Toilet Repair Cost: Running, Clogged and Leaking Toilets

Toilet repair usually costs $60 to $200, with an average of $125 (Fixr). A running toilet costs $50 to $400 to fix (Fixr), and having a plumber clear a clog costs $200 to $700 (Fixr). A new toilet, installed, usually costs $400 to $800 (Fixr).

This guide breaks down what each common toilet problem costs, which fixes are simple, and when it makes more sense to replace the toilet. Every figure is a national range from the page it links to. Prices near you may differ.

What should you do first?

Most toilet problems aren't emergencies, but a few steps help:

• If the toilet is overflowing, turn off its water. The shut-off valve is usually on the wall or floor behind the toilet. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
• If water is on the floor, stay clear of outlets and cords nearby, and dry the area so no one slips.
• If several drains are backing up at once, stop using sinks, toilets and the washing machine. That can mean a main line clog, not just the toilet.

How much does toilet repair cost by problem?

The problem you see is the best guide to the cost. Fixr gives these ranges, labor included:

• Running toilet: $50 to $400 (Fixr)
• Loose toilet: $50 to $150 (Fixr)
• Toilet leak: $50 to $600 (Fixr)
• Clogged toilet: $60 to $700 (Fixr)

This Old House lists toilet repair at $100 to $300 (This Old House).

How much does it cost to fix a running toilet?

Fixr puts the price to fix a running toilet at $50 to $400 (Fixr). Most running toilets need one inexpensive part.

Fixr names the usual causes: a leaky flapper, too much water in the tank, or a problem with the refill tube. Here's what the common parts cost to replace, labor included:

• Flapper: $60 to $120 (Fixr)
• Fill valve: $60 to $150 (Fixr)
• Flush valve: $60 to $150 (Fixr)
• Chain: $50 to $110 (Fixr)
• Handle: $50 to $120 (Fixr)

Why fix a running toilet quickly?

A running toilet wastes water every hour it runs. The EPA says a worn flapper can let a toilet silently leak thousands of gallons a year. It also says the average household's leaks can account for more than 9,300 gallons of water wasted every year, and that fixing easily corrected leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills (EPA WaterSense).

How can you tell if your toilet is leaking inside the tank?

The EPA suggests a simple dye test:

1. Put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank.
2. Don't flush for 10 minutes.
3. If color shows up in the bowl, water is leaking from the tank into the bowl. That usually points to the flapper.
4. Flush afterward so the dye doesn't stain the tank.

How much does it cost to unclog a toilet?

Fixr puts the national average to have a plumber unclog a toilet at $200 to $700, with most people spending about $350 (Fixr). The low end is $100 for a simple drain snaking, and the high end is $1,000 for hydro jetting serious clogs that were left too long (Fixr).

By method:

• Snaking with a standard snake: $100 to $250 (Fixr)
• Rodding: $150 to $400 (Fixr)
• Electric snake: $300 to $400 (Fixr)
• Removing the toilet to reach the clog: $200 to $550 (Fixr)
• Hydro jetting the pipes: $250 to $800 (Fixr)
• Clearing the main sewer line: $350 to $650 (Fixr)

Fixr says that in most cases a toilet clogs because someone flushed something they shouldn't have. It also lists hard water buildup, blocked pipes, obstructed plumbing vents and damaged sewer mains as causes.

If the toilet gurgles when a sink drains, or other drains are slow too, the clog may be in the main line. The drain and sewer line cleaning cost guide covers those costs.

What does an emergency toilet clog cost?

After-hours visits cost more. Fixr says the emergency hourly rate is often $150 to $200, and a flat fee of $200 to $300 may also be required (Fixr).

Fixr adds that a transportation fee of $50 to $200 is sometimes charged, which can bring an emergency visit to $400 to $700 in total (Fixr).

If you have a second toilet that works and only one is clogged, waiting for business hours is often the cheaper choice.

How much does it cost to fix a toilet leaking at the base?

Water around the base usually points to the seal under the toilet, called the wax ring. Fixr says a loose toilet often means that wax ring is damaged or cracked. Fixr also lists corroded pipes and poor installation among the causes of leaks.

• Wax ring (seal) repair: $60 to $150 (Fixr)
• Seal replacement: $60 to $200 (Fixr)
• Flange repair: $60 to $200 (Fixr)
• Fixing a loose toilet: $50 to $150 (Fixr)

Don't ignore a leak at the base. Water can soak into the subfloor over time, and a sewer smell near the toilet can mean the seal has failed. A pro will check the seal, the flange it sits on, and the floor around it.

Leaks can also come from the supply line, the shut-off valve, or between the tank and bowl. Those are often simpler fixes, so it's worth noting exactly where the water appears.

How much do tank and bowl repairs cost?

Cracks and damage to the porcelain cost more:

• Tank repair: $80 to $250 (Fixr)
• Tank replacement: $100 to $400 (Fixr)
• Bowl repair: $100 to $300 (Fixr)
• Bowl replacement: $150 to $600 (Fixr)
• Rebuilding a toilet: $250 to $600 (Fixr)

A crack in the bowl usually means a new toilet, since a bowl replacement can cost as much as a basic new toilet installed.

What do the parts inside a toilet do?

Knowing the main parts makes it easier to describe the problem and understand a quote:

• Flapper. The rubber seal at the bottom of the tank. It lifts when you flush and drops to hold water in the tank. A worn or warped flapper is the most common cause of a running toilet.
• Fill valve. The tall part on one side of the tank that refills it after each flush. If it doesn't shut off at the right level, water spills into the overflow tube and the toilet keeps running.
• Flush valve. The opening the flapper seals against. If it's cracked or worn, water leaks into the bowl.
• Chain and handle. These lift the flapper. A chain that's too long or too short can stop the flapper from opening or closing properly.
• Wax ring. The seal between the bottom of the toilet and the drain pipe. If it fails, water and sewer gas can escape at the base.
• Flange. The fitting on the floor that the toilet bolts to. A broken flange can make the toilet rock and break the seal.
• Supply line and shut-off valve. The hose and valve behind the toilet that bring water in. Drips here are often an easy fix.

Why does my toilet keep clogging?

One clog now and then is normal. Repeat clogs usually have a cause worth finding. Common ones include:

• Too much paper or the wrong items. Wipes, paper towels and other products can catch in the drain.
• Hard water buildup. Fixr lists mineral buildup from hard water among the causes, since deposits can narrow the passages inside the toilet.
• A blocked vent. Fixr lists obstructed plumbing vents among clog causes. A blocked vent can also make drains gurgle.
• A problem further down the line. A partial clog or roots in the main sewer line can make the toilet the first fixture to back up.

If the toilet clogs often, ask the plumber to check past the toilet itself.

What changes the price of a toilet repair?

• The part. A flapper or chain costs less than a flange, tank or bowl.
• The type of toilet. Fixr puts repairs for one-piece toilets at $50 to $200, two-piece at $50 to $250, and wall-hung at $50 to $400 (Fixr).
• Who does the work. Fixr says a general repair person usually charges $50 to $100 an hour, and plumbers charge $45 to $200 an hour (Fixr).
• Labor. Fixr says most of a typical repair goes to labor, which ranges from $45 to $135 (Fixr).
• Timing. Fixr says emergency repairs add $100 to $300 per job (Fixr).
• Where the problem really is. A clog past the toilet, in the drain or main line, costs more to clear.

Should you repair or replace your toilet?

Most toilet problems are worth repairing. A new flapper or fill valve costs far less than a new toilet. Fixr says a repair usually takes under two hours, while a replacement takes several hours.

Fixr suggests replacing when the toilet is old, needs repeated repairs, or has many worn parts. A repair only fixes the part that failed, so an old toilet with several worn parts may keep needing attention.

What a replacement costs:

• New toilet, installed: $400 to $800, plus $25 to $100 to remove the old one (Fixr)
• Toilet installation: $300 to $800 (This Old House)

Can a new toilet save water?

Yes, if your toilet is old. The EPA says older, inefficient toilets can use as much as 6 gallons per flush, while WaterSense-labeled models use 1.28 gallons or less. It estimates that replacing old toilets with WaterSense models could save a family more than $170 per year in water costs (EPA WaterSense).

If you're already paying for a repair on an older toilet, that saving is worth weighing.

What can you safely do yourself?

Many toilet fixes are manageable for a careful homeowner:

• Plunge a clog with a flange plunger before calling anyone.
• Adjust the chain if the flapper doesn't close or the handle feels loose.
• Do the dye test to check for a leaking flapper.
• Replace a flapper after turning off the water at the valve behind the toilet.
• Tighten the bolts at the base gently if the toilet rocks. Too much force can crack the porcelain.

Leave it to a pro if:

• The toilet keeps clogging after plunging.
• Other drains are slow or backing up too.
• Water leaks from the base and comes back after tightening.
• The toilet needs to come off the floor.

What questions should you ask for a fair quote?

1. What do you think is causing it, and how did you confirm it?
2. Is there a service-call fee, and does it go toward the repair?
3. Is this one part, or are other parts worn too?
4. Given the toilet's age, would you repair or replace it, and why?
5. If it's a clog, is it in the toilet or further down the line?
6. Can I get the price in writing before you start?
7. Is your work guaranteed, and for how long?

If you'd like to see the likely cause and typical cost for your toilet's symptom first, answer a few quick questions: Check my plumbing.

How does this compare with other plumbing costs?

Toilet repairs are among the cheaper plumbing jobs. For hourly rates, service-call fees and other common repairs, see the plumber cost guide. If a meter test shows water running with every toilet and tap off, the slab leak repair cost guide explains what may be happening under the floor.

The bottom line

Most toilet repairs cost $60 to $200 (Fixr), and a running toilet usually needs only a flapper or fill valve. Clearing a clog costs more, especially after hours, and a cracked bowl or a toilet with many worn parts usually means it's time for a new one.

Turn off the water at the valve if it's overflowing, try a plunger or the dye test first, and ask the plumber to explain the cause and the price before work starts.