The usual sewer line replacement cost is $60 to $250 a foot. The estimates below compare prices for different line lengths and replacement methods. Across all jobs, the typical price works out to roughly $150 for each foot of pipe. For a 60-foot line replaced by digging a trench, this site's calculator estimates about $3,700 to $15,500, including a camera inspection.
Price per foot for each method
Crews replace sewer lines in 3 common ways. With open trenching, they dig up the ground along the full length of the line and set new pipe in the trench. Lining creates a fresh pipe surface inside the pipe you already have. Bursting drags a new pipe through the old one, and the old pipe breaks apart as the new pipe moves through it.
| Method | Cost per foot |
|---|---|
| Digging a trench and laying new pipe | $60 to $250 |
| Lining the existing pipe | $90 to $250 |
| Pulling a new pipe through the old one | $60 to $200 |
The numbers in this table are based on Angi's guide to sewer line costs.
What a camera inspection costs
A camera inspection costs $100 to $500. The plumber pushes a small camera through the line to find where the damage sits and check the pipe's condition. Once the plumber has seen inside the pipe, you'll know which methods are an option for your line.
What a 60-foot line costs in total
The numbers here are this site's estimates, and they include the camera inspection. They cover the pipe work itself; putting back a lawn, driveway or path after digging is priced separately. For a fixed price, this site's free phone line connects you to a company in your area that quotes after it sees your home.
| Method | Estimate, 60-foot line |
|---|---|
| Digging a trench | $3,700 to $15,500 |
| Lining the pipe | $5,500 to $15,500 |
| Bursting the pipe | $3,700 to $12,500 |
Bursting tops out lowest of the three, at about $12,500. Lining starts higher, at about $5,500, because even the cheapest lining jobs run about $90 a foot, compared with $60 for the other two methods.
Cost of a 100-foot sewer line
The longer the line, the bigger the bill. For a 100-foot line, camera inspection included, this site's calculator gives about $6,100 to $25,500 by trench, $9,100 to $25,500 for lining and $6,100 to $20,500 for bursting. Nu Flow puts a 100-foot open trench replacement higher, at roughly $8,000 to $30,000, so treat both as a guide until a company has seen your line.
Trenchless vs. digging: which costs less?
Any method that skips digging a long trench across your yard counts as trenchless, which includes both lining and bursting. On this site's numbers for a 60-foot line, bursting is usually the cheapest, lining starts higher than digging, and the top prices are close. Putting back a lawn, driveway or path after digging is priced separately, and once that is counted, Nu Flow says trenchless work can save 30 to 50%, so get a quote for both if you can. It only works if the pipe hasn't collapsed or settled at the wrong angle, so the camera inspection comes first.
Questions people ask often
Will homeowners insurance cover a broken sewer line?
Not usually for the most common causes. Wear and tear, damage from age, and tree root damage in sewer lines aren't covered by most standard homeowners policies. Check your own policy, or ask your insurer, to see exactly what it covers.
What tells you a sewer line is failing?
A rotten-egg smell near your drains is one warning sign, and bubbling or gurgling noises are another. Angi says either one is worth having a plumber check.
Does trenchless work on every sewer line?
No. Trenchless methods don't suit pipes with major problems, like a pipe that has caved in or one that sits at the wrong angle. Your plumber can tell you what will work instead.