Repiping a house means replacing the old pipes that carry water to your sinks, showers, and toilets. For most homes the job takes 2 to 5 days. Three things set most of the price: the size of the house, how many bathrooms it has, and the pipe you choose. The numbers on this page come from this site's calculator. A repipe company will give you one fixed price once it has looked at your house in person.
What a repipe costs by house size
These prices use PEX, a bendable plastic pipe that is usually red for hot water and blue for cold. Each home has one story and a crawl space, the shallow open area under a raised floor. Sizes are in square feet (sq ft). They use average US prices, so a company near you may charge somewhat more or less.
| House size | Bathrooms | Estimated cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | 1 | about $4,100 up to $7,700 | 2 to 3 days |
| 1,800 sq ft | 2 | about $6,400 up to $11,800 | 2 to 3 days |
| 2,400 sq ft | 3 | about $7,500 up to $14,400 | 3 to 4 days |
| 3,200 sq ft | 4 or more | about $10,600 up to $21,200 | 4 to 5 days |
The number of bedrooms doesn't change the price. What matters is how big the house is and how many bathrooms it has.
Plumber pay is different in each state, so the same house costs more in some places. For an 1,800-square-foot home with two bathrooms and PEX pipe, the price is lowest in states like Florida and highest in states like Washington.
A house on a slab costs more. A slab is a layer of concrete poured right on the ground, with pipes running under it or set inside it. That 1,800-square-foot home with PEX costs about $8,300 to $16,300 on a slab.
What happens during a repipe?
You can nearly always keep living in your house while the crew does its work. According to Repipe Solutions, most families stay at home from start to finish.
Plan on the water being shut off about 8 to 10 hours each working day. Before the crew arrives each morning, fill a few jugs with water for drinking and cooking.
A pressure test checks the new pipes for leaks and takes at least 15 minutes. The plumber fills the new pipes with water or air under strong pressure and watches a dial. If the reading drops, there is a leak somewhere. Ask to see this test before the walls are patched, while any leak is still easy to reach and fix.
How long does a repipe take?
Plan on 2 to 5 days for most homes: 2 to 3 for a typical one-floor home, longer for a bigger house, a second floor or copper pipe.
For an 1,800-square-foot house with two bathrooms:
| Pipe | Floors | Time |
|---|---|---|
| PEX | 1 | 2 to 3 days |
| PEX | 2 | 2 to 4 days |
| Copper | 1 | 3 to 5 days |
A second story adds roughly half a day. Very large homes take a little longer: a big two-story house with four or more bathrooms can take up to 6 days.
Patching the drywall
Drywall is the board most inside walls are made of. The repipe price often doesn't include patching the holes made to reach the pipes, so check your quote (the written price) for it. A national guide estimates drywall repair at $300 to $1,500. Before you sign, ask if it's covered.
If a separate company patches the walls, plan on 3 to 5 extra days.
Do you need a repipe permit?
In almost every case, yes: a permit is the city's official permission for the work. The fee is usually $50 to $800, depending on where you live, according to a national cost guide. Ask the company to list the permit separately on the quote, so you can see exactly what it costs.
Repipe vs pipe lining
Pipe lining is a different job: it repairs the sewer line that carries waste out of the house, not the water pipes inside it. For sewer problems, this site has a separate sewer line calculator. It compares three fixes: lining the old pipe, digging a trench for a new one, and pipe bursting, where a new pipe is pulled through and breaks the old one apart. Its prices include the camera check that comes first.
Questions people ask
What does a 2,000 sq ft repipe cost?
A one-floor home of 2,000 sq ft with 2 bathrooms and a crawl space costs about $6,800 to $12,500 with PEX. Copper costs more, about $9,800 to $19,500.
What does a 1,500 sq ft repipe cost?
A one-floor home of 1,500 sq ft with 2 bathrooms and a crawl space costs about $5,900 to $10,800 with PEX.
How long will the new pipes last?
New pipes last for 50 to 100 years, according to Angi.
What's the lowest-cost way to repipe?
PEX is usually the lowest-cost pipe for a whole house. CPVC, a stiff cream or tan plastic pipe, costs a little more, and copper costs the most, for both the pipe and the work, according to Fuse Service, a plumbing company. Check that your town's building rules allow PEX. Fixing only part of the pipe is cheaper right away, but the old pipe that stays can still fail.