Plumbing · United States
How much does plumbing cost nationally?
$1,658typical · fair range $1,578 to $1,981
That is the modeled cost to deliver plus a fair contractor margin for plumbing in the United States, not a sales quote. Built from BLS wage data, Craftsman bills of materials, and verified permit fees. 2026-07-21
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How $1,658 is built
Labor$159
Materials$954
Permit fee$71
Direct cost$1,184
Overhead (14% of revenue)$232
Cost to deliver (break even)$1,416
Contractor margin (14.6%)$242
Typical fair price$1,658
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.
How this number is calculated
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: 2026-07-21. Updated Jul 2026.
See costs near you
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 $1,638Austin $1,620Boston $1,811Charlotte $1,579Chicago $1,769Columbus $1,672Dallas $1,678Denver $1,692Atlanta $1,638Austin $1,620Boston $1,811Charlotte $1,579Chicago $1,769Columbus $1,672Dallas $1,678Denver $1,692
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
Estimate Scope
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
True Cost Data
National benchmarks.
Embed this chart on your site (free, with attribution)
| Service | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Heater Installation · 50 gallon | $1,578 | $1,658 | $1,981 |
| Tankless Water Heater | $3,118 | $3,382 | $3,746 |
| Plumbing Repairs | $266 | $303 | $344 |
| Hot Water Dispenser Installation | $755 | $785 | $1,224 |
| Water Pipe Replacement · 100 linear ft | $2,273 | $2,580 | $2,911 |
| Drain Pipe Replacement · 50 linear ft | $1,503 | $1,702 | $1,916 |
| Laundry Tub Installation | $625 | $713 | $808 |
| Water Softener Installation | $1,497 | $1,558 | $1,873 |
Specialty tool
Water heater sizing calculator
Pick the right tank size or tankless GPM and see what a plumber charges to install it in your metro.
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Top Markets
Cost by city.
Additional Markets
Guides
Latest research.
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Common Questions
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 $1,658, Plumbing Repairs $303, Water Pipe Replacement $2,580, 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 $1,658 national average (range $1,578 to $1,981), unit included. Tankless Water Heater installation runs $3,382 ($3,118 to $3,746), 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 $1,700 more all-in; our cost index puts the tankless install at $3,382 vs $1,658 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) · 2026-07-21