How much does a blocked drain cost in Sydney?
Prices verified October 2026 · How we price
Most residential blocked drain jobs in Sydney land between $300 and $800 in 2026, and a simple sink or shower closer to $150–$300. The spread comes from what's left out of the quote: call-out fees, the camera inspection, jetting, and after-hours loading. This page sets out what plumbers typically charge, what drives the price up, and exactly what our fixed prices include — every job we do, not just the headline one. If you already have a quote, the Quote Checker will tell you where it sits against the Sydney range, ours included.
Typical Sydney prices in 2026
| Job | Typical range | Block Drains |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out fee | $0–$200, often credited to the job | $0 |
| Blocked sink or basin | $150–$300 | $199 |
| Blocked shower or laundry drain | $150–$350 | $199 |
| Blocked toilet | $180–$350 | $249 |
| Hydro jetting a blocked drain | $300–$650 | $449 |
| CCTV drain inspection | $200–$550 | $249 |
| Blocked stormwater drain | $400–$650 | $449 |
| Blocked sewer main (jet + camera) | $300–$800 | $549 |
| Tree root cutting in a drain | $400–$1,500 | Fixed quote |
| Spot dig and drain repair | $1,500–$5,000 | Fixed quote |
| Pipe relining | $3,000–$12,000 | Fixed quote |
| Excavate and replace a drain | $10,000–$30,000 | Fixed quote |
| After-hours, weekend, public holiday loading | +20% to +100% | None |
Typical business-hours ranges, verified October 2026, from published Sydney price guides and our own job data. Guide only. Sydney drain price index · How we price.
What should it cost?
Typical Sydney prices by job, area and time of day.
Low
$300
Typical
$520
High
$800
Block Drains: $549 fixed at any hour, call-out included
Typical Sydney ranges, verified October 2026. Full sewer main cost guide · How we price
What pushes the price up
- After-hours rates. Many plumbers add 20–50% for nights, weekends and public holidays. We don't.
- Hourly billing. A stubborn blockage on an hourly rate can double the bill. A fixed price means the time is our problem, not yours.
- Equipment add-ons. Jetting and the camera are often charged on top of a "clear". Ours are built in.
- Access. A drain under a slab or driveway takes longer and, if it needs digging, adds reinstatement. This is where relining usually wins.
- Repairs. If the pipe is broken, clearing it is only a temporary fix. This is where the real cost is, and why you want the camera footage before deciding.
Which line of that table are you?
Ranges only get you so far. Tell us what's happening — a photo is fine — and we'll name the likely cause and the fixed price. Already have a quote? Check it against these prices.
Questions
- How much does it cost to unblock a drain in Sydney?
- A simple sink or shower blockage in Sydney is $150–$300; a toilet $180–$350; a main line that needs jetting and a camera $300–$800 or more, plus a call-out fee of up to $200 and 20–100% extra after hours. Block Drains charges a flat $449 for a jet clear with CCTV, and $199 for a sink or shower, at any hour.
- Why do some quotes seem cheap and then blow out?
- A low headline price usually excludes the call-out, the camera inspection, or jetting, and after-hours work often adds 20–50%. Ask what's included before booking. Our prices list everything that's covered and don't change at night or on weekends.
- Is a CCTV inspection worth paying for?
- If a drain has blocked more than once, yes. It shows whether the cause is a one-off (wipes, grease) or a broken pipe that will keep blocking until it's repaired. We include it with every clear rather than charging $200–$550 on top.
- What does drain repair or relining cost?
- A spot dig and repair usually runs $1,500–$5,000 depending on depth and what's on top of the pipe. Relining is priced as a setup fee of $2,000–$3,000 plus $450–$800 per metre and $500–$800 per junction for a 100 mm house drain, and most jobs land between $3,000–$12,000. Digging up and replacing the same run is often $10,000–$30,000 once driveways, paving and gardens are reinstated. You always get a fixed written quote first.
- Who pays, tenant or landlord?
- Under NSW tenancy law, fair wear and tear and structural problems (roots, broken pipes) are the landlord's responsibility. If the tenant caused it, for example by flushing wipes, the tenant is usually liable. Our CCTV report is useful evidence either way.
Related guides
- Pipe relining vs dig and replace: cost compared
- Hydro jetting vs electric eel: which clears a drain better?
- Is a CCTV drain inspection worth it?
- Blocked drain in a rental: landlord or tenant pays?
- How to spot a bait-and-switch plumbing quote in Sydney
- After-hours and weekend blocked drain costs in Sydney
- Is pipe relining worth it for old clay pipes?
- Do you get the footage from a CCTV drain inspection?
- Overflow relief gully: what it is and why it's overflowing
- How to clear a blocked drain yourself (and when to stop)
- How to unblock a toilet that's badly blocked
- Plumber hourly rates and call-out fees in Sydney (2026)
- Why does my house smell like sewage?
- Why is my toilet gurgling? Causes and what to do
- Sydney Water or me: who fixes a blocked sewer?
- Does home insurance cover blocked drains or tree roots?
Ready to book?
$449 fixed for a hydro-jet clear and CCTV inspection anywhere in Sydney. Sinks and showers from $199.
Book online