How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Leaky Faucet?

This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

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, fixing a leaky faucet is one of the most affordable home repairs you can tackle. You can spend as little as $60 or up to $500 for larger fixes, but most homeowners spend around $270. The actual price depends on the type of faucet, the cause of the leak, and the parts needed. If you hire a professional plumber, hourly rates range between $45 and $200. Use this guide to budget for your leaky faucet repair.

"I can't stress enough how important it is to address leaks as soon as possible," says Jeff Botelho, Angi Expert Review Board member and Massachusetts-licensed journey-level plumber. "A neglected water leak will never repair itself or get better on its own. A repair caught and fixed early is almost always less expensive than an emergency replacement later on."

Leaky Faucet Repair Costs

Labor and parts make up the main costs when fixing a leaky faucet. Plumbers typically charge between $45 and $200 per hour. As for parts, depending on the type of faucet and what's causing the leak, you can expect to spend between $1 and $100 on replacement parts.

Replacement Faucet Parts

The good news is that the parts you need to fix most faucet leaks are inexpensive and available at your local hardware store. Here are some common culprits of dripping faucets and their replacement costs:

• O-ring: $1 – $5

• Rubber washer: $2 – $5

• Cartridge: $10 – $100

• Valve seat: $5 – $10

• Stem: $10 – $50

• Ceramic disk: $20 – $50

• Hose: $15 – $50

• Gaskets and seals: $2 – $10

Most leaky faucet repairs require the same amount of labor and disassembly, so it's often more cost-effective to replace all the internal parts if you're replacing one. And it's less expensive to purchase a total repair kit than to purchase parts separately. Talk to a local plumbing repair professional if you don't know which part is causing the faucet to leak.

"I like to advise customers to look into common repair parts for their new faucets and invest in them for future use, as parts can become hard to source as manufacturers update cartridges and discontinue the old ones,” says Botelho. “If you purchase an expensive faucet (anywhere from $500 to $1,000) and can get a repair kit for less than $100, do it. It's a shame to replace an otherwise perfectly operable faucet because the manufacturer discontinues the parts to fix it."

Labor

Plumbers charge between $45 and $200 per hour. Since fixing a leaky faucet is usually a quick job, it shouldn't take more than an hour. Keep in mind that most plumbers have a one-hour minimum charge for labor.

Cost of Dripping Faucet Repair by Faucet Type

The cost to fix a dripping faucet depends on the type and location of the faucet. For instance, kitchen faucets might take longer to repair and cost more than bathroom sink faucets because they have more moving parts. If you're dealing with a bathtub faucet that protrudes from the wall, the repair might be pricier if your plumber needs to access pipes behind the wall.

Kitchen Faucet

You might pay around $250 for a pro to fix a basic kitchen faucet, including labor and parts. If the leak isn't fixable, installing a new faucet typically costs between $100 and $250 for labor. New kitchen faucets themselves cost between $170 and $360 on average but can go over $500 for high-end models.

As with most faucet repairs, the cost depends on your faucet model and the issue. Kitchen faucets usually come in four types: ball, disc, cartridge, and compression.

Most kitchen faucets are ball faucets, which have more parts than other types of faucets. This means more potential areas or causes of damage. Because of this, it's sometimes easier to replace than to repair a kitchen faucet. The cost to install a new faucet in your kitchen ranges between $160 and $370. Consider replacing your kitchen faucet instead of repairing it if:

• It’s more than 10 years old.

• It leaks from both the handle and spout.

• It’s extremely corroded.

• The replacement parts are difficult to find.

Bathroom Sink Faucet

The average cost of repairing a leaky bathroom sink faucet is between $60 and $200 for parts and labor. The most common cause of bathroom faucet leaks is worn-out rubber parts, which you can purchase for around $10.

If you can’t fix the issue, a new bathroom sink faucet typically costs between $170 and $360 on average, and can reach $500 or more for high-end models. For example, a touchless faucet costs around $300.

Bathroom Shower or Tub Faucet

Replacing a bathtub faucet costs between $60 and $400 for parts and installation, while shower faucet repairs typically range from $75 to $200.

The culprit for a damaged bathroom shower or tub faucet could be worn-out rubber parts (or valve seats in some cases), which you can get for around $10 or less at most hardware stores.

Sometimes, the issue could be a worn cartridge, which you might need to replace at a cost of between $30 and $70. If the damage is beyond repair, the price of a new faucet ranges between $170 and $360 on average and can reach $500 or more for high-end models, depending on the model.

Since shower and tub plumbing is in a wall instead of a cabinet, it can be more challenging to access than a sink faucet. A professional will probably take between two and three hours to repair a shower or tub faucet, thus the higher cost estimate for this category of leaky faucet repair.

Outdoor Faucet or Hose Bib

The cost to repair an outdoor faucet or horse bib runs between $100 and $300. This covers the cost of buying a new unit, which you’ll need to do in most cases and hiring a plumber to do the job. In a few instances, you can fix leaks by replacing the washer under the handle. Washers cost less than $5.

DIY Faucet Repair vs. Hiring a Pro

Fixing a leaky faucet by replacing worn O-rings and washers is relatively simple and usually costs just $5 to $15 for new parts. It might take you about an hour.

Start by identifying your faucet type. Then, visit your local hardware store or contact the manufacturer for replacement parts. The package should include instructions. You'll likely need a screwdriver, wrench, a bucket to catch water, and a towel for any spills.

For small repairs like damaged washers, you might opt to do the repair yourself. Hiring a pro adds labor fees to the project since the average fee for a plumber costs about $45 to $200 per hour. However, it gives you peace of mind that the job will be done correctly, and a professional might notice other plumbing issues that can be costly to fix later.

Calling a faucet repair pro near you or a local handyperson is also an option for more minor repairs, but where modifications to your plumbing system are necessary—such as fixing a leaky bathtub or shower faucet that comes out of the wall—stick to licensed plumbing contractors.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from 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.