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How much does it cost to clear a blocked drain?

A basic blocked drain clear usually costs about $150 to $300. High-pressure water jetting costs about $300 to $500, and jetting with a camera inspection about $350 to $1,100.

Basic clear of a blocked sink, shower or toilet drain:$150–$300 per job

Updated 19 October 2026 · 2 min read · GST basis not confirmed by sources. Check GST on every quote.

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On this page
  1. How a drain plumber works out the price
  2. What it costs, by scenario
  3. What changes the price
  4. What's usually included, and what isn't
  5. Metro and regional differences
  6. Licensing and compliance
  7. Before you accept a quote, check
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Sources and method

How a drain plumber works out the price

A drain plumber usually quotes a fixed price to clear a blocked drain, because the time is hard to predict. The price rises with the method: a hand tool or plunger clears a simple blockage, a high-pressure water jet clears sludge and roots from pipes, and a camera inspection shows what is wrong and where. Time-based billing happens too, at an hourly rate that has to cover wages, vehicle, equipment, insurance and licence. The Fair Work Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award sets a minimum of $29.45 an hour for a level 1 trade classification from 1 July 2026.

  1. Call-out and assessment of which drain is blocked and how bad it is
  2. Clearing the blockage with the method the plumber chooses: hand tools, a drain machine or a high-pressure water jet
  3. Camera inspection if the blockage returns or the cause is unclear
  4. Cutting tree roots or repairing a damaged pipe, which is usually quoted separately
  5. Loading for after-hours, weekend or public holiday work
  6. GST on the total

Worked example: Basic clear of a blocked shower drain, business hours (illustrative, not a quote)

Call-out and assessment
$80
Labour, first hour at $120 an hour
$120
Drain-clearing equipment use
$50
Total
$250 total (illustrative)

What it costs, by scenario

Low, typical and high prices. Built on 19 October 2026 from two marketplace price pages, three plumbing businesses' published cost pages, one compiled national guide, the Fair Work plumbing award and state regulator pages. The basic-clear range sits inside figures at least three sources share; the jetting, camera and sewer-line figures rest on one or two sources each. Most sources do not state a GST basis, so it is marked unconfirmed.

  • Basic clear of a blocked sink, shower or toilet drain (per job)

    Airtasker's drain cleaning chart is $150 to $300 with $250 median, and one plumber's page gives $150 to $250 for a simple blockage. A compiled national guide runs higher, $150 to $500. Sub-$100 advertised prices often grow once the plumber is on site.

    Low
    $150
    Typical
    $250
    High
    $300

  • High-pressure water jetting (hydrojet) (per job)

    One Sydney plumber's page gives $300 to $500 for residential jetting, dated August 2023. One drain business lists a camera-included service from $449 including GST. The typical is the middle of the range. Treat this as a Sydney-based guide.

    Low
    $300
    Typical
    $400
    High
    $500

  • Jetting with a camera inspection (per job)

    A compiled national guide puts CCTV inspection with jetting at $350 to $1,100 with $700 typical. Only that guide gives the full range, though the $449 starting price above sits inside it.

    Low
    $350
    Typical
    $700
    High
    $1,100

  • Main sewer line blockage, jetting and camera if needed (per job)

    One plumber says a main sewer blockage can cost around $500 or more, and the compiled guide's jetting and camera range tops out at $1,100. The typical is that guide's $700. Excavation or pipe repair is extra and not covered.

    Low
    $500
    Typical
    $700
    High
    $1,100

  • Plumber hourly rate, where billed by time (per hour)

    Airtasker's 2024 guide gives $80 to $100 for plumbers in general. ServiceSeeking lists plumbers at $120, $128 and $175 an hour. The typical is the lowest ServiceSeeking listing. After-hours rates are higher.

    Low
    $80
    Typical
    $120
    High
    $175
Low, typical and high prices by scenario
ScenarioLowTypicalHigh
Basic clear of a blocked sink, shower or toilet drain (per job)Airtasker's drain cleaning chart is $150 to $300 with $250 median, and one plumber's page gives $150 to $250 for a simple blockage. A compiled national guide runs higher, $150 to $500. Sub-$100 advertised prices often grow once the plumber is on site.$150$250$300
High-pressure water jetting (hydrojet) (per job)One Sydney plumber's page gives $300 to $500 for residential jetting, dated August 2023. One drain business lists a camera-included service from $449 including GST. The typical is the middle of the range. Treat this as a Sydney-based guide.$300$400$500
Jetting with a camera inspection (per job)A compiled national guide puts CCTV inspection with jetting at $350 to $1,100 with $700 typical. Only that guide gives the full range, though the $449 starting price above sits inside it.$350$700$1,100
Main sewer line blockage, jetting and camera if needed (per job)One plumber says a main sewer blockage can cost around $500 or more, and the compiled guide's jetting and camera range tops out at $1,100. The typical is that guide's $700. Excavation or pipe repair is extra and not covered.$500$700$1,100
Plumber hourly rate, where billed by time (per hour)Airtasker's 2024 guide gives $80 to $100 for plumbers in general. ServiceSeeking lists plumbers at $120, $128 and $175 an hour. The typical is the lowest ServiceSeeking listing. After-hours rates are higher.$80$120$175

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What changes the price

  • Which drain. A sink or basin drain is usually quicker to clear than a shower, and a main sewer line or a stormwater drain can need a jet and a camera.
  • Method used. A plunger or hand tool is cheapest. A high-pressure water jet costs more, and a camera adds to the price.
  • Cause of the blockage. Grease, hair and soap are quick to clear. Tree roots, a collapsed pipe or objects stuck in the line take longer and may need repair, not just clearing.
  • Access. A drain with an easy inspection opening is quicker than one that is buried, fenced in or inside a building.
  • Time of day. After-hours, weekend and public holiday work carries a loading. One marketplace guide says emergency fees can more than double the regular price.
  • Location. Wages, travel time and demand differ across cities and regions. See the metro and regional note below.

What's usually included, and what isn't

Usually included

  • Travel to your home and assessment of the blockage
  • Labour to clear the blockage with the method quoted
  • Use of the plumber's equipment for the agreed job
  • Running water through to check the drain flows
  • A camera inspection, where the quote says it is included

Often extra

  • Cutting tree roots, excavating or repairing damaged pipe
  • A separate camera inspection report, unless quoted
  • After-hours, weekend or public holiday loading
  • Replacing a trap, fixture or inspection opening
  • Making good of floors, paths or gardens after digging

Metro and regional differences

Metro: Capital cities have more drain plumbers, so there is more competition for simple clears, but higher wages and parking and traffic time keep rates up. Several of our price pages are Sydney-based, so a Sydney job may sit near the top of the ranges.

Regional: Our sources do not give separate regional figures, so treat the ranges as a national guide. Outside the cities, a longer drive can add to the call-out, and fewer plumbers means fewer quotes to compare. Properties with long drains or trees close to the pipes may need more work.

Licensing and compliance

Plumbing and drainage work is regulated in every state and territory, but the pages we could open did not all say whether clearing a simple blockage needs a licensed plumber, so ask for the plumber's licence number and check it on the regulator's register.

What we read on regulator pages: New South Wales, Building Commission NSW, whose page says you need the right licence or certificate to do plumbing, draining or gasfitting work, and lists Notices of Work, Certificates of Compliance and Sewer Service Diagrams as documents plumbers may need to give; Queensland, the QBCC, which lists installing or relocating fixtures such as toilets, showers, basins and sinks as notifiable plumbing and drainage work, where the plumber registers a Form 4 within 10 business days of invoicing and gives you a copy; Western Australia, where only people holding a plumber's licence from the Plumbers Licensing Board may do plumbing work, with Building and Energy running the notice system; and the ACT, Access Canberra, which publishes plumber notes under the Water and Sewerage Act 2000.

For Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory we could not open a plumbing regulator page for this guide; see our plumber cost guide for the regulators we checked there.

If a drain is damaged and needs repair, a licensed plumber is the safer choice for the repair itself.

Before you accept a quote, check

  • Is the price fixed for the job, or hourly with a minimum charge?
  • Is a camera inspection included, and will you get the footage or a report?
  • What happens if the blockage is not cleared on the first attempt?
  • Is there an after-hours loading, and what is it?
  • Is cutting tree roots or repairing pipe included, or quoted separately?
  • Does the quote say whether GST is included, and what the plumber's licence number is?

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to unblock a drain?

About $150 to $300 for a basic clear of a sink, shower or toilet drain in business hours. Jetting costs more, at about $300 to $500, and a jetting job with a camera runs about $350 to $1,100.

What is the difference between drain clearing and jetting?

Clearing uses hand tools or a machine to push through a blockage. Jetting uses high-pressure water to wash out grease, sludge and roots along the pipe, and it costs more. Your plumber can tell you which one suits the blockage.

Is a camera inspection worth it?

If the drain blocks again, or the plumber cannot see the cause, a camera shows the pipe's condition. A compiled guide puts jetting with a camera at $350 to $1,100. Ask whether the quote includes footage or a report.

Why are some advertised prices so low?

One drain business warns that sub-$100 ads often lead to extra charges once the plumber is on site. Ask what the price covers before you book, and whether the call-out and equipment are included.

Do after-hours plumbers cost more?

Yes. After-hours, weekend and public holiday jobs carry a loading, and one marketplace guide says emergency fees can more than double the regular price. Confirm the loading before the plumber starts.

Do I need a licensed plumber to clear a drain?

Rules differ by state and we could not confirm the position for simple clears in every state. Ask for the licence number and check it on your state's register; a licensed plumber is required for repair work in the states we checked.

Sources and method

Built on 19 October 2026 from two marketplace price pages, three plumbing businesses' published cost pages, one compiled national guide, the Fair Work plumbing award and state regulator pages. The basic-clear range sits inside figures at least three sources share; the jetting, camera and sewer-line figures rest on one or two sources each. Most sources do not state a GST basis, so it is marked unconfirmed. How we calculate our guides.

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