New Sewer Line Installation Cost

Installing a new sewer line costs $40–$180 per foot, or $1,600–$7,200 for up to 40 feet, according to HomeGuide. Its national average is $4,000. This page is about a line where none exists, such as a new build or a septic conversion. If you're swapping out an old pipe, see the sewer line replacement cost guide instead.

The line itself is only part of the bill. Most homes also pay a city connection fee, and that can be more than the pipe.

Sewer line installation cost

Distance from the main moves the total most. HomeGuide says local rates usually assume up to 40 feet of pipe, and rural homes sitting farther back pay more. Ask your utility where the tap will be before you price anything, because that sets your footage.

Trenchless sewer line installation cost

A trench costs $5–$12 per foot to dig. Directional boring, the trenchless way to make a path for new pipe, costs $10–$30 per foot. Those figures cover the digging only, and the pipe and labor are extra.

Boring goes under driveways, walkways and landscaping, so there's less to put back afterward. A trench across an open yard is usually the cheaper dig. Across a paved driveway, compare the boring price with what you'd pay to repair the driveway, which HomeGuide puts at $600–$3,000 for major repairs.

Don't mix this up with trenchless replacement. Pipe bursting and lining work through an old pipe, so they don't apply when there's no pipe in the ground yet.

Sewer pipe cost by material

These are material prices only, per foot. HomeGuide says most sewer lines use 4-inch pipe.

Plastic is the common pick because it's cheap and doesn't rust. HomeGuide notes that some states, California among them, have banned ABS, so check local code first. Your plumber will know what the inspector accepts.

Other costs that can show up

Trees and concrete in the path add to the job. HomeGuide lists tree removal at $400–$1,200 and concrete removal at $3–$8 per square foot. Plumbers charge $75–$150 an hour, and some bring in a separate excavation contractor for the digging.

Moving off a septic system costs $3,000–$15,000, with the old tank usually filled with sand or a similar material. The cost to connect to city sewer guide covers fees and that conversion in more detail. If you're staying on septic, compare it with septic system replacement.

Most jobs take 1–5 days, according to HomeGuide, and you'll need the city's permission before connecting. A line under a future driveway has to be deep enough, because a driveway's weight can crush shallow pipe.

Worked example

A new house sits 40 feet from the city main, and the path crosses open lawn. The crew trenches and lays PVC.

The installed line is 40 × $40 = $1,600 on the low end and 40 × $180 = $7,200 on the high end. The PVC inside that price is only $120–$320, so most of the bill is labor and digging.

Add a permit at $30–$500 and a cleanout at $500–$2,000, and you're at $2,130–$9,700 before the connection fee. That fee is $1,000–$15,000 and depends entirely on your city, so call before you budget. The methodology page explains how this site handles published ranges.

How to compare installation bids

• Get the city's connection fee and tap location in writing first.
• Get at least three bids for the same footage and pipe material.
• Ask whether the bid includes the permit, the connection and a cleanout.
• Ask who does the digging, and whether that's a separate contract.
• Have the crew price putting the yard or driveway back as its own line.
• Get the warranty in writing, and don't pay in full before work starts.