How much does it cost to repipe a house?

United States: homeowner survey

Households in the American Housing Survey that hired out adding or replacing interior water pipes reported a median of $1,800; the typical range (middle half of 547 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) was $500 to $5,000.

When the household did the pipe work itself: a median (288 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) of $300.

How measured: hired-out finished jobs, survey-weighted, not adjusted for inflation; do-it-yourself jobs the same way. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data read 16 October 2026.

These figures are estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data years 2021-2023, read 16 October 2026, for the United States. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.

Researched by the InstaBids editorial team. Last checked: 16 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-16

What is the repipe house cost?

The survey item is "Added or replaced interior water pipes". It does not record how much pipe was added or replaced, so a whole-house repipe and a smaller section of pipe are not told apart in the range above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.

The item is limited to pipes inside the home. The service line that connects a house to the water main is outside it, and EPA estimates about 4 million lead service lines still serve properties across the country.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.
Source: U.S. EPA, Lead Service Lines, read 16 October 2026.

62 percent of the interior pipe jobs with a reported cost were hired out, against 87 percent of roofing jobs in the same survey.

How much to repipe a house with old pipes?

Lead is a common reason to replace pipes. EPA says the most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets and fixtures, and that a lead service line is usually the biggest source in a home that has one.

Source: U.S. EPA, Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water, read 16 October 2026.

EPA adds that you cannot see, taste or smell dissolved lead, so testing is the only sure way to know, and that the Safe Drinking Water Act tightened the lead allowed in new plumbing in 2011.

Source: U.S. EPA, Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water, read 16 October 2026.

What changes the cost to repipe?

Leaks already in the walls: EPA's mold guide says to fix plumbing leaks as soon as possible and dry everything completely, and to insulate cold water pipes that sweat.
Source: U.S. EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, read 16 October 2026.
Owner or plumber: households that did their own interior pipe work reported a much lower median than those who hired a plumber.
How much is replaced: the survey cannot tell a full repipe from a partial one, so the range spans both.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.

Get written bids

Contractors who take part estimate from your photos and a written scope card, so nobody visits before you see any prices. InstaBids is in an early pilot in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Sources for the figures on this page

U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/data/2023/ahs-2023-public-use-file--puf-.html, read 16 October 2026. U.S. government work; no endorsement implied.
U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2023/AHS%202023%20Value%20Labels%20Package.zip, read 16 October 2026.
U.S. EPA, Lead Service Lines, www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/lead-service-lines, read 16 October 2026.
U.S. EPA, Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water, www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water, read 16 October 2026.
U.S. EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home, read 16 October 2026.