Most faucet repairs cost between $75 and $250, with the price depending mainly on what’s actually broken and how old the faucet is. A simple washer or cartridge swap sits at the low end. A faucet that needs full replacement runs higher, typically $150 to $450 in labor alone.
That’s the short version. Here’s what actually determines where your repair lands on that range, and how to tell before a plumber even shows up.
Why does faucet repair cost vary so much?
The cost swings mainly on one thing: whether the problem is a worn part or a failing fixture. A dripping faucet caused by a bad washer, O-ring, or cartridge is inexpensive to fix because the labor is quick and the part itself often costs just a few dollars. A faucet that’s corroded internally, has a damaged valve seat, or is simply old enough that replacement parts are hard to find is a different story — that job takes longer, sometimes requires special-order parts, and costs more as a result.
Age matters more than people expect. A five-year-old faucet with a cartridge problem is usually a quick, cheap fix. A twenty-year-old faucet with the same symptom might have mineral buildup or corrosion that makes the repair itself harder, even though the root cause looks identical from the outside.
What is the average cost to repair a leaky faucet?
For a standard drip caused by a worn cartridge or washer, expect to pay somewhere around $75 to $250, most of which is labor. This is the most common type of faucet call by a wide margin — if your faucet drips at a steady rate rather than spraying or leaking from the base, this is probably your situation.
What causes a faucet to drip in the first place?
A dripping faucet almost always comes down to one of a handful of worn internal parts:
- A worn-out cartridge — the most common cause in modern faucets, especially single-handle designs
- A deteriorated rubber washer — more typical in older, compression-style faucets with separate hot and cold handles
- A cracked or hardened O-ring — usually causes dripping near the handle base rather than the spout
- Corroded valve seat — where the faucet connects to the plumbing, and a common culprit in older homes
None of these are things you can diagnose just by looking at the faucet from the outside, which is part of why repair estimates vary until someone’s actually taken it apart.
When does a faucet need to be replaced instead of repaired?
A faucet usually needs replacement rather than repair once it’s old enough that parts are discontinued, or once the repair cost starts approaching what a new faucet would cost installed. As a rule of thumb, if a plumber quotes you north of $250 to $300 for a repair on a faucet that’s already ten-plus years old, replacement is usually the better value.
Labor for faucet replacement typically runs $150 to $450, separate from the cost of the faucet itself. Faucets range from around $80 for basic models to several hundred dollars for higher-end or designer fixtures, so total replacement cost can land anywhere from around $230 to $700+ depending on what you choose.
Kitchen faucet vs. bathroom faucet — does it cost more to fix one or the other?
Kitchen faucet repairs tend to run slightly higher than bathroom faucet repairs. Kitchen faucets see more daily use, often have pull-down sprayers or additional moving parts, and sometimes involve more complex connections under a busier, more crowded sink cabinet. Bathroom faucets are usually simpler mechanically and easier to access, which keeps labor time — and cost — a bit lower.
What other factors affect the final price?
A few things beyond the faucet itself can move the number up or down:
- Accessibility — a faucet with a cramped cabinet underneath, or shut-off valves that are hard to reach, takes longer to work on
- Plumbing age — older homes sometimes need shut-off valves replaced at the same time, which adds to the job
- Handle configuration — single-handle faucets are generally quicker to repair than two-handle designs with separate hot and cold cartridges
- Emergency or same-day service — after-hours or urgent calls typically carry a higher rate than a scheduled appointment
Is it worth calling a plumber for a faucet repair, or can it wait?
It’s worth calling sooner rather than later. A slow drip doesn’t just waste water — over time it can stain the sink, wear down the fixture further, and turn a simple washer swap into a full cartridge replacement. Most professional faucet repairs take under an hour once a plumber is on-site, and a proper repair comes with a warranty, which matters if the same drip shows up again three weeks later.
If you’re in the Thousand Oaks area and want a real number instead of a range, CRC Plumbing can take a look and give you an upfront quote before any work starts.