How much does a plumber cost?

Our Australian Plumbing Cost Guide will help you calculate the cost of the next plumbing job you need done. So, how much does a plumber cost? Depending on the type of task, plumber cost can be as little as $60 for a leaky tap or as much as $20,000 to replace your whole drainage system, while plumber cost per hour is usually set between $100 and $150.

Whether you need emergency plumbers for a situation that can’t wait or a plumber service for a planned renovation or routine maintenance, access to quality licensed tradesmen is critical.

When you’re prepared with all you need to know about the costs associated with different plumbing jobs, you’ll be able to plan accordingly. In this cost guide, we cover what services a plumber provides, pricing for plumber rates per hour, and tips on hiring a plumber – so there are no hidden surprises.

What services do plumbers offer?

Many people don’t think of plumbers unless a drain is clogged, the toilet is overflowing, or they experience an unwelcome cold shower. In actual fact, general plumbing and drainage services offer much more. Plumbing jobs include:

• Unclogging a toilet, bath or sink
• Fixing leaky faucets
• Installing, repairing or replacing bathroom vanity units, sinks, showers and toilets
• Repairing water and drain pipes
• Repairing or installing washing machines or dishwashers
• Fixing and replacing water heaters
• Repairing gas leaks
• Installing and repairing gutters, and more.

While specialty plumbers handle larger projects, such as installing:

• Sewer lines
• Natural gas lines
• Water mains, and more.

If you need plumbing jobs done, you can get free local quotes easily with Yellow Pages.

How much does a plumber cost?

Wondering “how much does a plumber cost”? Generally, there’s a call out fee just to have a plumber take a look at your property. From there, rates are most commonly charged by the hour until the service is complete.

Plumber cost fluctuates between tradies depending on a range of factors, such as the location you live in, the scope of work, the equipment needed, or their experience. This can include whether they are licensed through the master plumbers association.

Plumber cost per hour

Plumber call out fees typically range from $60 to $100. Are you wondering “how much does a plumber charge per hour”? Plumbers rates per hour can vary between $100 and $150.

Some may offer fixed price plumbing for certain services. For instance, installing water systems or unblocking drains.

How much does an emergency plumbing job cost?

During regular work hours, most emergency plumbers will charge their usual hourly fee, but be aware that some will charge a premium for the service. For an emergency plumbing service when things go wrong outside of normal 9 to 5 work hours, there is often a steeper price attached.

Weekend, holiday or late night calls can even double the plumber call out fee. Emergency call out rates range from $150 to upwards of $250, making them much higher than regular hours.

Plumbers hourly rate by city

How much do plumbers charge per hour in your city? Across major Australian cities the average plumber hourly rate is the following:

Plumber hourly rate Sydney: $50-$250

Plumber hourly rate Melbourne: $80-$200

Plumber hourly rate Brisbane: $80-$200

Plumber hourly rate Perth: $60-$200

Plumber hourly rate Canberra: $90-$200

Plumber hourly rate Adelaide: $75-$175

It is important to be mindful of the different factors that affect the cost for a plumber such as the type and size of the project and the materials used.

Plumbing price list

Here’s a breakdown of the average plumber charges and pricing, depending on your location and the plumber’s skill:

• $60 – $140 for repairing leaking toilets or dripping taps
• $80 – $250 for fitting new sink taps or bath taps or for a new shower head
• $160 – $550 for installing toilets, baths or sinks
• $1,200 – $4,500 for replacing water heaters
• $3,000 – $12,000 for installing solar hot water systems
• $5,000 – $20,000 for drainage contractors to replace the whole system
• $6,000 – $12,000 to re-plumb the whole house (depending on size and nature of the pipe work and other variables).

The average toilet installation price is between $130 and $250, plus the cost of the unit. It’s one of the most necessary fixtures, so if you see any weaknesses or damage start to appear, address it quickly.

Read more: How much does toilet replacement cost?

For bigger jobs, don’t forget to consider costs for additional work after the plumbing is finished, such as tiling, rendering and painting.

Read more: How much does rendering cost?

How do I estimate plumbing costs?

This Australian Plumbing Cost Guide can help you work out a rough estimate of what plumbing prices you can expect to pay.

The best way to get accurate up-to-date estimates on plumbing rates per hour and pricing is to get in touch with your local licensed tradesmen for an idea of the current market in your area. Compare multiple quotes, and study them carefully. Some plumbing estimates will include costs for materials supplied and used, while others may omit this information.

Consider budgeting for extra work that might occur if the scope of the job ends up larger than first thought. You can talk to your tradie about this in advance. Don’t forget to be at home when your plumber arrives. Otherwise, the plumber might charge you for the wait time.

Plumbing services and gas fitters by city

Looking for a plumber or gas fitter in your city? Find your top-rated local professional here:

Plumber in Sydney
Plumber in Melbourne
Plumber in Brisbane
Plumber in Adelaide
Plumber in Perth
Plumber in Canberra

Average cost of plumbing a new house

Something to consider when thinking about the cost to plumb a new house is that the size of your property and how many bathrooms you have will significantly affect the price. The current costs of plumbing a new home are approximately:

• $2,000 to $15,000 for pipework installation (depending on the size)
• $600 to $2,000 per bathroom appliance, kitchen or laundry
• $2,000 to $5,000 for a hot water service installation
• $7,000 to $12,000 for putting in an air-conditioning and/or heating unit.

Read more: How much does air conditioner installation cost?

How much does it cost to plumb a 2000 square foot house?

If you’re building a new 2000 square foot house with two bathrooms, the plumber cost will be approximately $12,000 to $18,000. For smaller homes, units or granny flats it can cost anywhere between $6,000 and $10,000.

Should my plumber be licensed?

When it comes to the trades, it’s important to have confidence in the people working on your property. Fortunately, Australian plumbing professionals are legally required to hold a license to be able to advertise their business or start any work on your home, in any state.

A typical job will usually require just a standard plumbing license. However, if you need them to do works on a gas item, then you need to hire a plumber who also holds a gas fitting license.

All plumbers should give you a “compliance certificate” upon completion of works to state that they have completed the job to the necessary specifications and standards.

What is a master plumber?

Have you seen the term “master plumber” and wondered what exactly it is? A master plumber has received their license through the Master Plumbers Association in their state. This means, master plumbers are up-to-date with the latest industry information, helping them maintain high standards of practice and the best level of care for their customers.

Instead of searching for the cheapest quotes for the job, with a master plumber you will be choosing a specialist based on their reputation, skill and location. In effect, this can limit the risk of poor workmanship.

There are, however, many quality licensed professionals who are not members of the Master Plumbers Association.

What’s the difference between plumbers and plumbing contractors?

The main difference between plumbers and plumbing contractors is that licensed contractors are authorised to supervise plumbers that have a tradesperson certificate, and are required to inspect their completed work. On the other hand, the person who comes to fix your leaky tap or other common household problems is a plumber, and oftentimes that plumber works for a contractor.

Contractors are usually hired for large projects and more complex tasks that include repairs, renovations and jobs that involve the water supply or septic system. In the case of small businesses, the plumber is sometimes also the contractor.

What’s the difference between drainage contractors and general plumbers?

A common mistake many people make is calling a plumber when in fact they need a drainage contractor. Plumbing and drainage may seem like the same ballgame, but they operate on very different systems. The drainage system is the way wastewater exits the property, while the plumbing system is how clean water enters the property.

The features drainage contractors handle include:

• Inspecting, unblocking and cleaning drains
• Detecting leakages
• Low water pressure
• Unblocking sewer drains
• Repairing pipes
• Disposal of liquid waste
• Tree root control

The jobs general plumbers conduct include:

• Installations, such as new toilet
• Leaky taps
• Hot water system problems

Getting plumber quotes

Plumbing pricing can take a toll on the budget, but it’s always worth engaging the services of reliable and qualified professionals rather than seeking cheap, inferior labour for your plumbing jobs. You can easily find expert and licensed local businesses on Yellow Pages and compare multiple free quotes.

* The costs and plumbing prices list quoted have been sourced at the time this Australian Plumbing Cost Guide was written and should only be used as an estimate.