How Much Does It Cost to Replace an Outdoor Faucet?
Normal range: $100 - $300
The cost to replace an outdoor faucet ranges from $100 and $300, on average. Some faucets, such as anti-siphon and frost-free models, are more expensive to replace than others.
Replacing a broken outdoor faucet is an important repair—a leaky one wastes hundreds of gallons of water each year, and pooling around your foundation can cause significant damage. To replace your outdoor faucet, expect to pay $10 to $60 for the part itself and an additional $150 to $200 per hour for labor—in total, the average cost is $175. Overall, that’s a relatively low price to pay for the ability to water the garden, fill the kid’s inflatable swimming pool, or wash the car with ease.
- Average
- $175
- Low end
- $100
- high end
- $375
Outdoor Faucet Cost Breakdown
Several factors go into determining your final cost to install an outdoor faucet. Changing out your copper pipes or an outdoor water line will add to your costs, and if you’re upgrading your current faucet with a specialty model, you’ll also pay more.
Standard hose bibbs run $5–$15
The price of both bibb adapters and washer replacements is only $5–$10 each
Upgraded and specialty hose bibb models can cost up to $100 or more
Misc. items like plumber’s putty can cost $3–$10 each
Depending on the type of hose bibb, DIY spigot replacement can run from $20–$50
Cost to Replace an Outdoor Faucet by Type
There are several types of hose bibbs. Most standard bibbs do the trick unless you want to upgrade to a specialty model because of winter weather or playful kids who want to run through the sprinkler...for the fourth time in one day.
Traditional Spigot, Hose Bibb, Sillcock, or Outdoor Faucet
These are all names for essentially the same thing, with minor differences. They all work the same and are the most common types of outdoor faucets. Every home comes with at least one outdoor faucet, and in many areas, your hose bibb must be turned off completely for the winter. Prices vary but can run between $5 to $15 on average, although some of the specialty models can cost as much as $170.
Frost-Free Faucet
If you live in areas that get extremely cold, you’ll want to upgrade from a traditional outdoor model to a frost-free faucet. These faucets use a metal tube that reaches into your home to keep the water warmer and to stop it from freezing and damaging your valves or pipes. Frost-free spigots can run anywhere from $35 to more than $200.
Anti-Siphon Faucet
These faucets prevent dirty water (backflow) from being drawn back into your pipes and contaminating your home’s water supply. For instance, this can happen in outdoor faucets where a garden hose lies on the dirty ground or in standing water. Some states require anti-siphon faucets to be installed on all homes. Prices vary widely from about $45 up to $300 or more.
Yard Hydrants
Unlike a standard outdoor faucet, yard hydrants tap into your underground water pipes, offering better insulation from the cold. That makes them a good option for people who live in frigid temperatures. However, yard hydrants can be pricey, with some models topping $800.
Ball-Valve Faucet
Ball-valve faucets are a popular choice for both inside and outside of your home. They have a ball that’s fitted tightly into the valve. When you turn on your faucet, water passes through a hole in the ball, which controls how fast or how slow the water flows. Sometimes these faucets are referred to as “shut-off-values.” The average price of a ball-valve faucet is around $30.
Loose-Key Hose Bibb
A loose-key hose bibb comes with a key that acts as the handle of your outdoor faucet. This gives anyone with the key full control over the flow of water. But if you lose the key or don’t have it with you, you can’t use the faucet. An inexpensive model will cost about $8, while a more ornate model can cost $50 or more.
| Faucet Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Traditional spigot, hose bibb, sillcock, or outdoor faucet | $5 – $170 |
| Frost-free faucet | $35 – $200+ |
| Anti-siphon faucet | $45 – $300+ |
| Yard hydrants | $800 |
| Ball-valve faucet | $30 |
| Loose-key hose bibb | $8 – $50+ |
Professional Outdoor Faucet Replacement Costs
When booking a plumber near you, expect to pay $150 to $200 per hour. Note that in some areas, rates can be as high as $300 per hour. Some plumbers also charge a trip fee or a minimum service fee. That’s because the typical time to replace an outdoor faucet is only a few hours.
"If the hose bibb can be easily isolated inside, it can take less than an hour to replace,” says Jeff Botelho, Expert Review Board member and licensed journeyman plumber. “But if you don't have isolation valves in your home, consider having one installed at the time of the hose bibb replacement. This will cut down on future labor costs the next time the hose bibb needs to be serviced or replaced."
How Much Does It Cost to Replace an Outdoor Faucet Yourself?
An outdoor plumbing job like replacing your leaky faucet may seem easy, but pros caution homeowners against tackling the job unless they know what they’re doing. For one thing, the faucet itself isn’t the only component you’ll work on. Sometimes you’ll need to go into the wall or under the house to work on the pipes behind the faucet, especially if you suspect a water leak outside your home. That’s when you quickly find yourself with a bigger job than you bargained for.
Plus, the piping needs to be properly braced, or the pressure needed to remove the faucet can twist or break the pipe. Also, a poorly installed hose bibb can lead to a slow leak inside your walls that won’t be visible until there’s substantial damage.
That said, if you are handy and feel confident replacing a leaky outdoor faucet, there are a number of supplies you may need to complete the task successfully. You may not need them all depending on your home’s plumbing setup.
Concrete screws: $18 / 100 count box
Copper ¾-inch coupling: $1 each
Crescent wrench: $38
Drill and masonry bit: $13
Emery cloth: $9 / 15 foot roll
Flux: $6
Phillips head screwdriver: $8
Pipe cutter: $14
Plumber’s tape: $1 for ¾-inch by 520 inches
Solder: $6
Soldering torch: $100
Tape measure: $10–$20
Your new faucet: $5–$15
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Replacing and installing an outdoor faucet is not just a quick handyperson job. It’s a good idea to hire a licensed, bonded and insured plumber for the work, which should only take a few hours unless there are unseen problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard models of outdoor faucets can last 10 to 20 years. Many of the higher-priced units will last much longer. Once it starts leaking, however, make sure you replace it quickly or you may have damage to inside walls.
It’s a good time to replace your outdoor faucet at the first sign of a leak that doesn't stop when the knob is turned off. Also, you may want to replace your faucet if there is a great deal of lime build-up, the surface behind the faucet is deteriorating, or the faucet itself is pulling away from the wall. The job doesn’t take more than a few hours and can save you money in the long -run.
Sometimes a leaky faucet is simply the fault of a washer gone bad. Follow these steps to change the washer:
Shut off the water to the faucet
Remove the screw and handle
Remove the packing nut and washers
Clean and replace washers
Reinstall the packing nut and handle
An outdoor mixer tap lets you run hot water to an outside kitchen or greenhouse. Mixer taps do this by mixing both hot and cold water together for varying temperatures.
There are nearly as many handles for your outdoor faucet as there are for your indoor faucets. Just a few include:
Hose bibb tee handle: about $8–$30
Better grip outdoor faucet handle: $20 on average
Round wheel handle: $6–$22
Turn hose bibb handle: about $15
Decorative handle: range from $15 to over $100