Whole House Repiping: Complete Cost Guide for Every Pipe Material
In This Guide
What Is Whole House Repiping
Whole house repiping means removing all of the existing water supply pipes throughout your home and replacing them with new piping. Unlike a spot repair that fixes one leaky section, a full repipe addresses every supply line from the main water connection to each fixture, including sinks, showers, toilets, dishwashers, and outdoor spigots.
Most homes built before the mid-1990s used galvanized steel, polybutylene, or early forms of copper piping. These materials degrade over decades, leading to reduced water pressure, rust-colored water, pinhole leaks, and eventually burst pipes. A full repipe replaces all of that aging infrastructure at once rather than chasing problems one fixture at a time.
The scope of the project varies based on your home. A single-story ranch with exposed basement plumbing might need only 200 to 300 feet of new pipe with minimal wall cuts. A two-story colonial with finished walls on every level could require 400 to 600 feet of pipe, dozens of wall openings, and extensive drywall repair afterward. Both of those scenarios fall under whole house repiping, but their costs will be dramatically different.
Repiping is typically handled by a licensed plumber over the course of two to five days for an average-sized home. The work includes shutting off the main water supply, cutting into walls or ceilings to access old pipe runs, removing the old pipes, installing new ones, connecting all fixtures, pressure testing the new system, and restoring water service. Drywall repair and painting may be included in the plumber quote or handled separately by a drywall contractor.
Average Repiping Cost in 2026
The national average for a whole house repipe in 2026 falls between $4,000 and $15,000, with most homeowners paying around $7,500. This range accounts for a typical three-bedroom, two-bathroom home between 1,200 and 2,000 square feet using PEX or copper piping.
Here is how the numbers break down by home size when using PEX, the most common choice for new residential repiping:
- 1,000 square feet: $3,500 to $7,000
- 1,500 square feet: $5,500 to $11,000
- 2,000 square feet: $7,000 to $14,000
- 2,500+ square feet: $10,000 to $18,000
If you choose copper instead of PEX, expect to pay 40 to 60 percent more. Copper material costs alone run $2 to $8 per linear foot compared to $0.40 to $2 per linear foot for PEX tubing. The labor difference is significant too, because copper requires soldering each joint while PEX uses simple crimp or push-fit connections that install much faster.
These estimates include labor, materials, permits, and basic fixture reconnections. They do not include drywall repair, painting, or upgrades to the main water line from the street, which are common add-on costs that push the total higher.
Cost by Pipe Material
The pipe material you select is the single biggest factor in your total repiping cost. Each material has a different price per foot, a different installation labor requirement, and a different expected lifespan. Here is how the four main options compare.
PEX (Cross-Linked Polyethylene)
PEX is the most popular choice for residential repiping in 2026. It costs $3.50 to $7.00 per square foot of home area, fully installed. The material itself runs $0.40 to $2.00 per linear foot, making it the most affordable piping option. PEX is flexible, which means it can be snaked through walls with fewer cuts and connections. It resists freezing better than rigid pipe because it can expand slightly without cracking. Expected lifespan is 40 to 50 years or more.
PEX comes in three grades: PEX-A is the most flexible and expensive, PEX-B is the most common with a good balance of cost and performance, and PEX-C is the least flexible at the lowest cost. Most plumbers use PEX-B for whole house repiping. The flexibility of PEX means fewer fittings, fewer potential leak points, and faster installation, all of which keep labor costs lower than copper.
Copper
Copper repiping costs $8.00 to $14.00 per square foot of home area, fully installed. Material costs run $2 to $8 per linear foot depending on the diameter and copper market prices. Copper is the premium choice, offering a proven track record of 50 to 70 years of service life. It does not degrade from UV exposure, and it adds a slight antimicrobial benefit to your water supply.
The downside is cost and installation complexity. Every copper joint must be soldered (sweated) by a skilled plumber, which takes significantly more labor time than PEX crimp connections. Copper is also rigid, meaning more wall and ceiling cuts are needed to route new pipe runs. For a 1,500 square foot home, expect to pay $12,000 to $22,000 for a full copper repipe.
CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride)
CPVC sits between PEX and copper in price, typically costing $1.50 to $3.25 per linear foot for materials. It is a rigid plastic pipe that handles hot water well and resists corrosion. However, CPVC has fallen out of favor in many markets because it becomes brittle over time, especially in hot attic spaces or areas with high chlorine levels in the water supply. Some insurance companies have begun flagging CPVC installations, and several states have seen class-action lawsuits related to premature CPVC failures.
If your existing plumbing is CPVC and you are repiping because of brittleness or cracking, most plumbers will recommend switching to PEX rather than replacing CPVC with more CPVC.
Galvanized Steel (Replacement Only)
No one installs new galvanized steel pipe in residential plumbing today. If your home currently has galvanized pipes, you are repiping to get rid of them. Galvanized pipe corrodes from the inside out, building up rust and mineral deposits that reduce water flow over 20 to 50 years. Replacing galvanized pipes with PEX costs $2,500 to $8,000 for a standard home. Replacing them with copper pushes the range to $5,000 to $15,000. The galvanized removal itself adds labor cost because the old pipes are heavy, often corroded to fittings, and require more effort to extract than lighter plastic pipes.
What Drives Repiping Cost Up or Down
Beyond pipe material, several factors influence the final number on your quote.
Home Size and Number of Fixtures
More square footage means more linear feet of pipe. But fixture count matters just as much. A 1,500 square foot home with three bathrooms, a kitchen, a laundry room, and two outdoor hose bibs has significantly more connection points than the same size home with one bathroom. Each fixture requires a dedicated supply line, a shutoff valve, and a connection, adding both material and labor to the job.
Number of Stories
Two-story and three-story homes cost 20 to 40 percent more to repipe than single-story homes of the same square footage. Vertical pipe runs require more wall openings, more complex routing, and often scaffold or ladder work that slows the crew down. Accessing pipes in second-floor walls from below means cutting into first-floor ceilings, which adds drywall repair costs.
Foundation Type
Homes on raised foundations or with unfinished basements are the easiest to repipe because the plumber can access much of the plumbing from below without opening walls. Slab foundations are the most expensive, adding 25 to 50 percent to labor costs. Pipes running under or through a concrete slab either need to be abandoned and rerouted through the attic and walls, or the slab needs to be jackhammered open, which is slow, loud, and expensive.
Wall and Ceiling Access
Homes with open, unfinished spaces like basements, crawl spaces, and exposed attics give plumbers easy access to pipe runs. Homes where every wall and ceiling is finished drywall require the plumber to cut access holes, route new pipe, and then either patch the drywall themselves or leave it for a separate contractor. Drywall repair after repiping adds $1,000 to $5,000 or more depending on the number of openings.
Local Permit and Inspection Costs
Most cities require a plumbing permit for a whole house repipe. Permit fees range from $50 to $800 depending on your municipality. The permit process typically requires at least one inspection after the new pipe is installed but before the walls are closed up. Some jurisdictions require a second inspection after drywall is complete. Your plumber should pull the permit as part of the job, and the cost is usually included in their quote.
Geographic Location
Labor rates vary dramatically by region. Plumbers in major metro areas on the coasts charge $85 to $150 per hour, while rural and Midwest plumbers may charge $55 to $85 per hour. This difference alone can swing a repiping job by $2,000 to $4,000. Material costs also vary, as copper prices fluctuate with commodity markets and PEX pricing can differ by distributor region.
When to Repipe vs. When to Repair
Not every plumbing problem requires a full repipe. A single pinhole leak in an otherwise healthy copper system can be patched for $150 to $400. A corroded section of galvanized pipe near the water heater can be replaced as a spot repair for $300 to $800. Repiping makes sense when the problems are systemic rather than isolated.
Consider a full repipe if you are experiencing any combination of these issues:
- Multiple leaks in different locations. If leaks are appearing in separate rooms or on different floors, the pipe material itself is failing, not just one weak spot.
- Rust-colored water at multiple faucets. Discolored water from several fixtures means internal corrosion throughout the system, not just at one connection.
- Noticeably reduced water pressure. When mineral buildup inside galvanized pipes restricts flow, no amount of faucet cleaning will restore full pressure. The pipes themselves are the bottleneck.
- Your pipes are polybutylene. Polybutylene, the gray or blue flexible pipe installed from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s, is known to fail without warning. Many insurance companies refuse to cover homes with polybutylene plumbing, making replacement a practical necessity.
- You are planning a major renovation. If walls are already being opened for a kitchen remodel or bathroom addition, repiping at the same time saves thousands in access costs since the plumber does not need to cut into finished walls.
- Lead pipes are present. Homes built before the 1950s may have lead supply lines. Lead exposure is a serious health concern, and full replacement is the only permanent solution.
If you are dealing with just one or two isolated issues and your pipe material is copper or PEX in otherwise good condition, spot repairs are usually the better financial decision.
The Repiping Process Step by Step
Understanding the process helps you plan for the disruption and set realistic expectations for the timeline.
Initial Inspection and Quote
A plumber visits your home, identifies the existing pipe material, counts fixtures, inspects access points, and measures the scope of work. They should provide a written quote that itemizes materials, labor, permits, and any drywall repair included. Get at least three quotes from licensed plumbers to compare pricing and scope.
Permit and Scheduling
The plumber pulls the required plumbing permit from your city or county. This may take a few days to a few weeks depending on local processing times. Once the permit is approved, the work is scheduled, usually for a block of two to five consecutive days.
Day One: Preparation and Demolition
The crew shuts off the main water supply, drains the existing system, and begins opening walls and ceilings to access old pipe runs. They mark the route for new pipes, protecting flooring and furniture in work areas. In homes with easy access from a crawl space or basement, much of this step happens below the living space with minimal wall cuts.
Days Two Through Four: Pipe Installation
Old pipes are removed section by section and new pipes are installed in their place. With PEX, a plumber can often run a single continuous line from the manifold to each fixture, reducing the number of fittings and joints. With copper, each run is cut to length, fitted, and soldered on site. The crew connects new supply lines to every fixture, installs new shutoff valves, and routes lines to the water heater, dishwasher, refrigerator ice maker, and outdoor connections.
Pressure Testing and Inspection
Once all new pipe is installed, the system is pressurized and tested for leaks. The plumber runs water to every fixture, checks all joints and connections, and verifies proper hot and cold routing. The city inspector comes to review the work while the walls are still open. If everything passes, the plumber gets approval to close the walls.
Drywall Repair and Cleanup
Wall and ceiling openings are patched, mudded, sanded, and painted. Some plumbing companies include basic drywall patching in their repiping quote. Others leave this work for a separate drywall contractor. Either way, the repair should blend seamlessly with the surrounding wall finish.
Hidden Costs to Budget For
The base repiping quote covers pipes, fittings, labor, and permits. But several common add-ons can push your total higher.
Drywall and Paint Repair
This is the most common hidden cost. Depending on the number of access holes cut during the repipe, drywall repair and painting adds $1,000 to $5,000. In homes where every wall is finished and pipes run through multiple floors, repair costs can exceed $3,000 even for a basic patch-and-paint job. Textured walls and ceilings cost more to match than smooth drywall.
Water Main Replacement
If the pipe from the street to your house is also old galvanized or lead, your plumber may recommend replacing it at the same time. A water main replacement adds $600 to $2,500 depending on the distance from the street to your home and whether the line runs under a driveway, sidewalk, or landscaping.
Fixture Upgrades
While the plumber is disconnecting and reconnecting every fixture, some homeowners choose to upgrade old shutoff valves, replace corroded supply connectors, or add whole-house water filtration. New quarter-turn shutoff valves cost $8 to $20 each, and replacing all of them during a repipe is a smart investment since the plumber is already at each fixture.
Temporary Water or Lodging
Your water will be off for several hours each day during the repipe. For most homeowners, this means no showers, no dishwasher, and no laundry during work hours. The plumber typically restores water each evening, but if you have health concerns or small children, you may need to budget for a hotel stay during the most disruptive days.
Asbestos Abatement
Homes built before 1980 may have asbestos insulation on old pipes or in the walls near plumbing runs. If asbestos is found during demolition, work must stop until a licensed abatement team removes it. This adds $1,500 to $5,000 or more depending on the extent of contamination and is not something your plumber can handle.
How to Choose a Repiping Contractor
Repiping is not a weekend handyman project. The contractor you choose should hold a valid plumbing license in your state, carry general liability insurance and workers compensation coverage, and have documented experience with whole house repiping specifically. A plumber who primarily handles drain cleaning or faucet installations may not have the efficiency or expertise for a full repipe.
Ask each prospective contractor these questions:
- How many whole house repipes have you completed in the past year?
- What pipe material do you recommend for my specific situation, and why?
- Does your quote include drywall repair and painting, or is that separate?
- Will you pull the permit and schedule the inspection?
- What warranty do you offer on the labor and materials?
- Can you provide references from recent repiping customers?
A reputable plumbing company will provide a detailed written estimate that breaks down material costs, labor, permits, and any exclusions. Be cautious of quotes that are significantly lower than others, as they may exclude drywall repair, permit fees, or use substandard materials. Similarly, the highest quote is not automatically the best, so compare scope and warranty terms rather than just the bottom line number.
Most established repiping contractors offer a labor warranty of one to two years on top of the manufacturer warranty on the pipe material itself, which is typically 25 years for PEX and lifetime for copper. Make sure you understand what each warranty covers and what voids it.