The cost of repairing a leaky faucet depends on the type of faucet and the part that needs to be replaced.
Repairing a leaky shower or bathroom sink faucet typically costs less than your bathtub, kitchen, or outdoor faucets.
Faucet parts can be fairly inexpensive, but unless you're an experienced DIYer, you should hire a plumber to get the job done properly.
Expect to pay about $45 to $200 per hour for labor, which is often the largest cost factor for this project.
Leaky faucets can lead to costly water damage—not to mention, lots of wasted water—so it’s best to repair them as soon as you notice a problem. Fortunately, leaky faucet repairs are some of the most inexpensive home repairs that you can do, especially if you make the repair yourself. You could spend as little as $60 or up to $400 for larger fixes, but most homeowners spend $270. Use this guide to budget for a leaky faucet repair, which breaks down common costs by factors like replacement parts, and whether or not you hire a plumber to help.
Leaky Faucet Repair Cost Breakdown
Several factors affect the cost to repair a leaky faucet, including the faucet’s type, and the replacement parts you need. Whether or not you hire a plumber to make the repair will also affect your costs.
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The type of faucet you need to repair can affect your costs. For instance, bathtub faucets usually cost the most to repair since they often involve more and larger components than, say, outdoor faucets, which are typically the most affordable.
Faucet Type
Average Cost
Bathroom sink
$60 – $200
Kitchen sink
$100 – $250
Bathtub
$60 – $400
Outdoor
$100 – $300
Shower faucet
$75 – $200
Plumbing Repair 101
Parts
Repairing a leaky faucet often involves replacing a faulty part, such as the valve seat or the O-ring. These parts have different prices, so the one you need to replace can affect your overall costs.
Faucet Part
Cost
O-ring
$1 – $5
Rubber washer
$2 – $5
Cartridge
$10 – $100
Valve seat
$5 – $10
Ceramic disk
$20 – $50
Stem
$10 – $50
Hose
$15 – $50
Gaskets and seals
$2 – $10
Labor
If you hire a pro to repair your leaky faucet, you should factor labor costs into your overall budget. Hourly rates for plumbers usually cost between $45 and $200 per hour. But if you need emergency services immediately or after business hours, your costs might be higher.
Why You Should Hire a Plumber
Hiring a plumber near you to fix a leaky faucet is going to be far more expensive than DIYing, but it’s still worthwhile to bring in a pro. A plumber can identify the underlying cause of the leak and implement a permanent solution, potentially saving you from the frustration of ongoing problems and avoiding unnecessarily high water bills. They can also suggest fixes that could prevent leaks elsewhere in your home for a more holistic solution.
Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a plumber
Despite the issue seeming like a minor one, there are a few key reasons why hiring a professional is best:
DIY mistakes can lead to ongoing leaks and high water bills, as well as worsening water damage if the issue goes beyond a single fixture.
Plumbers bring a variety of tools and materials that allow them to replace parts of your faucet to save you money or swap out the entire thing if it’s beyond its useful life.
A plumber can identify the true source of the problem and may recommend water softeners, repiping, and other fixes that could prevent leaks throughout your entire home.
Many professionals offer a workmanship warranty to guarantee you don’t have ongoing problems.
If you want to DIY a leaky faucet repair
Hiring a pro to fix a leaky faucet is best, but there are some things you can do yourself if you want to have a hand in the repair process:
Turn off the speedy valve serving the faucet to stop the flow of water.
Try to identify the source of the leak to give your plumber a better idea of what they’ll need to do once they’re on-site.
Pick up a replacement faucet in case a repair isn’t possible and you instead need a full replacement.
Check your other plumbing fixtures to see if the problem goes beyond just one faucet.
Cost of Common Leaky Faucet Repair Add-Ons
If you hire a plumber to repair your leaky faucet, you can potentially save some money by having them make other repairs while they’re already there–saving them an additional trip. Common plumbing repair costs include:
Leaky faucet repairs don’t typically cost as much as many other home repairs, but there are still some ways that you can potentially save money on this project, including:
Getting at least three estimates from reputable plumbers.
Repairing the leaky faucet yourself.
Borrowing any tools you don’t own.
Planning the repair within normal business hours.
Shopping around for the best price on replacement parts.
Next Steps: Finalize Your Project With a Pro
Tell your plumber whether or not you were able to shut the water off to the fixture, as this could dictate how quickly they need to get to your home.
Be ready to discuss whether you have similar problems throughout other portions of your home.
Mention if you have a water softener, as this can help your plumber prepare for specific issues that cause leaks.
Discuss if you’d prefer a repair or if you want a faucet replacement or if it’s time to upgrade anyway.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of a new faucet heavily depends on the faucet’s type, brand, and style. Kitchen and bathroom faucets cost between $170 and $360, on average, but can reach $500or more for high-end materials and designs. Meanwhile, outdoor faucets cost between $100 and $300 to replace.
Signs of a leaky faucet include dripping water, unusual noises, and irregular water flow coming from the faucet. Discoloration or water stains around the sink or countertop can also indicate a leak, as can higher than usual water bills and wet areas under and around the sink’s base.
It usually takes between 30 minutes and one hour to repair a leaky faucet, but if you hire a plumber, they’ll often charge for one hour minimum. However, this time period is entirely dependent on the type of repair you need. Some complex repairs can take several hours to complete.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a leaky faucet that’s dripping at a rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year. This is one reason why it’s important to fix a leaky faucet sooner rather than later.
Dan is a writer and property manager and can be found sharing his home improvement tips on sites like EcoWatch and Today’s Homeowner. He loves sharing his years of hands-on experience and love of DIY to help homeowners bring their visions to life.
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