Quick answer: A DIY faucet repair costs $5–$20 in parts (cartridge, O-rings, or washers). A plumber typically charges $100–$250. Replacing the whole faucet runs $50–$200+ for the fixture plus install.
DIY Cost Breakdown
| Fix | Part cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge replacement | $8–$20 | 20–30 min |
| O-rings / washers | $3–$8 | 20 min |
| New aerator | $5–$10 | 5 min |
Plumber Cost
Expect $100–$250 for a plumber to repair a leaky faucet, more if the fixture is being replaced. The repair itself is cheap; you’re mostly paying for the trip and labor.
Should You DIY It?
Yes for most drips — see our guide to fixing a dripping faucet. Call a pro only if the valve body is cracked or the shut-offs won’t close.
What Affects the Price
Repair vs. replacement is the big fork. A worn cartridge or O-ring is a few dollars; a new mid-range faucet is $80–$200 plus install. Labor varies by region, and a seized old faucet that fights removal adds time (and cost) to a pro’s bill.
A faucet dripping once a second wastes more than 3,000 gallons a year. What that’s worth on your bill depends on where you live — roughly $21 a year in Las Vegas, about $126 in San Francisco. The full city-by-city table is in what a water leak costs in 31 U.S. cities.
How to Save the Most
Diagnose before you buy. A drip from the spout is usually the cartridge or seats; a leak at the base is the O-rings; weak, sputtery flow is often just a clogged aerator you can clean for free. Our dripping-faucet guide shows how to tell them apart and the exact part for each.
When Paying a Pro Makes Sense
If the shut-off valves under the sink don’t work, or you’re replacing the whole faucet and the supply connections are corroded, a plumber is worth it. Otherwise a faucet repair is one of the highest-value DIY jobs in the house — pennies in parts versus a triple-digit service call.
💧 That drip adds up fast. Use our free Water Leak Cost Calculator to see what a leaking faucet wastes in gallons and dollars per year.
FAQ
Why is my faucet leaking?
Usually a worn cartridge, O-ring, or washer. These are cheap parts you can replace yourself in under 30 minutes.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a faucet?
Repair is far cheaper ($5–$20) if the faucet is decent. Replace if it’s old, corroded, or you want an upgrade.
How much does a plumber charge to fix a faucet?
Typically $100–$250 including the service call, even though the parts cost only a few dollars.
🔧 Plumber-Recommended Parts & Tools
Tackling this yourself? See a licensed plumber’s picks for the best replacement faucet cartridges — the parts that get the job done right the first time.
What decides the price
The biggest factor is whether the drip can be fixed with a new cartridge, washer or O-ring, or whether the faucet body itself is corroded or cracked. Cartridge repairs are quick when the brand and model are known, because the right part can be matched before the visit. Older or unbranded faucets can take longer to identify, and seized parts sometimes mean replacing the faucet instead. Shut-off valves that do not close fully under the sink often get replaced at the same time.