How Much Does Drain Cleaning Cost in 2025?

Drain Cleaning Cost Factors

Not every clogged drain is the same, and neither is the fix. The cost to unclog a drain depends on many things, including the severity of the clog, the location in the home, the initial cause, and the methods a plumber uses to clear it. Hire a local plumber to inspect the problem and give you an accurate quote. 

Severity of the Clog

The more severe the clog, the longer it generally takes to clear, which means a higher bill if your drain cleaning pro charges by the hour. The severity shouldn’t affect the price with a flat-rate quote. A simple blockage that takes a few minutes to clear costs much less than a complex job that requires multiple attempts and a video inspection to identify and fix the problem. 

Location of the Clog 

Clogs can occur anywhere in the drain line but are more likely to happen at junctions and constrictions. The further away from an access point the blockage occurs, the more costly it is to clear. The further the plumber has to snake, the more time the job takes and the more you pay in labor. 

Number of Clogs

If the plumber has to remove multiple clogs, you’ll pay more because of the time spent, or your technician might charge a flat rate for each clog. Ask your pro ahead of time when you call them. If you’re getting clogs in the same places repeatedly, you might have underlying problems you’ll want to address. An inspection is the best way to determine the exact issue.  

Clearing multiple clogs can be a costly job involving a video line inspection to identify the location and cause of the blockage. In some cases, additional services may be required to remove root incursions or repair damage from rock or root penetrations. 

Cause of the Blockage

General household waste, like soap buildup, hair plugs, and food debris, is commonplace and easy to remove. However, corrosion in the pipes, a blockage caused by tree roots, or damage to the pipe is considerably more expensive. This typically means adding on plumbing repair costs.

Video Inspection

A sewer video inspection costs an average of $900. This cost is only for the inspection. Clearing the blockage is charged separately. A video inspection is necessary if a pro has already attempted to snake the drain and either couldn't remove the blockage or removed the blockage, but the drain is still running persistently slow.

In that case, a video camera inspection can reveal the cause of the blockage, allowing pros to check the line for damage from root incursions or back-pitched sections. 

Method of Drain Cleaning 

Two common methods for drain cleaning are snaking and hydro-jetting. Snaking easily clears most clogs, while hydro-jetting does a better job of removing roots and cleaning out the pipes completely. However, it requires additional setup and more expensive equipment. 

Snaking a Drain 

Snaking a drain costs around $150 to $350, although some companies may charge a lower flat rate. Your plumber uses a metal “snake,” a long, flexible, thick-gauge wire or tape, and feds it down the drain or the cleanout until it hits the clog. Once there, it’s usually rotated or pushed through the clog to break it up. Take caution, as older homes or those with corroded pipes can sustain damage from a snake. 

Hydro-Jetting 

Hydro-jetting costs about $350 to $600 for a drain, but cleaning a sewer line using this method can exceed $1,200. Your plumber feeds a thin hose down the drain with a water jet at the end instead of the snake’s rotating metal head. The pressurized water from the hydro-jet is better for clearing roots and mineral buildups out of pipes. 

Labor

Clearing a drain clog is often a fixed-price service, with an average price of $250. However, the cost to hire a plumber falls between $45 and $200 per hour. They may charge their hourly rate for larger or unknown jobs. You’ll also pay slightly more for any work after regular business hours. 

If you have a clog that needs immediate attention, hire an emergency drain cleaning company in your area to clear the blockage. They'll charge you an emergency call-out fee on top of the standard clog-clearing cost, which could be anywhere from $100 to $300. Plus, you may be charged double for labor if you need rapid service at night or during a holiday. 

Cost of Drain Cleaning by Drain Type

Each type of drain in your home requires a different amount of time–and, therefore, cost—to fix. For example, drain cleaning costs to clear a kitchen sink are typically less than clearing a shower drain. Additionally, the more serious the issue becomes, the more it costs to fix. Calling a plumber at the first sign of a drain problem is the most cost-effective solution.

Kitchen Sink and Garbage Disposal

Kitchen sinks, particularly those with garbage disposals, don’t often get clogged. However, they often need cleaning. It’s best to keep the drain clean and maintained, which can lower the likelihood of it getting clogged. If it gets clogged, you’ll pay around $175 to have it cleaned out professionally. 

Toilet

Toilets are arguably among the most common clogs. Drain cleaning costs for toilets are around $200, but the job can cost less depending on service rates in your area. Because toilet clogs are so common, they’re often the easiest and quickest to clear. Don’t wait until it’s completely clogged. Slow-moving flushes can mean a partial blockage that can quickly turn into a fully backed-up toilet.

Bathtub or Shower Drains

Bathtub drains often suffer from hair plugs, which cost an average of $250 to remove. Although it’s tempting to use a drain cleaner from your local hardware store, these are generally not good for your pipes or the environment. Plus, they don’t often work as well as you might think. Mechanically removing hair clogs with a snake or water jet is often the best solution. 

Main Sewer Line Drain 

The cost to clean a sewer line runs from $100 to $800, depending on the location of the clog. The main cause of a clog is usually root intrusion. While you can often continue to simply hydro-jet the problem, you should fix the underlying cause—tree roots coming in through cracks. 

While slightly cracked drain lines can work fine for a long time with regular cleaning, replacing the drain to eliminate the cracks is the only definite way to permanently eliminate root intrusions. If you don’t clean out the roots regularly, they will make the tiny cracks larger. 

Cost of Additional Plumbing Repairs

While clearing a blockage or performing a video camera inspection, your drain cleaning pro may uncover problems that require extensive repair or replacement. Root incursions, rock penetrations, sagging pipes, and collapsed lines are all common causes of blockages that require major remediation.

• Broken or cracked sewer line pipes cost an average of $1,300–$5,000 to fix.

• Tree roots in the sewer line cost $100–$1,000 to fix, plus the cost of a video line inspection. 

• Collapsed line repair costs $50–$250 per linear foot. For extensive damage, replacing the whole line may be more cost-effective. 

• Trenching costs $400–$1,200 for standard depth lines. If your sewer line is deeper than average or close to other utilities, expect to pay up to $24 per linear foot.

• Drain pipe replacement costs $200–$1,200, depending on the amount of piping you’re replacing, the location of the pipes, and how easy it is to access them.

• Sewer trap replacement costs $200–$325 but varies depending on accessibility.

• Bellied pipe repair costs $1,500–$3,000. Once the pipe starts to sag, you’ll likely need to replace it.

Drain Cleaning vs. Replacement

As a general rule, if drain cleaning costs more than 50% of a full replacement, it may be more economical in the long run to opt for a full drain replacement. This avoids repeatedly investing in temporary fixes. It’s also important to consider the age and condition of your pipes. Older pipes may have structural weaknesses, corrosion, or widespread damage.

The extent and type of damage are also critical to consider. Minor blockages or light buildup may be resolved through professional cleaning, but severe issues like multiple cracks or extensive root intrusion usually call for full pipe replacement. Ultimately, a professional inspection will help you make an informed decision.

Budgeting for Drain Cleaning

Drain cleaning costs can quickly add up if you don’t manage them carefully. These strategic approaches help control drain-cleaning costs while maintaining the long-term health and functionality of your home’s plumbing system:

• Schedule preventative inspections once a year to catch potential issues early.

• Utilize simple maintenance techniques like not pouring grease down drains to reduce the required frequency of professional cleaning.

• Obtain at least three detailed estimates from reputable drain cleaning professionals to compare pricing.

• Ask about bundled services to negotiate for overall cost savings.

• Install drain screens for sinks, showers, and tubs to minimize debris buildup.

• Invest in camera inspections when necessary to identify underlying issues.

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. We surveyed over 30,000 real customers about their project 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.

Reviewed by Jeff Botelho, Licensed Journeyman Plumber.