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When old pipes start leaking, corroding, or dropping your water pressure, a whole-house repipe replaces them all at once. Expect $4,000 to $15,000 in 2026, averaging around $7,500, with pipe material and your home’s construction driving most of the spread.
What you’re paying for
The pipe itself is a small part of the bill — labor is roughly 70%. You’re paying a crew to open walls, route new lines to every fixture, connect them, and pass inspection. Drywall repair, paint, permits, and (occasionally) a new water main are usually quoted separately, so read the estimate carefully.
PEX vs. copper
This is the big decision. PEX — flexible plastic tubing — is cheaper, faster to install, resists freezing, and has become the default. Copper lasts longer and some buyers prefer it, but it costs about twice as much and takes longer to install. For most homes, PEX delivers the best value.
Why slab homes cost more
If your home is on a slab foundation (common in the Sun Belt), plumbers typically reroute new lines up through walls and the attic rather than jackhammering the slab — which adds 25–50% to the price versus a home with a crawlspace or basement.
How to save on a repipe
- Choose PEX unless you have a specific reason for copper.
- Get multiple bids — labor efficiency varies a lot between crews.
- Handle drywall/paint yourself if you’re handy, since it’s often excluded.
- Do it before a failure to avoid emergency rates and water damage.
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe & fittings (PEX) | $1,000 – $3,000 | – |
| Labor | $3,000 – $9,000 | Roughly 70% of the project |
| Drywall repair & paint | $300 – $1,500 | – |
| Permit | $50 – $800 | When a plumbing project needs a permit on Permit Notebook, our sister site |
| Water main (if needed) | $600 – $2,500 | – |
| Option | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PEX | $3.50 – $7 / sq ft | Flexible, fast, most popular |
| CPVC | $4 – $8 / sq ft | – |
| Copper | $8 – $14 / sq ft | Durable but pricier and slower |
What affects the price
- Home size & fixtures More bathrooms, fixtures, and square footage mean more pipe and labor.
- Pipe material PEX is cheapest and fastest to install; copper costs roughly double.
- Foundation & access Slab foundations cost 25–50% more because lines must be rerouted through walls and attics.
- Wall repair Opening and patching walls to reach pipes adds drywall and paint costs.
Whole house repipe cost by state
Where you live can change the price as much as the options you pick. Labor is a big part of the bill, and construction workers are paid more in some states than others. A typical whole house repipe job costs about $4,700 to $17,600 in Hawaii (17% above the U.S. average). In Arkansas, it costs about $3,400 to $12,800 (15% below the U.S. average).
See the typical cost in all 50 states and D.C.
| State | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $3,500 – $13,100 |
| Alaska | $4,600 – $17,300 |
| Arizona | $3,800 – $14,300 |
| Arkansas | $3,400 – $12,800 |
| California | $4,500 – $16,800 |
| Colorado | $4,000 – $15,000 |
| Connecticut | $4,300 – $16,100 |
| Delaware | $3,900 – $14,700 |
| District of Columbia | $4,300 – $16,200 |
| Florida | $3,600 – $13,700 |
| Georgia | $3,700 – $13,800 |
| Hawaii | $4,700 – $17,600 |
| Idaho | $3,800 – $14,100 |
| Illinois | $4,600 – $17,300 |
| Indiana | $4,000 – $15,200 |
| Iowa | $3,900 – $14,600 |
| Kansas | $3,800 – $14,300 |
| Kentucky | $3,700 – $14,000 |
| Louisiana | $3,600 – $13,500 |
| Maine | $3,900 – $14,700 |
| Maryland | $4,000 – $15,000 |
| Massachusetts | $4,600 – $17,300 |
| Michigan | $4,000 – $15,000 |
| Minnesota | $4,400 – $16,400 |
| Mississippi | $3,500 – $13,100 |
| Missouri | $4,100 – $15,300 |
| Montana | $3,900 – $14,700 |
| Nebraska | $3,800 – $14,100 |
| Nevada | $4,100 – $15,500 |
| New Hampshire | $4,000 – $14,900 |
| New Jersey | $4,600 – $17,100 |
| New Mexico | $3,700 – $13,800 |
| New York | $4,400 – $16,500 |
| North Carolina | $3,600 – $13,500 |
| North Dakota | $4,000 – $15,200 |
| Ohio | $4,000 – $15,000 |
| Oklahoma | $3,600 – $13,700 |
| Oregon | $4,400 – $16,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $4,000 – $15,200 |
| Rhode Island | $4,200 – $15,600 |
| South Carolina | $3,600 – $13,700 |
| South Dakota | $3,600 – $13,500 |
| Tennessee | $3,700 – $13,800 |
| Texas | $3,600 – $13,700 |
| Utah | $3,800 – $14,100 |
| Vermont | $3,900 – $14,600 |
| Virginia | $3,800 – $14,300 |
| Washington | $4,600 – $17,400 |
| West Virginia | $3,800 – $14,300 |
| Wisconsin | $4,200 – $15,600 |
| Wyoming | $4,000 – $14,900 |
These are numbers to plan with, not quotes. Each one is this guide's U.S. range, adjusted for what construction workers earn in that state. See every state cost guide or how we estimate.
Common questions
- How much does it cost to repipe a 1,500 sq ft house?
- A 1,500-square-foot home runs roughly $4,500–$8,500 all-in with PEX. Copper pushes that significantly higher.
- PEX vs. copper — which should I choose?
- PEX is cheaper, faster to install, freeze-resistant, and now the most common choice. Copper lasts longer and some prefer it, but it costs about twice as much.
- How long does a repipe take?
- Most whole-house repipes take 2–5 days, plus a day or two for drywall repair and inspection.
- What are the signs I need to repipe?
- Repeated leaks, low water pressure, discolored or metallic-tasting water, and old galvanized or polybutylene pipes are all reasons to repipe.
- Is repiping covered by insurance?
- Usually not — gradual wear and proactive replacement are excluded. Insurance may cover sudden damage a failing pipe causes, but not the repipe itself.
- Is drywall repair included in the quote?
- Often not. Many plumbers quote the pipework and leave drywall patching and paint to you or a separate contractor, so ask what's included.
How we estimate: These are typical U.S. prices for materials and for hiring a pro to install them. We checked them against the 2026 sources listed below (see how we get our numbers). Your price depends on where you live, the size of the job and the materials you pick. Get two or three written bids before you choose a contractor.
Sources
We checked the prices on this page against 2026 numbers from these sources: