Water pressure regulator replacement: $250-$500
- Shut-off valve replacement: $150-$350
Gas Line
- Gas line extension (for new appliance, under 25 ft): $350-$800
- Gas line extension (over 25 ft): $800-$1,500
- Gas leak repair: $200-$600
- Gas line pressure test: $100-$200
Gas work requires specific licensing in most states. If you're certified, charge accordingly — the liability is higher and fewer plumbers do it.
Fixture Installation
- Dishwasher installation (replacement): $150-$250
- Dishwasher installation (new, requires plumbing): $300-$500
- Washing machine hookup: $150-$300
- Ice maker line installation: $125-$225
- Outdoor hose bib replacement: $150-$300
How to Set Your Specific Prices
Step 1: Calculate Your True Hourly Cost
Your billing rate must cover more than your wage:
- Your target income: $100,000/year
- Billable hours: 1,400/year (after admin, driving, estimates)
- Base hourly need: $71/hour
- Vehicle costs: $12/hour
- Insurance: $10/hour
- Tools/equipment: $5/hour
- Overhead (phone, software, accounting): $8/hour
- True hourly cost: $106/hour
- With 25% profit margin: $133/hour billing rate
Step 2: Build Flat-Rate Prices
For each common job: 1. Estimate average time (be honest — include setup and cleanup) 2. Multiply by your billing rate 3. Add materials (at your markup) 4. Add any permits or fees 5. Round to a clean number
Example: Faucet replacement - Average time: 1.25 hours at $133/hr = $166 - Materials (supply lines, plumber's putty, etc.): $15 - Total: $181, rounded to $185
Step 3: Check the Market
Call three competitors for quotes on common jobs. You don't need to be the cheapest, but you should be within 20% of the market for similar quality.
If you're significantly higher, either your overhead is too high or your competitors are undercharging (common). If you're significantly lower, raise your prices — you're leaving money on the table.
Step 4: Adjust for Your Market
These prices assume a mid-tier market (Denver, Phoenix, Raleigh). Adjust: - High-cost markets (San Francisco, New York, Boston): +25-40% - Low-cost markets (rural areas, smaller cities): -15-25%
Material Markup
Standard material markup for plumbers: 25-40%.
- $50 faucet → sell at $65-$70
- $750 water heater → sell at $940-$1,050
- $15 in fittings → sell at $20-$22
Markup covers your time sourcing, transporting, and warrantying materials. Don't feel guilty about it — every trade marks up materials.
When to Charge Emergency Rates
Emergency pricing (1.5x-2x standard) applies when: - Call comes in after business hours (after 5 PM, weekends, holidays) - Customer needs same-day service - The issue involves active water damage or safety hazard (gas leak)
State your emergency rate before you dispatch: "Our after-hours emergency rate is $175/hour. Standard hours are Monday-Friday 8 AM to 5 PM at $110/hour. Want to proceed or schedule for tomorrow morning?"
Most customers will pay the premium because they need help now.
Pricing Mistakes That Cost You
Charging the Same as Five Years Ago
Material costs are up 20-30% since 2021. If your prices haven't changed, your margins have shrunk. Review and adjust prices at least annually.
Forgetting Drive Time
A 30-minute drive each way to a $200 job means you spent 2 hours for $200 (effective rate: $100/hour). Include a trip charge or factor drive time into flat rates for distant jobs.
Underpricing to Win Work
Busy isn't the same as profitable. If you're closing 90% of your quotes, your prices are too low. Target 60-70% close rate — that means you're priced right.
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