Drain Cleaning Cost
$100 – $400A typical drain cleaning costs about $100 to $400 in the U.S. That covers one clogged sink, tub or shower drain cleared with a snake. The range reflects parts, job difficulty and local labor rates.
| Part of the job | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Parts and materials (our assumption) | $20 | $50 |
| Labor hours (our assumption) | 1 | 2.5 |
| Billed labor rate per hour | $77 | $138 |
| Estimated total | $100 | $400 |
Our estimate, not a quote. Billed rate is the national median wage from BLS (2025, $30.67 an hour) times 2.5 to 4.5 to cover payroll costs, overhead, travel and profit. How we estimate
What our assumptions are based on
| Item | Sourced figure | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor hours | 1 – 4 | 1 to 4 hours for an average kitchen sink clog. | Fixr |
What other publishers report
| Publisher | Low | High | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixr | $150 | $300 | Standard drain cleaning, excluding main sewer lines. Page dated October 2026. |
| Fixr | $250 | $400 | Professional kitchen sink unclogging. Page dated August 2025. |
| This Old House | $100 | $500 | Clearing clogs and drains. Page dated June 2026. |
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Estimated cost by state
| State | Plumber median wage | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $28.21 | $90 | $370 |
| Alaska | $45.15 | $130 | $560 |
| Arizona | $29.84 | $90 | $390 |
| Arkansas | $23.39 | $80 | $310 |
| California | $35.01 | $110 | $440 |
| Colorado | $30.40 | $100 | $390 |
| Connecticut | $37.16 | $110 | $470 |
| Delaware | $31.11 | $100 | $400 |
| District of Columbia | $48.57 | $140 | $600 |
| Florida | $25.44 | $80 | $340 |
| Georgia | $27.50 | $90 | $360 |
| Hawaii | $37.53 | $110 | $470 |
| Idaho | $25.18 | $80 | $330 |
| Illinois | $48.05 | $140 | $590 |
| Indiana | $36.69 | $110 | $460 |
| Iowa | $30.72 | $100 | $400 |
| Kansas | $31.36 | $100 | $400 |
| Kentucky | $30.84 | $100 | $400 |
| Louisiana | $30.62 | $100 | $390 |
| Maine | $30.77 | $100 | $400 |
| Maryland | $31.44 | $100 | $400 |
| Massachusetts | $45.14 | $130 | $560 |
| Michigan | $38.56 | $120 | $480 |
| Minnesota | $45.39 | $130 | $560 |
| Mississippi | $26.67 | $90 | $350 |
| Missouri | $32.11 | $100 | $410 |
| Montana | $38.44 | $120 | $480 |
| Nebraska | $29.31 | $90 | $380 |
| Nevada | $29.62 | $90 | $380 |
| New Hampshire | $32.12 | $100 | $410 |
| New Jersey | $37.61 | $110 | $470 |
| New Mexico | $29.54 | $90 | $380 |
| New York | $37.26 | $110 | $470 |
| North Carolina | $27.44 | $90 | $360 |
| North Dakota | $30.56 | $100 | $390 |
| Ohio | $30.45 | $100 | $390 |
| Oklahoma | $27.87 | $90 | $360 |
| Oregon | $46.66 | $140 | $570 |
| Pennsylvania | $32.73 | $100 | $420 |
| Rhode Island | $36.77 | $110 | $460 |
| South Carolina | $25.93 | $80 | $340 |
| South Dakota | $24.82 | $80 | $330 |
| Tennessee | $28.17 | $90 | $370 |
| Texas | $28.77 | $90 | $370 |
| Utah | $29.76 | $90 | $380 |
| Vermont | $29.89 | $90 | $390 |
| Virginia | $29.07 | $90 | $380 |
| Washington | $38.96 | $120 | $490 |
| West Virginia | $27.39 | $90 | $360 |
| Wisconsin | $39.04 | $120 | $490 |
| Wyoming | $30.01 | $100 | $390 |
Common questions
How much does drain cleaning cost?
A typical drain cleaning costs about $100 to $400 in the U.S. That covers one clogged sink, tub or shower drain cleared with a snake. The range reflects parts, job difficulty and local labor rates.
Which states cost the most for drain cleaning?
Labor is the part that changes by state. See the table on this page for each state's estimate.
How long does it take to clear a clogged drain?
Fixr says hourly jobs on a kitchen sink clog average one to four hours, and a plumber typically clears even a stubborn clog within a couple of hours. Source
General information, not professional advice. Conditions, codes and prices vary. Turn off power, gas or water before any work, and hire a licensed professional when in doubt. Cost figures are our estimates, not quotes.