Home / Plumbing / Repiping a House Cost
How much does it cost to repipe a house?
The short answer
Repiping a typical house costs $4,000 to $15,000, running about $2 to $6 per linear foot of pipe with PEX at the low end and copper at $8 to $15 or more. A two-bathroom home in PEX commonly lands between $4,500 and $8,000. Price includes the new supply system; wall patching and painting are sometimes separate, so read the quote for them.
Repiping sounds extreme until the symptoms stack up: rusty water, falling pressure, and the third pinhole leak this year. At that point the house is telling you the system, not a section, is done. Galvanized pipes from mid-century homes are the usual candidates, with lifespans of 40 to 60 years now expiring.
Get at least three bids. Repiping is competitive, high-volume work for specialist crews, and quotes for the same house can differ by thousands.
Cost by home and material
| Home | PEX | Copper |
|---|---|---|
| Small, 1 bath | $3,500 to $6,000 | $6,000 to $10,000 |
| Typical, 2 bath | $4,500 to $8,500 | $8,000 to $14,000 |
| Large, 3 plus bath | $7,000 to $15,000 | $12,000 to $20,000 and up |
PEX dominates residential repiping for good reasons: flexible runs mean fewer wall openings, faster installs, and freeze tolerance copper cannot match. Copper still wins some adherents for its track record and where local code or water chemistry argues for it.
Signs the house needs it
- Galvanized or polybutylene supply pipes still in service
- Water pressure that has faded house-wide over years
- Discolored water after vacations or in the morning
- Recurring pinhole leaks in different locations
- Visible corrosion and flaking at exposed runs
The process, honestly
A specialist crew repipes most homes in two to five days, with water off for hours at a time rather than days. Walls get targeted openings, usually patched by the crew or a finisher depending on the contract. Confirm in writing: permit, patch scope, paint scope, and how many fixtures are included, because those lines are where cheap quotes quietly shrink.
Questions homeowners ask
Can I repipe only part of the house?
Yes, and it is common: the worst runs or one wing first. Partial work on a fully corroded system buys time, not a cure, so price both ways.
Does repiping raise home value?
It removes a major buyer objection and often shows up in listings as a feature. Expect it to protect value more than to add a premium.
Will my water be off the whole time?
Reputable crews restore water each evening in occupied homes. Confirm the daily schedule before signing.