How To Price Plumbing Jobs: The Definitive Guide
Got jobs to quote? Here’s how to price plumbing jobs in 2025.
When it comes to pricing plumbing jobs, the estimating process can feel more difficult than the job itself.
With so many factors to consider, it’s easy to second-guess yourself or overlook important details. Are you fully covering your costs? Are your rates competitive enough? And most importantly, are you turning a profit?
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, drawing up estimates is never easy — but that’s where we come in.
At Invoice Fly, we make it our job to simplify your pricing process, helping you focus on what you do best: delivering great plumbing services.
Firstly, why is pricing so important?
Pricing can make or break your plumbing business.
Set your rates too low, you’ll end up working for peanuts. Price jobs too high, you’ll drive customers away. And if your pricing structure is overly complicated, you’ll waste valuable time explaining it to potential clients.
The bottom line: pricing is more than just numbers — it’s about profitability, trust, and staying competitive. Strike this balance right, and you’ll be setting your business up for success.
Key goals when pricing plumbing jobs:
- Keep your business profitable
- Build trust with customers
- Maintain a competitive edge
How to estimate the cost of plumbing jobs
Estimating plumbing jobs doesn’t have to be overwhelming — and we’ve made it simple.
On the one hand, you can charge a flat rate for each plumbing service. However, if you’re a contractor or small business owner, pricing by the project is the best way to ensure accuracy and compete with local competition.
Here’s how you can do it, in four simple steps.
1. Calculate labor costs
Start by estimating the total time the job will take, including the initial set-up, the actual work, and clean-up.
Some plumbers choose to include travel time, while others don’t or will only include it if they’re traveling beyond a certain distance. This is entirely up to you.
Once you have an accurate estimate of the hours needed, multiply the total time by your hourly rate.
Your service fees should reflect your experience, skill set, and the local market demand.
For example, plumber hourly rates in San José, California, may be significantly higher than those in Florida, so it’s important to adjust your pricing based on your location.
Key factors to consider when calculating labor costs:
- Setup time
- Actual work
- Cleanup time
- Travel time (optional)
- Other additional fees
2. Add material costs
Calculate your overhead costs by making a detailed list of every material you’ll need for a specific job, including essentials like pipes and valves, along with any additional components for that particular project. It’s best to be thorough here, so as to avoid any future surprises.
Also, remember to account for any taxes that may not be included in the listed sales prices, ensuring your estimate fully covers all material expenses.
Materials you might need:
- Traps & tubes
- Supply lines
- Water heater parts
- Toilet parts
- Faucet parts and valves
- Pipes & fittings
- Adhesives & sealants
- Appliances & appliance parts
- Hangers, struts, & fasteners
- Finished plumbing products
View the complete plumbing material checklist.
3. Factor in overheads
Don’t overlook your overhead expenses — the behind-the-scenes costs that keep your business running smoothly. In doing so, you may flush away any profits you would make.
Instead, take a moment to estimate and cover overhead costs, including vehicle maintenance, plumbing tools, office supplies, insurance, licensing fees, and even marketing expenses.
How to calculate your overhead cost:
- Combine your annual overhead costs
- Divide by 12 to get your monthly overhead
- Divide your monthly overhead by your average amount of monthly billable hours
Following these three steps, you’ll have your hourly overhead rate, which you can then use to price plumbing jobs.
Simply take your hourly overhead cost and multiply it by the number of labor hours needed.
That’s it. Job done!
4. Include a profit margin
Your profit margin is the lifeline of your business, so take care of it.
Many plumbers aim for a 15-35% margin, depending on the job type, market demand, and competition. However, striking the right balance between competitive pricing and profitability is key.
How to add profit margin to a plumbing job:
- Add up your labor, material, and overhead costs for the job
- Determine what markup percentage is suitable for the job
- Multiply the total cost by your chosen markup percentage (e.g., 25% = 0.25) and add this to your total costs.
Want to make the process even easier?
How to prepare a quote for plumbing jobs
Once you complete the job, you’ll need to prepare a quote.
The goal? Keep it simple and make it clear. Do these two things, and you’ll be winning customers in no time.
Key plumbing quote details:
- Invoice number and date
- Your company information
- The customer’s information
- Plumbing service & material details
- Payment terms and conditions
- Any notes for additional information
Save time by using Invoice Fly’s Estimate Generator — just input the details and download your polished, professional quote instantly.
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How much do plumbers make?
The earnings of a plumber in the United States can vary widely depending on experience, location, and the type of work they specialize in.
However, according to Indeed, the average annual salary for a plumber in 2024 is $60,000.
At the lower end, entry-level or apprentice plumbers might earn around $35,000 annually, while experienced master plumbers or those running their own businesses can make well over $100,000 yearly, especially in high-demand areas.
RELATED ARTICLE: How Much Do Plumbers Make? 2025 Salary Guide
Plumbing services list
From fixing leaks and unclogging drains to installing water heaters and new piping systems, plumbers handle a wide range of essential services.
Here’s a quick breakdown of common jobs in the plumbing industry, and their average costs.
Common jobs and price ranges:
- Cost to fix a leak: $150–$450
- Water heater installation costs: $850–$1,700
- Price of unclogging a drain: $150–$350
- Drain line repair costs: $225–$1,175
- Water main repair fees: $350–$1,600
- Water main installation costs: $625–$2,700
- New plumbing pipes cost: $375–$2,000
Streamline your business with plumbing software tools
Pricing and quoting plumbing jobs doesn’t have to be a time-consuming or stressful process. With the right tools, you can save hours of effort while ensuring accuracy, professionalism, and profitability.
Wondering where to start? Try Invoice Fly’s plumbing software solutions. Each of our tools has been designed to simplify the business side of being a plumber.
From managing your client base and sending invoices to building reports, we’ve thought of everything.
Begin simplifying your workflow, and download Invoice Fly today!
