A plumber to replace a kitchen or bathroom faucet in Los Angeles typically costs about $120 to $480 in labor, plus the faucet. Published averages for the city sit near $250 for a straightforward kitchen faucet job, with a typical range of roughly $155 to $355. Moving the sink, adding new pipes or a permit pushes it higher. All figures here are a guide, and we'll arrange a written quote for your actual job. The wider picture is on our page about faucets, sinks, showers and disposals.
What do plumbers typically charge to install or replace a faucet?
For a like-for-like swap, expect roughly $120 to $250 in labor at a flat rate, and up to $480 where the job is harder. Angi's 2026 national average for kitchen faucet installation is $262 (typical $162 to $364), and its Los Angeles figure is $253 (typical $155 to $355). HomeAdvisor's labor range for a basic job is $260 to $480.
These sources do not agree exactly, which is normal: they count different things, such as whether the faucet is included. Treat the lower end as a simple swap with easy access, and the upper end as a job with a tricky sink, stuck fittings or a premium fixture. Plumbers' hourly rates in published guides run about $45 to $200.
| Job | Published guide range |
|---|---|
| Replace a kitchen faucet, plumber labor | $120 to $480 |
| Kitchen faucet, total installed (Los Angeles average) | about $155 to $355 |
| The faucet itself | $70 to $900 |
| New pipework for a new sink location | about $2.50 to $15 per linear foot |
| Permit for a new-location faucet | about $150 to $250 |
What pushes the price of a faucet job up or down?
Access, the fixture and the pipes behind it. A faucet on a standard sink with working stop valves is the cheap case. Seized stops, corroded supply lines, a sink with a tight cabinet, or a wall-mounted or touchless faucet all add time. A faucet that needs new plumbing to a new location adds pipe, labor and often a permit.
Older Los Angeles homes add a specific cost. Many houses from the 1920s to 1950s have galvanized supply lines or stop valves that have not been turned in decades. Corroded stops can fail when disturbed and are cheap to replace while the plumber is there, so it is worth budgeting for. Typical add-ons, especially when you are also replacing other fixtures at the same sink or shower:
- New stop valves and flexible supply lines.
- Removing a stuck old faucet, or one with a corroded mounting nut.
- A sink with extra holes, a soap dispenser or a pull-down hose with a weight.
- Disposal, dishwasher and water filter connections under the sink.
California flow limits also matter if you choose the faucet: kitchen faucets are capped at 1.8 gallons per minute at 60 psi and bathroom sink faucets at 1.2; check the flow rating on any faucet you buy.
How do I compare plumber quotes for a faucet?
Ask each plumber for a written quote that says who supplies the faucet, whether stops and supply lines are included, and what a visit costs if the job turns out to be larger. Compare the same scope. A low labor figure with the faucet excluded may be the same price as a higher one that includes everything.
Ask whether the quote is flat or hourly, whether there is a minimum service charge, and what the plumber needs from you. A plumber supplying the faucet may mark it up, and you can buy your own to save that. If the job needs a permit, ask who pulls it. California requires a contractor with a C-36 plumbing license from the CSLB where plumbing work reaches $1,000 in labor and materials or needs a permit, so ask to see the license number on any larger job and verify it with the CSLB. For more on rates, see what a plumber charges per hour and service call costs.
How much does it cost to install or replace a garbage disposal?
A replacement disposal runs about $200 to $700 installed in published guides, with plumber labor of about $100 to $350 and the unit $80 to $400. A first-time installation costs more, often $400 to $1,500, because it may need a new switch, an outlet and drain changes. For the full picture, see our page on garbage disposal repair and replacement.
A disposal replacement is quick when the old unit uses the same mount and the wiring is in place. Prices climb with horsepower, a sound-insulated model, or work on a drain that is not standard. These figures come from cost guides with differing methods, so treat them as a guide.
What does it cost to fix a shower, and what about a mobile home or new build?
We could not find a reliable published figure for shower plumbing repair that separates labor from parts, so we will not give you one. A cartridge or stem swap is usually a short job priced near a service call plus parts, and a valve replaced behind a tile wall costs far more because the wall is opened. Our page on plumbers for shower leaks explains the difference.
Mobile and manufactured homes use the same faucets, so the faucet price is the same. The difference is usually access in tight spaces. In a new build, faucets are installed during finish plumbing, and the price is normally part of the contractor's bid. For an older home, a sink replacement in a remodel with old fittings costs more than a new build because of corroded stops and supply lines.
Common questions
How much does a plumber charge to replace a kitchen faucet in Los Angeles?
Angi's published figure for Los Angeles is an average of about $253 with a typical range of $155 to $355 for kitchen faucet installation. Labor alone is commonly $120 to $480 depending on difficulty. Faucet prices are extra and run $70 to $900. Ask for a written quote for your sink.
Is it cheaper to buy my own faucet?
Often yes, because plumbers may add a markup to a faucet they supply. But buy one that fits the sink's holes and meets California's flow limits, and keep the receipt in case the plumber needs to return it. If the plumber supplies it, the quote should say which model.
Does a plumber need a permit to replace a faucet?
A like-for-like replacement often does not. Published guides show permits of about $150 to $250 where the faucet moves to a new location and needs new piping. Check with LADBS for your job, and ask your plumber who pulls any permit.
How long does it take a plumber to install a faucet?
A like-for-like swap often takes about one to two hours once the plumber is at the sink. Stuck fittings, extra connections for a disposal or filter, or a new sink location take longer. Ask the plumber for a time estimate when you request the written quote, so you know how long the water will be off.
What is included in the cost to install a faucet?
Labor, and sometimes the faucet, the supply lines and the stop valves. The quote should state which of these are in and which are out. Removal of the old faucet, a trip charge and any permit may be separate line items, so ask about each before you agree to the work.