Need a plumber for a repair, renovation or new installation? It’s a good idea to understand how much a plumber costs. From installing kitchen mixers through to entire bathroom renovations and attending to emergencies like blocked and burst pipes, there isn’t much that a plumber doesn’t do. Yep, take it from us, not all heroes wear capes.

Because the job of a plumber is so diverse, prices can fluctuate and change depending on the work you need done – it can even be influenced by location and experience. To help you navigate the task of hiring the right plumber, we’ve created this guide to give you a ballpark figure of what you can expect to pay. And in the case that you’re ready to get started with the job, you can easily find a plumber near you on Yellow Pages.

Want to speak to a professional plumber in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth?

Plumbing Services

How to find the right plumber for you

If you need a plumber to work on a larger project, it’s a good idea to ascertain how well you get along and whether you feel you can trust them. The last thing you’ll want is to have a plumber on site for a long-term project if you don’t quite see eye-to-eye. It could be uncomfortable for you and them.

We also recommend getting a minimum of three quotes so that you can compare, but always remember that cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean better.

Irrespective of budget, the questions below should be put to any plumber that you engage for work.

What is your licence number?
Do you have references I can contact or examples of previous work?
Are you covered by insurance?
Can you provide an itemised quote?
Do you charge a call-out fee?
Does your quote include materials?

As a bonus, you can find out if your plumber is a member of any associations such as the Master Plumbers Association in your state.

Plumber near me

How much does a plumber cost and what’s the average hourly rate?

On average, plumbers will charge anywhere between $90 to $130 per hour + GST, depending on a variety of factors such as location, expertise and job complexity.

Some plumbers may even charge a flat rate, which can be beneficial since you know what you’ll be up for when the job is done. For plumbers that charge by the hour, they should still be able to give you an accurate quote before they start the job.

Want to speak to a professional plumber in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth?

Some typical plumbing charges and costs:

A call-out fee: Plumbers will often charge a call-out fee, which could be anywhere between $60 and $150 + GST. Some plumbers will absorb this cost into the first hour’s work.

Unclogging a drain: Likely to cost around $150 + GST

Repairing a leaking pipe: $150-$200 + GST

Unclogging a toilet: $150-$200 + GST

If you require work that involves replacing or installing hot water systems, re-fitting a house or replacing an entire drainage system, then you’ll be looking to pay into the thousands.

If you require an emergency plumber, they will charge a premium for doing work in the middle of the night or on public holidays. Costs may also go up if plumbers need to pay for extra materials to complete a job, or if special equipment needs to be used.

Plumbing Services that charge a higher hourly rate

Some plumbing jobs require specialised equipment in order to fix the problem at hand. With specialised equipment and training comes a bit of an extra cost, so be prepared to spend a bit more for certain plumbing tasks.

Jet blaster drain cleaning

If your plumber discovers your pipes have quite a bit of build-up or multiple areas of blockage, they may utilise a tool that blasts highly pressurised water through your pipes in order to clear them. Fees for this service start at about $150.

Drain camera and locator

A plumber may need to find the source of blockage deep in your pipe system. Whether they are looking for roots in pipes, a blockage in another area of the house, or the location of an outdoor pipe a special camera or locator will be used to help pinpoint the source of your problem or the source of the pipes themselves. Fees for drain camera start at about $150 and pipe location starts at about $99.

Trench digging for pipe replacement

When the source of your plumbing issue originates outside the home, a plumber will have to dig to get to the pipes themselves in order to address the problem. This will require digging a trench, and pricing varies according to the difficulty of the work (for example, if they have to cut through concrete).

Be sure to shop around

No matter what your plumbing needs, it’s always a good idea to call around and get multiple quotes. Be sure to ask their hourly rate and understand the scope of the work. This will ensure that you can gauge which hourly wage is reasonable and which is not. Understanding in advance the scope of work will also help you understand how long the work will take and what equipment will be needed. Getting quotes will help you ballpark the price so that there’s less surprise when the job comes to an end and payment is due.

How much will hiring a plumber cost me?

Want to speak to a professional plumber in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth?

How to find the right plumber for you

How much does a plumber cost and what’s the average hourly rate?

Want to speak to a professional plumber in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth?

Some typical plumbing charges and costs:

Plumbing Services that charge a higher hourly rate

Jet blaster drain cleaning

Drain camera and locator

Trench digging for pipe replacement

Be sure to shop around

Find the right expert at the right price

Get free quotes

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