How much does sewer line replacement cost?
Sewer line replacement costs $50 to $250 per linear foot, according to HomeGuide and Angi, or $2,000 to $10,000 for a typical 40-foot run.
The averages spread more than the per-foot rate does, and both are worth knowing. HomeGuide's national average is $6,000, with jobs reported from $500 to $20,000. Angi's average is $3,319 on a range of $225 to $10,000, and This Old House — working from Angi's data — puts the typical job at $1,390 to $5,320. The per-foot rate agrees everywhere; the totals differ because sewer runs differ.
Sources: HomeGuide, Angi, This Old House
This page is general information, not professional advice. Prices move with your home, your region and the season, and the only number that counts is a written quote from a licensed plumber who has looked at the job.
Sewer line replacement cost by length
| Length | Published total |
|---|---|
| 10 linear feet | $500 – $2,500 |
| 20 linear feet | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| 40 linear feet | $2,000 – $10,000 |
| 60 linear feet | $3,000 – $15,000 |
| 80 linear feet | $4,000 – $20,000 |
Source: HomeGuide
Trenchless versus open trench
| Method | Published cost per linear foot |
|---|---|
| Open trench, dig and replace | $50 – $250 (HomeGuide, Angi) |
| Pipe bursting (trenchless) | $60 – $200 (HomeGuide) |
| CIPP pipe lining (trenchless) | $90 – $250 (HomeGuide) |
| Trench digging alone | $4 – $12 (Angi) |
The restoration is what the per-foot number hides. Angi says excavation alone can run $50 to $200 per linear foot, and breaking and restoring a concrete slab can push a section to $300 to $350 per foot. HomeGuide prices landscaping repair at $4 to $12 per square foot afterward. A shallow line under grass and the same line under a driveway are different jobs at very different totals.
What else lands on the invoice
HomeGuide prices the camera inspection that starts every real diagnosis at $125 to $500, permits at $30 to $500, a new cleanout at $500 to $2,000 and plumber labor at $75 to $150 per hour. This Old House reads permits wider, at $100 to $1,000, and sewer-work labor higher, at $150 to $500 per hour — both are printed here because your city and your contractor decide which reading is yours.
Sources: HomeGuide, This Old House
If the quote in your hand is a trenchless one, the method has its own page with its own published numbers: what trenchless sewer line replacement costs.
A sewer job is exactly the moment for three written quotes. These are the plumbers AI assistants actually name when homeowners ask. Nobody can pay to be on these lists.
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Questions people ask next
- How much does it cost to replace 100 feet of sewer line?
- HomeGuide's table stops at 80 feet, at $4,000 to $20,000, and its per-foot band of $50 to $250 puts 100 feet at $5,000 to $25,000. Runs that long usually get a trenchless quote too, because 100 feet of open trench is a lot of yard to restore.
- How long does sewer line replacement take?
- HomeGuide says 1 to 5 days depending on obstacles and the length of the section, and that trenchless replacements take less time than digging trenches.
- Who is responsible for the sewer line — me or the city?
- HomeGuide's plain answer: homeowners are generally responsible for the pipe connecting their house to the main, and the city is responsible for problems in the main itself. The camera inspection establishes which side of that line your problem sits on.
- Does homeowners insurance pay for sewer line replacement?
- Generally not for age or wear — HomeGuide notes most policies exclude wear and tear, and the Insurance Information Institute says sewer backups need a separate endorsement. We wrote a full page on exactly what is and is not covered.
Written for homeowners by Most Recommended Plumbers, which measures which plumbers AI assistants actually recommend in 26 U.S. metros. Nobody can pay to be on those lists. How we measure.