A plumber costs $45 to $150 per hour for most work, plus a service call fee of $50 to $300 that usually covers the first hour.123 A typical small job runs $125 to $4502 — Angi’s average is $341 across 94,386 projects — while big repairs like burst pipes or sewer lines reach $1,000 to $4,000+.1 Emergency visits cost 1.5 to 3 times the standard rate.12 Prices below are national averages* for 2026.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on the job, the plumber’s license level, your location, and whether it is an emergency.
$45 – $150/hr
typical hourly rate, HomeGuide & Fixr
$50 – $300
service call (first hour), all 3 sources
$341
average job, Angi (94,386 projects)
1.5–3x
emergency rate multiplier, Angi
Quick math: a 2-hour job = the $50 to $200 service call (covers the first hour) + one more hour at $45 to $150 = $95 to $350, our arithmetic on HomeGuide’s fee structure2 — nearly identical to HomeGuide’s $125 to $350 small-job range and inside Angi’s $182 to $501 typical band.12 The service call is why one dripping faucet costs more per minute than a full afternoon of work: bundle several small fixes into one visit.23
Hourly rates by experience level
| Level | Angi | HomeGuide | Fixr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | $45 – $90 | $25 – $45 (half rate) | $20 – $40 |
| Journeyman | $60 – $110 | $45 – $150 (avg $75) | $45 – $90 |
| Master | $80 – $200 | $100 – $200 | $70 – $200 |
| Emergency (off-hours) | 1.5 – 3x standard | $125 – $170 | — |
| 24-hour / holiday | — | $195 – $260 | — |
Two honest disagreements to know about. Apprentices: Fixr bills them at $20 to $40 per hour and notes you usually pay the supervising plumber’s rate anyway, while Angi’s $45 to $90 looks like that supervised billing rolled together.13 Masters: HomeGuide lists $100 to $200 per hour in one section and $75 to $125 in another — an internal inconsistency on their page; Angi and Fixr both bracket $70 to $200.123
Residential plumbers average about $70 to $80 per hour; commercial outfits average $85 to $100 and may bill in 15-minute increments after the first hour.12 Flat rates are common for routine jobs: $100 to $400 (Angi), $75 to $250 for small repairs and $500 to $800 for larger ones (HomeGuide).12
Cost by project
| Project | Angi | HomeGuide | Fixr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toilet installation | $300 – $800 | $250 – $750 | $400 – $800 |
| Toilet repair | $100 – $300 | $100 – $300 | $60 – $200 |
| Faucet installation | $150 – $600 (any fixture) | $120 – $300 | $300 – $800 |
| Unclog a drain | $95 – $500 | $100 – $275 | ~$150 (flat-rate example) |
| Water heater installation | $800 – $2,000 | $600 – $1,800 | $600 – $3,000 (same-type swap) |
| Garbage disposal installation | — | $600 – $850 | $250 – $400 |
| Sink installation | $200 – $700 | $230 – $6,500 | $400 – $1,000 |
| Burst pipe repair | $1,000 – $4,000 | $400 – $2,000 (pipe repair) | — |
| Sump pump repair | $300 – $1,000 | $380 – $550 | — |
| Whole-house plumbing / repipe | $10,000 – $20,000 | $2,280 – $5,120 (new pipes) | $4,000 – $12,000 (2,000 sq. ft.) |
Toilets are the rare three-way agreement: every source brackets $250 to $800 installed.123 The garbage disposal row is the widest split — HomeGuide’s $600 to $850 versus Fixr’s $250 to $400 for the same install; treat the real answer as quote-dependent and get three bids.23 On whole-house work, the spread reflects scope: HomeGuide’s row is pipes only, Fixr’s is a full repipe of a 2,000 sq. ft. home, and Angi’s is a complete plumbing system.123
Service calls, trip fees, and minimums
The service call fee runs $50 to $300: $50 to $150 for a journeyman, $150 to $300 for a master (Fixr); $50 to $200 covering the first hour (HomeGuide); $100 to $250 (Angi).123 It exists so a 15-minute fix still covers the plumber’s travel and time.3 Beyond 10 miles outside the service area, expect trip fees of $1 to $2 per mile (HomeGuide) or $50 to $300 (Angi).12 Some plumbers waive the fee if you hire them for a larger project.3
What moves the price
License level: masters cost roughly double apprentices per hour, but complex diagnosis, remodels, and whole-house work need one.13
Emergency timing: nights, weekends, and holidays run 1.5 to 3 times standard — or a $300 to $400 flat emergency fee on top.12
Location: big-city and coastal rates lead; rural areas can cost more when competition is thin.1
Permits: $30 to $500 when the work opens walls, adds pipes, or changes the system — not for like-for-like repairs.12
Access: cutting drywall or trenching to reach pipes adds labor, and the drywall repair after is a separate job.1
Worked examples
Example 1 — leaky faucet, 2-hour visit. Service call $50 to $200 (covers hour one) + one hour at $45 to $150 = $95 to $350, our arithmetic on HomeGuide’s structure2 — matching its $125 to $350 small-job range and inside Angi’s $182 to $501 typical band.12 Booked as a flat rate, HomeGuide puts small repairs at $75 to $250.2
Example 2 — toilet replacement. $250 to $750 (HomeGuide), $300 to $800 (Angi), $400 to $800 (Fixr, including about $120 of labor) — call it $300 to $800 for most homes, our synthesis of the three.123 The toilet itself runs $200 to $1,200 depending on model, often included in the quote.1
Example 3 — burst pipe at 2 AM. The repair itself runs $1,000 to $4,000 (Angi).1 The emergency premium comes two ways: HomeGuide’s $125 to $170 per hour emergency rate (a 2-hour visit: $250 to $340, our arithmetic)2 or Angi’s 1.5 to 3 times the standard rate plus a possible $300 to $400 emergency fee.1 A burst pipe is never worth waiting on — but a dripping faucet is always cheaper booked ahead.12
FAQ
Why do plumbers charge a service call fee? It covers travel, diagnosis, and usually the first hour of labor, so a 15-minute repair still pays for the trip. Many waive it when you hire them for bigger work.23
Hourly or flat rate — which is better? Flat rates protect you when a job runs long; hourly wins when the fix is quick. Ask which applies before booking.2
Do plumbers give free estimates? Many do, and when a quote carries a fee it is often deducted from the bill if you hire them.2
Can I do plumbing myself? Swapping a faucet or clearing a simple clog is common DIY, but permits, code, and water-damage risk make gas lines, water mains, and in-wall work pro territory.12
How do I save? Bundle small jobs into one visit, book non-emergency slots, get three written quotes, and skip cash deals — licensed, insured plumbers with 5+ years in business are worth the rate.2
DIY shopping: a basic drain auger handles most simple clogs for the cost of a service call (plain link, no affiliate relationship).
Sources
- Angi, How Much Does Plumbing Repair Cost? (2026 data, 94,386 projects).
- HomeGuide, Plumber Cost Per Hour (2026).
- Fixr, Cost to Hire a Plumber.
Related guides
Water Heater Replacement Cost
Sump Pump Installation Cost
Septic Tank Pumping Cost
All cost guides