How to Price Plumbing Jobs in 2026 (Flat-Rate Menu Builders Use)
Plumbers who charge hourly go broke. The customer haggles, surprises themselves, leaves bad reviews. Switch to flat-rate from day one — your margins, trust, and reviews all jump.
Here's the 2026 menu.
The Pricing Model: Flat-Rate Everything
- Service call / diagnostic fee: $89-$149 (waived if work performed)
- Repairs: flat-rate menu, presented before any wrench moves
- Installs: fixed quote with itemized parts and labor
- Maintenance: $14-$24/month plan or $149-$249/year
2026 Repair Pricing Benchmarks
Toilet repair (fill valve + flapper): $189-$249 Toilet rebuild (full internals): $289-$389 Toilet replacement (you supply standard model): $489-$689 Garbage disposal replacement (customer supplies): $189-$249 Garbage disposal replacement (you supply mid-tier): $369-$489 Faucet replacement (customer supplies): $189-$289 Faucet replacement (you supply mid-tier): $389-$589 P-trap repair (under sink): $189-$289 Drain clearing (sink/tub): $189-$289 Main line snake (cleanout access): $389-$589 Hydro jetting (residential mainline): $589-$889 Sewer camera inspection: $289-$489 Water heater anode rod replacement: $189-$289 Pressure regulator replacement: $389-$589 Whole-house shutoff valve replacement: $489-$689
Install Pricing Benchmarks
Water heater (40-gallon gas, standard): $1,890-$2,490 Water heater (50-gallon gas, standard): $2,089-$2,789 Tankless water heater (gas, mid-grade installed): $4,200-$6,800 Sump pump replacement: $789-$1,289 Whole-house water filter system: $1,289-$2,489 Repipe (1,500 sq ft home, copper to PEX): $4,800-$8,500 Repipe (2,500+ sq ft home, copper to PEX): $7,800-$13,500 Sewer line replacement (trenchless, 50ft): $5,890-$9,890 Sewer line replacement (open trench, 50ft): $4,290-$7,890
Emergency / After-Hours Pricing
- After-hours service call (5pm-8am, weekends, holidays): $189-$289
- Emergency premium: 1.5x flat-rate menu pricing
- Holiday premium: 2.0x flat-rate
Don't apologize for emergency rates. Customers happily pay them — they're calling at 9 PM Sunday because their basement is flooding.
Maintenance Plan Pricing
Standard plumbing care plan: $14-$19/month or $149-$199/year
- Annual whole-home plumbing inspection
- Annual water heater flush
- Priority scheduling
- 10-15% off any repair
200 plan customers = $2,800-$3,800/month recurring. Plus every plan visit generates ~$200-$400 in upsell repair work.
The Profit Math
To clear $130K/year as a solo licensed plumber, gross ~$280K-$360K. That requires:
- 70-110 service calls per month at $300-$500 average
- 3-6 install jobs per month at $2K-$8K average
- 100+ maintenance plan subscribers
Hourly target: $150-$220/hour effective on flat-rate.
Common Pricing Mistakes
- Hourly billing instead of flat-rate
- No service-call fee
- Quoting over the phone (always look first)
- Free estimates on installs over $3K
- Underpriced emergency rates
- Skipping the menu disclosure
The Software
Invoicerus gives plumbers a flat-rate quote builder, mobile invoicing, customer history with installed equipment, and maintenance plan billing — free.
Sign up free at invoicerus.com. No credit card.
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