How much does a plumber cost in Portland?

We could not find a published Portland-specific price survey, so the figures below come from national guides and should be read as national ranges. HomeGuide's plumber cost guide says plumbers charge $45 to $150 per hour, averaging $75 before trip fees and materials. Service call or call-out fees run $50 to $200, and some companies add $1 to $2 per mile after the first 10 miles. Weekend, holiday and after-hours work can be billed at double or triple time, and the guide cites $195 to $260 per hour for late-night calls from round-the-clock services.

Many companies quote flat prices per job instead of hourly rates. Either way, ask what the minimum charge covers and whether the trip fee is credited if you hire them.

Sources: HomeGuide's sewer camera inspection, water heater installation and sewer line replacement guides, all labeled 2026. The sewer line guide also lists hydro jetting at $250 to $800 and snaking at $150 to $500 as repair-level services.

One local number is published by the city itself. Portland Environmental Services' page on understanding your property's sewer connection calls a sewer scope the best and most reliable source of information about a sewer connection, says most plumbing contractors can do one, and says they typically charge between $100 and $200. A scope shows whether the private line is in good condition and whether the property has a legal, direct connection to the public sewer. That is worth knowing in a city where many older homes share or route sewer lines in unusual ways; see our tree roots guide for what the video can reveal.

Permit fees are set by each city and are public. Portland's residential plumbing items under the schedule effective July 10, 2026:

The Portland figures come from the city's plumbing permit fee schedule, which also lists a $161 minimum investigation fee for starting work before getting a permit. Skipping the permit can cost more than getting one. Suburbs set their own fees; our Beaverton and Hillsboro pages list theirs.

HomeGuide's plumber guide names the usual multipliers. Timing is the biggest: weekday nights are typically billed at time and a half or more, and weekends, holidays and after-hours emergencies at double or triple time, roughly $125 to $170 per hour. Access is next. HomeGuide's camera inspection guide, for example, prices a scope at $175 to $750 when the plumber has to remove a toilet because there is no cleanout, against $125 to $500 with one. Materials and travel distance, through per-mile trip fees, add to the total. If the problem can safely wait until business hours, waiting is often the cheapest choice.

• Get at least two written estimates that list labor, materials, the permit and any trip or diagnostic fee separately.
• For a water heater, ask whether haul-away of the old unit, a new expansion tank and seismic strapping are included.
• For sewer work, ask for the camera video and the footage marks of the problem before agreeing to a repair method.
• Oregon requires a written contract for jobs over $2,000; see our guide to choosing a plumber for what it should include.

This site is an independent guide and does not price or perform work. To reach a plumber, call one of the licensed contractors listed on this page or see all listed contractors. Questions about this guide: email us. We do not take service requests.