How much does it cost to fix a leaking pipe under a sink?

Most under-sink leaks cost $150 to $450 to fix, since they're usually a quick swap of a washer, supply line, or trap rather than a major repair. Cost climbs if the fixture is old and other parts need replacing too.

How much does a slab leak cost to repair?

Slab leaks average around $2,300, with a typical range of $630 to $4,400 or more depending on whether the plumber tunnels under the foundation or reroutes the pipe. Detecting the leak's exact location first typically adds $125 to $400.

Is it worth paying for an emergency plumber?

Emergency and after-hours calls usually cost 50-100% more than a scheduled appointment. It's worth it if water is actively causing damage; for a slow, contained leak, shutting off the water and waiting for regular hours is usually the cheaper option.

Does homeowners insurance cover pipe leak repairs?

It depends on your policy and what caused the leak — sudden, accidental damage is more likely to be covered than gradual wear and tear. Check your policy or call your insurer before assuming either way.

How do I know if I have a slab leak?

Common signs include a warm or damp spot on the floor, an unexplained jump in your water bill, or the sound of running water when everything in the house is off. A plumber with leak-detection equipment can confirm it without breaking up the slab first.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Leaking Pipe in 2026?

A leaking pipe rarely stays a small problem. What starts as a slow drip under the sink can swell your water bill, warp cabinets, or — if it's hidden inside a wall or under the slab — go unnoticed until real damage is done. How much you'll pay to fix it depends almost entirely on one thing: how hard the leak is to reach.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Leaking Pipe on Average?

Nationally, the cost to fix a leaking pipe ranges from $150 to $850, with most homeowners landing around $500 for a standard repair, according to HomeGuide. That range is wide because "leaking pipe" covers everything from a loose slip-joint under a bathroom sink to a pinhole leak buried under a concrete foundation. Location, pipe material, and how much has to be opened up (drywall, flooring, concrete) all move the price. Copper and PEX repairs tend to run cheaper than galvanized steel, since older steel pipe is more prone to corroding at the joint and often needs a longer section replaced instead of a single patch.

Leak Location	Typical Cost Range
Under sink / easily accessible	$150 – $450
Inside a wall or ceiling	$500 – $5,000+
Slab leak (under the foundation)	$630 – $4,400+ (avg. ~$2,300)
Slab leak detection only	$125 – $400
Standard service call fee	$75 – $150

What Does It Cost to Fix a Leak Under the Sink?

This is the cheapest and most common repair. Most under-sink leaks come from a worn washer, a loose supply line, or a corroded P-trap — parts a plumber can usually swap in under an hour. Expect to pay $150 to $450 for parts and labor, per HomeGuide. If your plumber bills hourly instead of flat-rate, that lines up with typical plumber hourly rates of $75 to $150, plus the service call fee.

How Much Does a Leak Inside a Wall Cost to Fix?

Once a leak is inside a wall, the plumber's biggest job often isn't the pipe — it's finding it. Wall leaks run $500 to $5,000+, with the top of that range driven by demolition and drywall repair rather than the plumbing itself. A straightforward copper or PEX repair behind an easily-opened wall might stay under $1,000; a leak that's traveled and soaked insulation or framing pushes costs toward the high end, especially once you add drywall patching, painting, and possibly mold remediation.

What Does a Slab Leak Cost to Repair?

A slab leak — a pipe leaking under your home's concrete foundation — is the most expensive category. HomeGuide puts the average slab leak repair at roughly $2,300, with a full range of $630 to $4,400 or more depending on the repair method. Plumbers generally fix these one of two ways: tunneling under the slab to replace the damaged section, or rerouting the pipe entirely to avoid the concrete. Before any of that, leak detection alone (locating the leak with acoustic or thermal equipment) typically runs $125 to $400. Signs you might have one: a warm spot on the floor, a spike in your water bill with no obvious cause, or the sound of running water when every fixture is off.

Does Calling an Emergency Plumber Cost More?

Yes. Emergency and after-hours calls typically add 50% to 100% on top of standard scheduled pricing, according to Angi. A repair that would cost $300 during business hours can run $450 to $600 at 11 p.m. on a weekend. If the leak is active and causing damage — water pooling, a burst supply line — that premium is usually worth paying to shut off the source and limit the damage. If it's a slow drip you first noticed at night, shutting off the water at the valve and waiting for a regular appointment can save you real money.

What to Do About It

First, stop the water. Shut off the fixture's local valve if there is one, or the home's main shutoff if you can't isolate it. That buys you time to make a decision without the leak getting worse.

Second, figure out roughly what kind of leak you're dealing with before you call anyone. An accessible leak under a sink or in a basement is a same-day, flat-rate fix. A leak you can hear or smell but can't see — especially one behind a wall or in the slab — usually needs a plumber with detection equipment, and it's worth asking upfront whether that service is billed separately from the repair itself.

On the phone, ask two things before you book: whether the quote is a flat rate or hourly, and whether it includes any drywall, flooring, or landscaping put back the way it was before the repair. Those follow-up costs are easy to leave out of a verbal estimate and easy to argue about after the work is done.

Third, get more than one quote before you commit, especially for anything beyond a simple under-sink repair. Prices for the same slab leak repair can swing by thousands of dollars depending on the method a plumber recommends and how they bill for it. Comparing a few quotes side by side is what turns "does this price seem high?" into an actual answer — you're not guessing whether $2,800 is fair, you know it because two other licensed plumbers quoted $2,400 and $3,100 for the same fix. Mantel matches you with vetted, licensed local plumbers and gets you comparable quotes at no cost to you, so you can make that comparison without doing the legwork yourself.