Sewer line replacement cost per foot
| Replacement method | Installed price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional dig-and-replace | $50–$200 | Cheapest per foot; most yard disruption |
| Trenchless pipe bursting | $80–$250 | Replaces the pipe with minimal digging |
| Trenchless pipe lining (CIPP) | $80–$250 | Only if the existing pipe is still sound |
Per-foot prices vary widely because depth, soil, access and pipe condition all change the work. The main line from a house to the street typically runs 30 to 50 feet, and 40 feet is the most common length.
Total cost by length
| Method | 40 ft | 75 ft | 100 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional dig-and-replace | $2,000–$8,000 | $3,750–$15,000 | $5,000–$20,000 |
| Trenchless pipe bursting | $3,200–$10,000 | $6,000–$18,750 | $8,000–$25,000 |
| Trenchless pipe lining (CIPP) | $3,200–$10,000 | $6,000–$18,750 | $8,000–$25,000 |
These totals use the same calculation as the calculator above and show the likely range for each length. A short, shallow line in an open yard sits near the low end; a long or deep line under a driveway sits near the top.
Trenchless or dig-and-replace?
Pipe bursting pulls a new pipe through the old one, breaking it apart as it goes. Pipe lining (cured-in-place, or CIPP) coats the inside of an existing pipe with resin, so it only works if the pipe is still structurally sound. Traditional replacement digs a trench along the whole line, which is the right call for a collapsed or badly deteriorated pipe.
Trenchless methods usually cost more per foot, but guides note the total is often comparable or lower because they avoid most of the yard, driveway and landscaping restoration. The restoration is the part the per-foot price leaves out.
What these prices don't include
- Surface restoration: repairing a driveway, patio, sidewalk or landscaping is not in the per-foot prices. Ask for it as its own line item. One guide puts paver and patio resets at $20–$50 per square foot.
- Permits and inspections vary by city and are not priced here.
- Camera inspection: $100–$500. It confirms where the break is and whether lining is possible.
- Deep lines and hard surfaces: lines buried deeper than about 4 feet take more equipment and more labor, and a line under a driveway or concrete adds restoration work.
Homes with older clay or Orangeburg pipe face the highest risk of needing a full replacement.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Has a camera inspection confirmed the problem and the pipe's condition?
- Which method are you recommending, and why not the other?
- Is surface restoration (driveway, landscaping) included, and to what standard?
- Who pulls the permit, and is the city inspection included?
- What does the warranty cover, and is it transferable?
Methodology and sources
We price each method per linear foot, split the price into labor and materials/equipment, and adjust the labor share for your state's plumber wages. Read how we estimate costs.
- PipelineOn: sewer line replacement pricing — per-foot by method, paver reset
- UseCalcPro: sewer line replacement calculator
- Angi: trenchless sewer line replacement cost and Los Angeles guide — labor share
- Ready Rooter: trenchless replacement cost and Empire Plumbers
- The Fat Book: sewer line repair cost — pipe material risk
- The Overall Plumber and Repipe Solutions — line length, trenchless totals
- This Old House: sewer line replacement cost — camera inspection
- NuFlow and CPI Service — labor and equipment share
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 47-2152, Plumbers) — state labor index
What each source reports
Our estimate does not rely on any single page. This table lists each page we used and the figures it reports, so you can see where the ranges come from.
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| PipelineOn |
|
| UseCalcPro | traditional dig-up $50-$125 per foot |
| The Overall Plumber | traditional excavation $50-$125 per foot |
| The Fat Book | traditional excavation $50-$250 per foot |
| Angi and Mr. Pipey |
|
| Ready Rooter |
|
| Empire Plumbers | pipe bursting $80-$250 per foot |
| Angi (Los Angeles guide) | labor accounts for about 50% of a sewer line replacement, covering plumbers, equipment operators and excavation specialists |
| NuFlow | labor 35-50%, plus equipment 10-20%, of a typical dig-and-replace bill |
| CPI Service | labor and excavation equipment together roughly 60-70% of the project cost |
| This Old House | camera inspections cost $100-$500 |
Common questions about sewer line replacement costs
How much does sewer line replacement cost?
A typical job (50 ft, traditional dig-and-replace) comes to about $4,750 nationally, within a range of $2,500 to $10,000. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
How much does trenchless sewer line replacement cost?
Pipe bursting and pipe lining, the two trenchless methods, both run about $80–$250 per foot in the sources, or about $4,000–$12,500 for a 50 ft run.
How much does it cost to replace a main sewer line?
Traditional dig-and-replace runs about $50–$200 per foot, or about $2,500–$10,000 for a 50 ft run. Length, depth and what is above the pipe move the price most.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 11 published cost pages from 11 publishers, last checked Oct 2, 2026. We report what those pages say and do not invent figures; the table above shows each source.
How does my state change the estimate?
The labor part of the price is scaled by the average wage for the relevant trade in your state, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Materials and equipment are not adjusted.
Why might a contractor's quote differ from this estimate?
A quote reflects your specific scope, access, local demand and what the contractor includes. Ask for line items rather than a single total so you can compare bids on the same basis.
All 11 sources behind these prices
Every figure in the calculator comes from one or more of these pages, with the number each one supports in the link text.
- PipelineOn: traditional dig $50-$125 per linear foot
- UseCalcPro: traditional dig-up $50-$125 per foot
- The Overall Plumber: traditional excavation $50-$125 per foot
- The Fat Book: traditional excavation $50-$250 per foot
- Angi and Mr. Pipey: pipe bursting $150-$190 per foot
- Ready Rooter: pipe bursting $150-$300 per foot
- Empire Plumbers: pipe bursting $80-$250 per foot
- Angi (Los Angeles guide): labor accounts for about 50% of a sewer line replacement, covering plumbers, equipment operators and excavation specialists
- NuFlow: labor 35-50%, plus equipment 10-20%, of a typical dig-and-replace bill
- CPI Service: labor and excavation equipment together roughly 60-70% of the project cost
- This Old House: camera inspections cost $100-$500