How much does plumbing cost nationally?
$1,832typical · fair range $1,734 to $2,003
That is the modeled cost to deliver plus a fair contractor margin, not a sales quote. Built from BLS metro wages, Craftsman labor hours, a real bill of materials, and hand-verified permit data. 2026-08-19
Show the math
How $1,832 is built
Labor$206
Materials$966
Permit fee$67
Direct cost$1,239
Overhead (13% of revenue)$245
Cost to deliver (break even)$1,484
Contractor margin (17.6%)$348
Typical fair price$1,832
The margin is the gap between break even and a typical quote, not a markup we invent. Margins float by trade and city, with most fair jobs at a 15 to 22 percent margin on the bid, about 18 to 28 percent over the cost to deliver. Nobody works for free. Full methodology.
Every plumbing number here starts as parts: Craftsman labor hours priced at BLS wages for your metro, materials tracked against producer prices, permit data where cities publish it, and real contractor overhead. Cost index version: 2026-08-19. Updated Aug 2026.
Enter your ZIP code for the closest tracked metro.
We route your ZIP to the nearest tracked city and show city-level bid fairness, true cost, margin, and lowest realistic price data.
Atlanta $1,736Austin $1,748Baltimore $1,768Boise $1,777Boston $2,000Charlotte $1,638Chicago $1,967Columbus $1,821Atlanta $1,736Austin $1,748Baltimore $1,768Boise $1,777Boston $2,000Charlotte $1,638Chicago $1,967Columbus $1,821
Updated Monthly
Federal labor and material data, refreshed on a monthly release cycle
Expert Reviewed
Reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co., Owner (retired)
Proprietary benchmarks · BLS · FRED · Census · Craftsman
What the plumbing benchmark includes.
Included in the benchmark
- Water Heater Installation as the headline cost-index scope
- labor-hour assumptions, regional wage inputs, materials, overhead, and permit data where available
- low, average, high, lowest realistic price, margin, and savings benchmarks from the FatBook cost index
Not included automatically
- hidden damage, change orders, emergency service premiums, or unusual site access conditions
- contractor financing approval, warranties, provider recommendations, or guaranteed final quotes
- permit rulings for a specific address unless the city permit panel lists verified local data
National benchmarks.
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| Service | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Heater Installation · 50 gallon | $1,734 | $1,832 | $2,003 |
| Tankless Water Heater | $3,116 | $3,376 | $3,670 |
| Plumbing Repairs | $266 | $303 | $344 |
| Hot Water Dispenser Installation | $955 | $992 | $1,031 |
| Water Pipe Replacement · 100 linear ft | $2,215 | $2,514 | $2,837 |
| Drain Pipe Replacement · 50 linear ft | $1,503 | $1,702 | $1,917 |
| Laundry Tub Installation | $616 | $703 | $796 |
| Water Softener Installation | $1,965 | $2,099 | $2,243 |
Cost by city.
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Questions homeowners ask about plumbing.
Note: dollar figures below are national averages from our v3 cost index (Craftsman labor hours x BLS regional wages + PPI-adjusted materials + verified permit fees + NAHB overhead). Where an answer references general industry estimates instead (timing, lifespan, resale recoup percentages, scope items outside our index), it says so explicitly. For metro-specific numbers, see the cost-index pages.
How much does a plumber cost?
Hourly rates for licensed plumbers run $75 to $150. A standard service call lands at $150 to $350. Our cost index tracks specific scopes by service: Water Heater Installation $1,832, Plumbing Repairs $303, PEX Repipe $4,730, Drain Pipe Replacement $1,702 (national averages from the cost index).
How much does water heater installation cost?
Our cost index puts Water Heater Installation at $1,832 national average (range $1,734 to $2,003), unit included. Tankless Water Heater installation runs $3,376 ($3,116 to $3,670), also unit included. The gap is the pricier tankless unit plus the venting and gas-line work it usually drags in.
How much does drain cleaning cost?
Basic drain cleaning is $150 to $300. Hydro-jetting runs $350 to $600. A sewer line clean is usually $200 to $500. A camera inspection adds another $100 to $300. These are typical national ranges for a drain-cleaning service call.
When should you replace a water heater?
Tank heaters typically last 8 to 12 years; tankless 15 to 20. Replace it when you see rust-colored water, water pooling at the base, or hot water that comes and goes.
Do plumbers need a permit?
Yes for new lines, water heater swaps, and remodel plumbing in most jurisdictions. Faucet swaps and basic clog clearing usually do not. For verified building-department fees and contacts by metro, see our methodology page.
Tankless vs tank water heater?
Operating cost: tankless typically saves $80 to $100 a year on energy, mostly from eliminating standby losses. Lifespan: tankless 15 to 20 years vs 8 to 12 for tank. Upfront: figure roughly $1,500 more all-in; our cost index puts the tankless install at $3,376 vs $1,832 for a standard tank install, units included.
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Cost index built by David Olson, Creator of the Cost Index & Permit Dataset · Methodology reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co., Owner (retired) · 2026-08-19