Water Heater Replacement Cost
$750 – $2,050A typical water heater replacement costs about $750 to $2,050 in the U.S. That covers a 40 to 50 gallon gas or electric tank in the same location. The range reflects parts, job difficulty and local labor rates.
| Part of the job | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Parts and materials (our assumption) | $600 | $1,500 |
| Labor hours (our assumption) | 2 | 4 |
| Billed labor rate per hour | $77 | $138 |
| Estimated total | $750 | $2,050 |
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 – 3 | 1 to 3 hours for a standard tank installation. | This Old House |
What other publishers report
| Publisher | Low | High | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixr | $550 | $2,300 | 40-gallon tank installed. Page dated January 2026. |
| Fixr | $700 | $2,500 | 50-gallon tank installed. Page dated January 2026. |
| This Old House | $600 | $1,200 | 40-gallon tank installed. Page dated June 2026. |
| This Old House | $700 | $1,800 | 50-gallon tank installed. Page dated June 2026. |
Having this problem?
This job often needs a permit. Check with your local building department before work starts.
Estimated cost by state
| State | Plumber median wage | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $28.21 | $740 | $2,000 |
| Alaska | $45.15 | $830 | $2,300 |
| Arizona | $29.84 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Arkansas | $23.39 | $720 | $1,900 |
| California | $35.01 | $780 | $2,150 |
| Colorado | $30.40 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Connecticut | $37.16 | $790 | $2,150 |
| Delaware | $31.11 | $760 | $2,050 |
| District of Columbia | $48.57 | $840 | $2,350 |
| Florida | $25.44 | $730 | $1,950 |
| Georgia | $27.50 | $740 | $2,000 |
| Hawaii | $37.53 | $790 | $2,200 |
| Idaho | $25.18 | $730 | $1,950 |
| Illinois | $48.05 | $840 | $2,350 |
| Indiana | $36.69 | $780 | $2,150 |
| Iowa | $30.72 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Kansas | $31.36 | $760 | $2,050 |
| Kentucky | $30.84 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Louisiana | $30.62 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Maine | $30.77 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Maryland | $31.44 | $760 | $2,050 |
| Massachusetts | $45.14 | $830 | $2,300 |
| Michigan | $38.56 | $790 | $2,200 |
| Minnesota | $45.39 | $830 | $2,300 |
| Mississippi | $26.67 | $730 | $2,000 |
| Missouri | $32.11 | $760 | $2,100 |
| Montana | $38.44 | $790 | $2,200 |
| Nebraska | $29.31 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Nevada | $29.62 | $750 | $2,050 |
| New Hampshire | $32.12 | $760 | $2,100 |
| New Jersey | $37.61 | $790 | $2,200 |
| New Mexico | $29.54 | $750 | $2,050 |
| New York | $37.26 | $790 | $2,150 |
| North Carolina | $27.44 | $740 | $2,000 |
| North Dakota | $30.56 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Ohio | $30.45 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Oklahoma | $27.87 | $740 | $2,000 |
| Oregon | $46.66 | $830 | $2,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $32.73 | $760 | $2,100 |
| Rhode Island | $36.77 | $780 | $2,150 |
| South Carolina | $25.93 | $730 | $1,950 |
| South Dakota | $24.82 | $720 | $1,950 |
| Tennessee | $28.17 | $740 | $2,000 |
| Texas | $28.77 | $740 | $2,000 |
| Utah | $29.76 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Vermont | $29.89 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Virginia | $29.07 | $750 | $2,000 |
| Washington | $38.96 | $790 | $2,200 |
| West Virginia | $27.39 | $740 | $2,000 |
| Wisconsin | $39.04 | $800 | $2,200 |
| Wyoming | $30.01 | $750 | $2,050 |
Common questions
How much does water heater replacement cost?
A typical water heater replacement costs about $750 to $2,050 in the U.S. That covers a 40 to 50 gallon gas or electric tank in the same location. The range reflects parts, job difficulty and local labor rates.
Which states cost the most for water heater replacement?
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 replace a water heater?
This Old House says a standard tank installation typically takes 1 to 3 hours. Changing fuel type or moving the heater adds time. Source
Am I allowed to install my own water heater?
It depends on your city, so call your building department first. Grapevine, Texas, for example, says it is illegal for anyone, even a homeowner, to replace a water heater without a permit, because improper installations cause injuries and deaths. We recommend a licensed professional for anything involving gas, and if you smell gas, leave first and call from outside. Source
What happens if you don't pull a permit for a water heater?
Rules are local. Broomfield, Colorado, for example, says work started without a permit may bring a special investigation fee, you stay responsible for permits and inspections after the job is done, and unpermitted work often comes to light when a buyer or inspector checks. It also says to ask your insurer whether the work is still covered. 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.