Faucet Replacement Cost (2026)
Faucet Replacement runs $150-$400 per faucet in 2026, labor plus basic parts. Because it is a small job, most pros hold a $125-$250 service-call minimum, so the price often lands at that floor.
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How much does faucet replacement cost in 2026?
Replacing a faucet costs most homeowners between $150 and $400, covering both labor and a standard replacement fixture. Because plumbers and handymen hold a service-call minimum of $125 to $250, even a straightforward 20-minute swap rarely comes in below that floor - the minimum fee shapes the final bill as much as the actual time on site does.
Labor alone runs $120 to $300 depending on who you hire and how complicated the job turns out to be. The faucet itself is often the largest single line item, and fixture prices range from under $50 for a builder-grade unit to several hundred dollars for a designer model - that spread is why two neighbors can quote wildly different totals for what looks like the same job.
What does each faucet replacement scenario cost?
The table below breaks down the three main tiers of faucet replacement work. The scenario boundaries are driven by the condition of existing shutoff valves, supply lines, and the sink connections behind the wall - not by the faucet brand you choose.
| Scenario | Cost Range | What puts a job in this tier |
|---|---|---|
| Basic swap | $120 - $250 | Like-for-like replacement; existing shutoff valves close cleanly; old supply lines reuse or are already flexible braided lines; no corrosion surprises |
| Standard replacement | $180 - $350 | New faucet plus fresh supply lines; shutoffs work but lines are old enough to replace while the pro is already under the sink |
| Complex replacement | $300 - $500 | Corroded or seized connections that require cutting; shutoff valves that have never been closed and need replacement; older galvanized or copper stub-outs that complicate the hookup |
| Most common scenario | $180 - $350 | Most kitchen and bathroom faucet calls land in the standard tier - shutoffs work but supply lines are due for replacement at the same time, adding modest parts cost and a few extra minutes of labor |
What is included in the price, and what costs extra?
Parts included in a typical quote
A standard faucet replacement quote covers the labor to remove the old fixture and install the new one, plus new supply line hoses if the pro supplies them. Some plumbers include a basic supply line pair in their flat rate; others itemize it at $10 to $25 per line. If you supply the faucet yourself, the labor-only range of $120 to $300 applies. If the pro supplies the fixture, expect a markup of 15 to 30 percent over retail on the faucet itself.
Labor included in a typical quote
Labor covers shutting off the water supply, disconnecting and removing the old faucet, installing the new unit, reconnecting supply lines, checking for leaks, and restoring water. On a clean job this takes about one hour. That one hour is also why the service-call minimum matters so much - a pro who holds a $150 minimum is not going to charge you less just because the job finished in 35 minutes.
Common add-ons that cost extra
- Shutoff valve replacement: $75 to $150 per valve if the existing ones are corroded or have never closed properly
- Drain assembly or basket strainer: $40 to $100 for kitchen sinks if the drain needs replacement at the same time
- Haul-away and disposal: Most pros remove the old faucet as part of the job, but some charge a small disposal fee of $15 to $30 for fixture disposal
- Hole drilling or deck plate modification: If the new faucet has a different hole configuration than the old one, expect an added charge of $50 to $100 for drilling or patching
- Emergency or after-hours service: Weekend and evening calls often add a surcharge of $50 to $150 on top of the standard minimum
Why small jobs often cost the minimum call-out fee
A faucet replacement is one of the clearest examples of minimum-fee pricing in home repair. A plumber drives to your house, parks, carries tools in, does the work, and drives away - that overhead exists whether the job takes 20 minutes or 90 minutes. The service-call minimum of $125 to $250 is the pro's way of recovering that overhead. A 20-minute task still bills at the floor, not at a fraction of an hourly rate.
| Provider type | Typical hourly or flat rate | Service-call minimum | When this is the right hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed plumber | $80 - $150 per hour | $150 - $250 | Corroded connections, shutoff valve work, older homes with copper or galvanized supply lines, or any job where a code-compliant sign-off matters |
| Handyman | $60 - $100 per hour | $125 - $175 | Straightforward like-for-like swap in a newer home where shutoffs and supply lines are in good condition; often the most cost-efficient option for basic and standard scenarios |
| Plumbing company (flat-rate pricing) | Flat rate per task, not hourly | $175 - $250 (built into the flat rate) | When you want a predictable total before work begins; the flat rate absorbs the minimum and any minor complications without surprise charges |
| Handyman multi-task visit | $60 - $100 per hour; one minimum covers multiple tasks | $125 - $175 for the entire visit | Best value scenario - one service call minimum covers a faucet swap plus one or two other small jobs on the same visit, eliminating a second minimum fee entirely |
The practical implication: if a plumber holds a $200 minimum and your faucet swap takes 30 minutes, you pay $200 - not $50 for half an hour of labor. Knowing this, it makes sense to schedule a second small task on the same visit rather than calling back a week later and paying the minimum again from scratch.
Can you do faucet replacement yourself?
A like-for-like faucet swap is one of the more accessible DIY plumbing tasks. A basin wrench, an adjustable wrench, and about 30 minutes of work is often all a straightforward replacement requires. The faucet itself becomes the main cost - labor is zero. The situations where DIY goes wrong are usually hidden: a shutoff valve that has seized, corroded nuts that strip, or supply lines that crack when torqued on an old fitting.
| Approach | Typical cost | Time on site | Skill and risk level | When this is the wrong call |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY - like-for-like swap | $50 - $300 (faucet cost only) | 30 - 90 minutes | Low to moderate; requires a basin wrench and comfort working in a tight cabinet space | Shutoff valves that have never been closed, visible corrosion on supply connections, or homes with older galvanized plumbing |
| DIY - with supply line replacement | $60 - $320 (faucet plus $10-$20 in supply lines) | 45 - 120 minutes | Low to moderate; adding supply lines is straightforward if shutoffs work cleanly | Any sign that the shutoff valve does not close fully - a slow drip from the valve is a signal to call a pro before proceeding |
| Pro - basic or standard scenario | $150 - $350 (labor plus parts) | About 1 hour on site | No skill required from homeowner; pro carries tools and handles surprises | Rarely the wrong call; worth the cost when you are not comfortable under the sink or when the home is older |
| Pro - complex scenario | $300 - $500 | 1 to 2 hours on site | No skill required from homeowner; licensed plumber handles corroded connections and shutoff valve replacement | Not a DIY candidate - corroded fittings and shutoff valve replacement carry real risk of water damage if handled without experience |
How to pay less: bundle small jobs into one visit
The service-call minimum is a fixed cost per visit, not per task. If a handyman holds a $150 minimum and your faucet swap takes 45 minutes, you have paid for roughly 45 to 60 minutes of a pro's time. Scheduling a second small repair on the same visit - a running toilet, a loose towel bar, a dripping showerhead - costs only the incremental labor for that second task, not a second $150 minimum.
The math is direct: two separate visits at a $150 minimum each cost $300 before any labor beyond the minimums. The same two tasks on one visit cost $150 minimum plus perhaps $50 to $75 in additional labor for the second job - a saving of $75 to $100 for doing nothing more than scheduling thoughtfully.
Common bundles that pair well with a faucet replacement include: replacing the P-trap or drain assembly under the same sink, swapping a running toilet flapper or fill valve in the same bathroom, installing a new showerhead, or replacing shutoff valves throughout a bathroom in a single visit. Each of these tasks takes 15 to 30 minutes and would otherwise trigger its own minimum call-out charge.
Repair or replace: when fixing the old one makes sense
Faucet repair - replacing a cartridge, O-ring, or ceramic disc - typically costs $75 to $175 in labor, plus $10 to $40 in parts. A full replacement runs $150 to $400. The break-even point is straightforward: if a repair costs more than half the price of a replacement, the replacement is usually the better investment, because the repaired faucet is still old and likely to need further work within a few years.
Repair makes sense when the faucet is a high-quality fixture under 10 years old and the failure is a known, inexpensive cartridge or seal. It also makes sense when the faucet is a specialty or designer model where a matching replacement would cost several hundred dollars - in that case, a $100 repair on a $500 fixture is clearly worth it.
Replace rather than repair when: the faucet is a builder-grade unit more than 10 to 15 years old, when multiple components are failing at the same time, when replacement parts are difficult to source, or when the finish is heavily worn and cosmetic replacement is already on your list. A plumber can usually diagnose repair versus replace in the first few minutes of the service call.
Faucet Replacement cost FAQs
Does the type of faucet - kitchen versus bathroom - change the labor cost?
Kitchen faucets often take slightly longer to install because of their size, the tighter cabinet space beneath a kitchen sink, and the common addition of a sprayer hose or soap dispenser. Expect kitchen faucet labor to run toward the higher end of the $120 to $300 range. Bathroom faucets are generally quicker and more likely to price at or near the service-call minimum of $125 to $175 for a handyman.
Will a plumber charge more if I supply my own faucet?
Most plumbers and handymen will install a customer-supplied fixture, but some plumbers add a small surcharge of $25 to $50 because they lose the parts markup and take on warranty risk for a product they did not select. Handymen are generally more flexible on this. If you have already purchased a specific faucet, confirm the pro's policy before booking.
How long does a faucet replacement take, and does faster mean cheaper?
A straightforward replacement takes about one hour on site. A faster job does not mean a lower bill - the service-call minimum means a 30-minute job and a 60-minute job often cost exactly the same. Speed only saves money once a job runs past the minimum threshold and into billable hourly time beyond it.
Is a permit required for faucet replacement?
A like-for-like faucet swap does not require a permit in virtually any jurisdiction in the United States. Permits become relevant when new water supply lines are being run, when the work involves moving drain locations, or when a shutoff valve is being added to a main line. For a standard faucet replacement, no permit is needed and no inspection is required.
Sam writes RenovCost's practical homeowner guidance - when a job is worth doing yourself, how many quotes to gather, and the questions that separate a reliable crew from a risky one. He focuses on helping first-time renovators avoid overpaying.