Repiping Cost Calculator

On this calculator's default 2,000 sq ft two-bath house: PEX-B ≈ $6,655, PEX-A ≈ $7,191, copper ≈ $11,408 — roughly a 55–60% premium for copper, whose soldered joints and ~75-year life carry it. Angi's 2026 data spans $1,250–$22,000 for full repipes, PEX cheapest and copper dearest. One offset: old copper pipe has scrap value that trims the disposal bill.

Often not — many base bids stop at the plumbing and hand you a punch list of open holes. Patching typically runs $1.50–$3.50 per sq ft (Mr. Handyman, 2025) or about $150–$500 per hole before texture and paint. For the default house this model adds $559 for ≈215 sq ft of access-hole patching; choosing open-wall or self-drywall options drops it to zero.

A PEX repipe of a one- or two-bath home is usually 2 working days: day one is floor protection, cutting access holes and running the new distribution lines; day two is reconnecting every fixture and the rough-in pressure test. The permit inspection must pass before walls close, so drywall patching schedules behind it — on the standard cut-and-patch path, the ≈$559 of access-hole repair in this estimate adds another day or two after the plumbing signoff. Copper roughly doubles the pipe-fitting time (soldered joints), and replacing the main service line from the meter adds a day of trenching.

Almost never for the repipe itself — insurers treat failing pipes as wear and tear. What policies do cover is sudden, accidental damage a burst pipe caused (drywall, flooring, contents), minus your deductible. Some carriers also discount premiums or demand a repipe before renewing a home with chronic leak history, so call your agent before you sign.

One isolated leak on newer pipe is a $150–$350 repair (Fixr's plumber-rate guide). Repipe when leaks recur or cluster: two in six months, galvanized steel from before the mid-1960s, chronically discolored or low-pressure water, or multiple slab leaks. Patching a dying system just stacks repair bills on top of the repipe you'll eventually need.

Yes, in nearly every US jurisdiction a whole-house repipe requires a plumbing permit and a pressure test with inspection before walls close — typically $50–$500 (this model uses $175). An unpermitted repipe resurfaces at resale, and legitimate contractors won't skip it. Your permit line should appear on the quote; if it doesn't, ask why.

Yes — most repipes happen in occupied homes. Expect a 2–3 person crew working roughly 8-to-5, water off during those hours and back on each evening, plastic sheeting and drop cloths, and a shop vac per work zone. Three things make it easier: choose the attic/crawlspace routing in this calculator (the model prices it below the standard cut-and-patch path because most access-hole patching disappears), take fragile pictures and mirrors off the walls before day one — hammering vibrates them off nails — and plan around the water heater, whose disconnect/reconnect is already a line in this estimate. Overnight and weekend water service is normal; nobody needs to move out.