How much does a plumber cost in Melbourne?
Melbourne plumbing rates sit slightly below Sydney but above most other Australian capitals. In 2026, expect to pay $90–$180 per hour for a licensed plumber during standard business hours, with the most common residential rate around $110–$140/hr. Add a call-out fee of $70–$130, and the minimum you'll spend to get a plumber through your door is typically $150–$250.
What makes Melbourne's plumbing market distinct? The city's housing stock ranges from Victorian-era terrace houses in Fitzroy and Carlton (with original lead and cast-iron pipes) to new estates in the west and south-east with modern PVC throughout. Melbourne also has unique challenges: the clay soil in many suburbs causes ground movement that stresses pipes, and the city's famously variable weather creates freeze-thaw cycles that Sydney doesn't experience.
We've pulled pricing data from hipages, ServiceSeeking, Airtasker, individual plumber websites, and the Fair Work Plumbing Award to compile these figures. All prices reflect the Greater Melbourne area as of February 2026.
| Service | Low | High | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| General plumbing (hourly rate) | $84 | $210 | $126 /hr |
| Call-out / service fee | $63 | $158 | $105 flat |
| Fix a leaking tap | $84 | $273 | $179 per job |
| Blocked drain (standard) | $158 | $420 | $294 per job |
| Blocked drain (CCTV + jetting) | $368 | $945 | $578 per job |
| Toilet repair | $84 | $368 | $210 per job |
| Toilet installation (supply + fit) | $420 | $945 | $630 per job |
| Hot water system (gas storage) | $1,575 | $3,675 | $2,310 installed |
| Hot water system (electric) | $1,260 | $3,150 | $1,890 installed |
| Hot water system (heat pump) | $3,150 | $6,300 | $4,410 installed |
| Gas fitting (per point) | $158 | $420 | $263 per point |
| Burst pipe repair | $210 | $840 | $473 per job |
| Tap replacement | $84 | $368 | $210 per tap |
| Bathroom rough-in | $3,150 | $8,400 | $5,250 total |
| Emergency / after-hours | $263 | $735 | $473 per visit |
Prices include GST. Based on Melbourne metro area, Feb 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
Greater Melbourne stretches from Werribee to Pakenham, and plumbing costs vary noticeably across this spread.
Inner Melbourne & Inner North
Fitzroy, Carlton, Collingwood, Richmond, Brunswick. Predominantly Victorian and Edwardian terrace houses with original earthenware drainage, lead water pipes, and limited access. Plumbing in these properties is consistently more expensive due to the age and fragility of existing systems. Lead pipe replacement (now recommended by Melbourne Water) adds $2,000–$6,000 depending on pipe runs. Heritage overlays mean external work may need council approval.
Eastern Suburbs
Hawthorn, Camberwell, Box Hill, Glen Waverley. Mix of 1950s–1980s brick homes and newer townhouse developments. Copper pipes are standard in this era, generally reliable but prone to pinhole leaks after 40+ years. Many properties have aging hot water systems (electric storage tanks from the 2000s) due for replacement.
Western & Northern Growth Corridors
Werribee, Tarneit, Craigieburn, Mickleham. New estates with modern plumbing — PVC drainage, PEX water lines, instantaneous gas hot water. Lower rates reflect newer systems, easier access, and high plumber competition in these areas. However, builder defects are common in recently built homes — check if issues are still covered under your builder's warranty or structural guarantee before paying a plumber.
Bayside & South-East
Brighton, Sandringham, Bentleigh, Moorabbin. Established area with a mix of original 1950s homes and modern renovations. Salt air in bayside suburbs corrodes exposed metalwork faster. Properties on the Sandbelt (sandy soil) have different drainage characteristics to clay-heavy areas — better drainage but less stable ground for pipe bedding.
Total costs for common plumbing jobs in Melbourne, including call-out, labour, and parts:
Dripping tap repair
Call-out ($70–$120) plus 15–30 minutes labour plus parts ($10–$40 for a cartridge or washer). Marginally cheaper than Sydney for the same job. If the tap body itself is corroded and needs full replacement, add $80–$200 for a standard mixer tap, or $300–$800 for a quality brand like Caroma, Dorf, or Methven.
Gas hot water system replacement (continuous flow)
Melbourne homes are predominantly gas-connected, making gas continuous flow systems the most popular replacement choice. Unit cost ($1,000–$2,200 for Rinnai, Bosch, or Rheem), installation ($500–$1,000), flue and gas connection adjustments ($200–$600), removal of old system ($100–$250). Melbourne Gas Networks connection or modification adds time but usually no cost if the gas meter has existing capacity.
Blocked sewer drain — tree roots
Melbourne's street trees (especially Plane trees, Elms, and Paperbarks) are notorious for invading sewer lines. Electric eel clearing runs $200–$350. Hydro-jetting for stubborn blockages is $350–$600. If CCTV inspection reveals cracked pipes, pipe relining (a no-dig repair) costs $3,000–$8,000 per section and is significantly cheaper than full excavation and replacement ($6,000–$15,000+). Ask your plumber about root-inhibiting treatments that slow regrowth.
Bathroom rough-in for a renovation
Moving or installing new water supply and drainage points for a bathroom renovation. Includes relocating the toilet, shower, and basin waste points plus hot and cold supply lines. Cost depends heavily on whether you're on a timber floor (easier — access from below) or concrete slab (harder — requires saw-cutting and core drilling). This is the plumbing component only, separate from the tiler, waterproofer, and builder.
Emergency burst pipe — 11pm on a weeknight
Emergency call-out ($180–$300) plus after-hours rate ($150–$250/hr) plus parts. Melbourne's clay soil movement in dry summers and wet winters puts stress on older copper and earthenware pipes. Same advice as Sydney: know where your mains tap is (usually at the front boundary or in the meter box). Turn off the water, contain the damage, and call in the morning if it's survivable — you'll save $200–$500.
Time of day
After-hours (nights, weekends, public holidays) typically adds 50–100% to the hourly rate. Book during business hours when possible.
Job complexity & access
A simple tap washer replacement is quick. A burst pipe behind a wall in a two-storey house takes longer and costs more due to access difficulty.
Parts and materials
Parts are usually charged on top of labour. A basic tap washer is a few dollars; a new hot water unit is $800–$2,000+ before installation.
Your suburb
Inner-city areas may charge more due to parking, access constraints, and demand. Outer suburbs can be cheaper but may include a higher call-out fee.
Tradie experience
A master plumber with 20 years experience will charge more than a recently licensed plumber. Both are qualified — you're paying for speed and problem-solving.
Urgency
Emergency work (burst pipe at 2am) commands premium rates. If it can wait until Monday morning, it almost always should.
Victoria's plumbing regulations differ from NSW. Here's what you need to know:
Licensing: Plumbers in Victoria must hold a registration or licence issued by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). Registration allows a plumber to carry out work; a licence allows them to also contract for plumbing work (take on jobs independently). Verify at the VBA plumber register.
Compliance certificates: The plumber must lodge a compliance certificate with the relevant water authority (typically South East Water, Yarra Valley Water, or Greater Western Water, depending on your area) within 10 business days of completing work. You should receive a copy. This covers sanitary drainage, water supply, and stormwater work.
Domestic building contracts: For work valued at $10,000 or more, a written contract is required under the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic). For work over $16,000, the plumber must also hold Domestic Building Insurance (DBI), which protects you if they become insolvent.
Gas work: Requires a separate Type A or Type B gasfitting endorsement. After completing gas work, the plumber must issue a gas compliance certificate. If they don't, they're breaching Energy Safe Victoria regulations — and you have no record that the work was done safely.
Lead pipes: Many inner-Melbourne homes built before 1930 still have lead water service pipes connecting the home to the street main. Melbourne Water has been progressively replacing these, but if your home still has a lead service, you may notice discoloured water or a metallic taste. Replacement (from the meter to the house) costs $2,000–$5,000 privately, but Melbourne Water offers subsidised replacement in some areas — check their website before paying out of pocket.
Reactive clay soil: Melbourne's western and northern suburbs sit on highly reactive clay that expands when wet and contracts when dry. This ground movement can crack earthenware drainage pipes, misalign joints, and cause persistent blockages. If you're in Werribee, Melton, or Craigieburn and experiencing repeated drain issues, the underlying cause may be ground movement rather than tree roots.
Stormwater vs sewer: Melbourne has a separated stormwater and sewer system (unlike some parts of Sydney). Connecting stormwater to the sewer is illegal and can result in significant fines from Melbourne Water. If you're doing drainage work, ensure your plumber understands which system they're connecting to — it matters for compliance and can affect future inspections.
Water efficiency requirements: Under Victorian regulations, all new taps, showerheads, and toilets must meet minimum WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) ratings. Your plumber should only install compliant fixtures. This is particularly relevant when renovating — you can't simply install the cheapest tap you find online.
Our Methodology
Prices on this page are compiled from publicly available cost guides, tradie marketplaces (ServiceSeeking, hipages, Airtasker, Service.com.au), industry body data (HIA, Master Builders), and individual tradesperson websites across Australia. We cross-reference ranges from multiple sources and adjust for city-specific cost differences based on advertised rates, salary data, and cost-of-living indicators. Our guides are independently produced — we don't employ tradespeople and have no financial incentive to inflate or deflate prices. All prices are estimates and will vary based on your specific job. Always get at least 3 quotes. Last reviewed February 2026. Read our full methodology →