Repiping a Home: Methods, Materials, Cost, and Timeline

The short answer

Whole-house repiping replaces a home’s water lines end to end, and is the usual answer to repeat slab leaks or old galvanized pipe. A repipe typically costs $1,500 to $15,000, averaging about $7,500, at roughly $1,200 per fixture. PEX costs less to install than copper.

Key takeaways

Repeat leaks are the main trigger: A second or third slab leak in the same home, especially in pipe over about 50 years old or in galvanized lines, is the usual signal that patching is no longer worth it.
PEX costs less than copper: PEX runs about $0.40 to $2.00 per linear foot installed versus $2.00 to $8.00 for copper, though some owners still prefer copper’s roughly 50-year lifespan.
Fixture count drives the price: A whole-home repipe typically runs $1,500 to $15,000, averaging about $7,500, at roughly $1,200 per fixture; multi-story homes run higher because of longer vertical runs.
Insurance rarely covers a planned repipe: Standard HO-3 policies typically cover sudden, accidental water damage, not the planned replacement of aging pipe, so confirm with your carrier before you budget on coverage.

A whole-house repipe replaces your water lines end to end instead of patching one failed section. It is the usual answer to repeat slab leaks and to old galvanized pipe. This hub covers what a repipe involves, PEX versus copper, real cost ranges, and how to tell when it is time.

When repiping is the right call

A repipe makes sense when patching stops being worth it. The usual triggers:

A second or third slab leak in the same home, where the next leak feels inevitable.
Old galvanized steel pipe (common in homes over about 50 years old), which corrodes from the inside.
Widespread low pressure or rusty water that points to failing supply lines, not one bad spot.
A big remodel, when the walls are open anyway and new pipe is cheaper to run.

Not sure yet? The Repair Method Finder weighs your leak history and pipe age, and slab leak repair: all four methods shows where a repipe sits against the smaller fixes. If you have not confirmed a leak yet, start at the slab leaks hub.

PEX vs copper

Most repipes use one of two materials. Both are code-approved in most areas; confirm local code with your plumber.

PEX ($0.40 to $2.00 per linear foot, installed): cheaper, flexible around obstacles, and resistant to freeze bursts. The common choice for a straightforward repipe.
Copper ($2.00 to $8.00 per linear foot, installed): longer-established, lasts around 50 years, preferred by some owners. On a roughly 2,000 square foot home, copper can run about $6,000 to $12,000 more than PEX.

Not sure which fits your budget? Run both options through the Repipe Cost Calculator before you call a plumber.

What a repipe costs

A whole-home repipe typically runs $1,500 to $15,000, averaging about $7,500 as of 2026, at roughly $1,200 per fixture. Fixture count and pipe material drive most of the cost; multi-story homes run higher because of longer vertical pipe runs. Square footage matters mainly through how much pipe the job needs.

Estimate yours with the Repipe Cost Calculator. Costs vary by region, access, and contractor. Ranges here are compiled from the sources on our methodology page. Get at least two local quotes.

Does insurance pay for a repipe?

Usually not. Standard HO-3 policies typically cover sudden, accidental water damage from a covered event, not the planned replacement of aging pipe, which is treated as maintenance. A repipe prompted by a covered burst may be handled differently from one you choose to prevent future leaks. Coverage varies, so confirm with your carrier. See our methodology page for how the cost ranges on this page are sourced.

Questions this page answers

What is a whole-house repipe?

A repipe replaces the water supply lines throughout a home, rather than patching one failed section. It is the usual answer when pipes fail repeatedly, when the plumbing is old galvanized steel, or when a single fix would just be followed by the next leak. New lines are run, tested, and connected, and the old pipes are left in place or removed.

How much does it cost to repipe a house?

A whole-home repipe typically runs $1,500 to $15,000, averaging about $7,500 as of 2026, at roughly $1,200 per fixture. The biggest drivers are the number of fixtures, the pipe material (PEX or copper), and access. Multi-story homes tend to run higher because of longer vertical pipe runs. Estimate yours with the Repipe Cost Calculator, and see our methodology page for sources.

PEX or copper: which should I choose?

PEX is cheaper to install, at about $0.40 to $2.00 per linear foot, flexes around obstacles, and resists freeze bursts. Copper runs about $2.00 to $8.00 per linear foot, lasts around 50 years, and some owners prefer it. On a roughly 2,000 square foot home, copper can cost about $6,000 to $12,000 more than PEX. Both are code-approved in most areas; confirm local code with your plumber.

How many slab leaks before I should repipe?

There is no fixed number, but a second or third slab leak in the same home is a common signal that spot repairs are no longer worth it, especially in pipe over about 50 years old or in galvanized lines. The Repair Method Finder weighs your leak history and pipe material to suggest whether a repipe makes more sense than another patch.

Does insurance pay for a repipe?

A whole-home repipe typically costs $1,500 to $15,000, averaging about $7,500, at roughly $1,200 per fixture. It is the usual answer to repeat slab leaks or old galvanized pipe. Weigh PEX against copper, price your own job with the Repipe Cost Calculator, and if you are still deciding between a patch and a full repipe, run it through the Repair Method Finder. For the leaks that often lead here, see the slab leaks hub.