Summary
- 40 of 294 US plumbers (13.6%) list a price online.
- Median plumbing service call fee: $97.
- Median basic drain cleaning price: $147.50.
US plumbers that post a service call, trip or diagnostic fee charge a median of $97 just to come out. Half of the 22 plumbers behind that figure charge between $66 and $128.
The figures come from the websites of 40 plumbers in 25 US metros, checked in October 2026 for the US Home Services Price Transparency Report 2026. They're advertised prices, not quotes or final bills.
By Oscar Aston Brovall, Marketit.
Plumbing prices at a glance
| Job | Plumbers | Median | Range | "From" prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service call, trip or diagnostic fee | 22 | $97 | $35 to $189 | 0 of 22 |
| Drain cleaning, single or basic drain | 12 | $147.50 | $68 to $299 | 6 of 12 |
| Water heater installation | 5 | $1,900 | $750 to $2,450 | 1 of 5 |
| Leak detection | 5 | $125 | $99 to $350 | 3 of 5 |
Each plumber counts once, with its lowest price for the job. Where a plumber gives a range, we used the low end. Call fees are regular weekday rates, not evening, weekend or emergency ones.
What it costs to have a plumber come out
Twenty-two plumbers post a fee for a visit during normal hours. Some call it a service call, others a trip charge, dispatch fee or diagnostic visit. The median is $97, and the range runs from $35 to $189.
In most cases the fee covers the visit and a diagnosis, not the repair. HomeAdvisor's plumber guide gives $50 to $300 for a trip fee and $100 to $250 for a service call that usually includes the first hour of work. The advertised median sits inside the trip-fee range.
At least 7 of the 23 plumbers that list a call fee say they waive or credit it if the customer goes ahead. For 15 of the 40 plumbers with a price, the call fee is the only price on the site.
Drain cleaning cost
Twelve plumbers post a price for clearing a single or basic drain, such as a kitchen sink or a tub. The median is $147.50, half charge between $99 and $196, and the range runs from $68 to $299. Six of the twelve are "from" prices. Main sewer lines, hydro jetting and camera inspections aren't included.
Bob Vila's guide, updated in April 2026, gives $145 to $300 for a professional to snake a drain, without naming a source. The advertised median sits at the bottom of that range.
Water heater installation cost
Five plumbers post a price for installing a water heater. The lowest figures run from $750 to $2,450, with a median of $1,900. Four give a range and one a starting price, so most real bills will land higher. HomeAdvisor's water heater guide gives $600 to $2,500 installed for a tank model and $1,400 to $3,900 for a tankless one.
Leak detection and hourly rates
Five plumbers post a price for leak detection, from $99 to $350, with a median of $125. Three of the five are "from" prices.
Hourly rates are scarce. Two plumbers post a standard or first-hour rate, $180 and $230, and two charge $110 and $160 for each hour after the first. HomeAdvisor's guide puts most plumbers at $70 to $120 an hour before trip fees and materials.
What the prices include
Of the 40 plumbers with a price, 23 list a service call fee, 15 use "from" prices, 12 give a fixed price for a defined job and 4 an hourly rate. Some give more than one.
None of the 40 say whether their prices include sales tax. Six list a separate fee for evening, weekend or emergency visits.
How many plumbers post prices
40 of the 294 plumbers in the study list a price, or 13.6%, close to the 13.8% across all six trades. Only 25, or 8.5%, say what the work itself costs rather than just the call fee.
| Region | Plumbers checked | With a price | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| South | 129 | 21 | 16.3% |
| Midwest | 47 | 7 | 14.9% |
| West | 82 | 10 | 12.2% |
| Northeast | 36 | 2 | 5.6% |
The regional groups are small, so read the order as a rough pattern.
How the figures were collected
The study checked 1,782 home service websites in 25 US metros in October 2026, 294 of them plumbers, taken from the top Google Maps results for each trade and metro.