Plumbing · United States
How much does plumbing cost nationally?
$2,004typical · fair range $1,764 to $2,261
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. 2026-07-11
Check my bid against this ▸Show the math
How $2,004 is built
Labor$127
Materials$921
Permit fee$67
Direct cost$1,115
Overhead (23% of revenue)$464
Cost to deliver (break even)$1,579
Contractor margin (21.1%)$425
Typical fair price$2,004
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: 2026-07-11. 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 $1,986Austin $1,997Boston $2,227Chicago $2,105Dallas $2,013Denver $2,079Houston $1,958Kansas City $1,905Atlanta $1,986Austin $1,997Boston $2,227Chicago $2,105Dallas $2,013Denver $2,079Houston $1,958Kansas City $1,905
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 | $1,764 | $2,004 | $2,261 |
| Tankless Water Heater | $3,332 | $3,792 | $4,287 |
| Plumbing Repairs | $239 | $273 | $309 |
| Hot Water Dispenser Installation | $1,097 | $1,252 | $1,418 |
| Water Pipe Replacement · 100 linear ft | $2,278 | $2,586 | $2,918 |
| Drain Pipe Replacement · 50 linear ft | $1,494 | $1,691 | $1,904 |
| Laundry Tub Installation | $729 | $818 | $915 |
| Water Softener Installation | $1,760 | $1,995 | $2,248 |
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.
Open water heater calculator →
Top Markets
Cost by city.
Additional Markets
Guides
Latest research.
Cost Guide
Water Pipe Replacement Cost in 2026: The Pipe is the Cheap Part
A 100-foot copper repipe averages $2,532, and the pipe is under a quarter of it. Opening walls to reach it is the real b
Article
How to Fix a Running Toilet: Flapper, Valve, Float
How to fix a running toilet before it wastes 200 gallons a day. Covers flapper, fill valve, and float fixes with EPA dat
Cost Guide
Hydro Jetting Cost in 2026: When It Beats a Dig
Hydro jetting costs far less than a sewer dig, but quotes swing wildly. See the typical range by job scope and what actu
Cost Guide
Sewer Line Repair Cost in 2026: Dig vs. Trenchless
Sewer line repair runs $2,500 to $12,000 in most markets. We break down spot repairs, trenchless relining, and help you
Cost Guide
Tankless Water Heater Cost in 2026: Unit Swap vs Gas Conversion
A tankless water heater install averages $3,555 with the gas line and venting the unit needs. See why a like-position sw
Cost Guide
Plumber Cost Per Hour in 2026: What Drives the Rate
Plumber cost per hour in 2026: the real hourly range in your metro, why bids swing, and how to tell a fair labor rate fr
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 $2,004, Plumbing Repairs $273, Water Pipe Replacement $2,586, Drain Pipe Replacement $1,691 (national averages from the cost index).
How much does water heater installation cost?+
Our cost index puts Water Heater Installation at $2,004 national average (range $1,764 to $2,261), unit included. Tankless Water Heater installation runs $3,792 ($3,332 to $4,287), 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 $1,800 more all-in; our cost index puts the tankless install at $3,792 vs $2,004 for a standard tank install, units included.
DO
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) · 2026-07-11