How Much Does It Cost to Repipe a House?
$4,000 – $15,000
National average: $7,500
Estimate your cost
Adjust the options for a tailored ballpark — figures and the regional adjustment are approximate estimates. Always confirm with local quotes before you budget.
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.
| Component | 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 | — |
| 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.
Frequently asked 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: ranges reflect typical U.S. pricing for materials and professional installation, compiled and cross-checked against the current (2026) industry sources listed below (see our data & methodology). Your actual cost depends on your location, project size, material grade, and local labor rates — always get multiple written quotes before you commit.
Sources
Cost ranges on this page were checked against current (2026) data from these industry sources: