How much does a plumber charge to fix a clogged sink?

Short answer

Expect to pay $100–$350 for a plumber to unclog a kitchen or bathroom sink. Simple P-trap clogs at the lower end; deep main line clogs with hydro-jetting at the higher end. Emergency or after-hours calls add $50–$150. If you can clear it yourself first — see how to unclog a bathroom sink — a $20 drain snake handles most simple clogs and saves the whole call-out.

Cost breakdown by clog type

| Clog type | Typical cost | |-----------|-------------| | P-trap cleaning (simple) | $100–$175 | | Drain snake (kitchen or bath) | $150–$250 | | Main sewer line snake | $200–$350 | | Hydro-jetting (severe buildup) | $300–$600 | | Camera inspection (to diagnose) | $100–$300 |

What affects the price

Labor rate: Plumbers charge $50–$150/hour depending on location. Urban areas (NYC, SF, LA) are at the high end.

Time of day: Emergency/weekend/after-hours calls add a $50–$150 service fee on top of the standard rate.

Clog location: The deeper the clog, the more time it takes. A P-trap cleaning takes 20 minutes; a main line snake can take 1–2 hours.

What they find: If the plumber discovers a damaged pipe or tree root intrusion while snaking, costs can jump to $500–$2,000+ for repairs.

What's actually included in the price

A standard drain-clearing call usually covers three things: the service call / minimum fee (travel and diagnosis), the labour to clear the clog, and basic equipment like a hand auger or motorised snake. What's not included — and what turns a $150 job into a $600 one — is anything beyond clearing the immediate blockage: a camera inspection to find the cause, hydro-jetting to scour years of buildup, or repairs to a cracked or root-invaded pipe. Always ask up front what the quote covers and what would count as "extra."

Regional price differences

Labour is the biggest swing factor. In high-cost metros (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston) plumbers commonly bill $120–$150/hour, so a snaked drain lands at the top of the range. In smaller cities and rural areas, $50–$90/hour is typical and the same job can cost 30–40% less. Time of year matters too — winter freeze-ups and holiday weekends push emergency rates higher because demand spikes.

When to DIY vs call a plumber

Try DIY first (a drain snake costs $15–$30 and clears most simple clogs):

• Slow drain (not completely blocked)
• Single sink affected
• Clog happened recently

Call a plumber if:

• Multiple drains are slow or blocked (indicates main line)
• Water backs up into other fixtures (toilet gurgles when you run the sink)
• DIY attempts haven't worked after 30 minutes
• You smell sewage

How to get a fair price

1. Get 2–3 quotes — prices vary significantly between plumbers
2. Ask for a flat rate rather than hourly if possible
3. Describe the problem clearly — location of clog, how long it's been slow, what you've already tried
4. Check reviews on Yelp or Google before booking
5. Ask about a callback guarantee — reputable plumbers will re-clear the same drain free if it blocks again within 30–90 days

How to avoid paying for the same clog twice

The cheapest plumber visit is the one you don't need. Most repeat sink clogs come from the same handful of habits, and fixing them costs nothing:

• Never pour grease or oil down the kitchen sink — it solidifies on pipe walls and is the number-one cause of repeat kitchen clogs.
• Use a drain hair catcher in the bathroom and empty it after each use.
• Flush drains weekly with a kettle of hot (not boiling, on PVC) water to keep grease moving.
• Run plenty of cold water when using a garbage disposal — see can garbage disposals cause slow drainage?

A few weeks of these habits prevents the buildup that brings the plumber back.

Related questions

• How to unclog a bathroom sink (step by step)
• Why is my kitchen sink draining slowly?
• Can garbage disposals cause slow drainage?
• Is it safe to use chemical drain cleaners?