Faucet Replacement Price for Handymen: Kitchen and Bath Rates

A handyman typically charges roughly $125 to $275 in labor to replace a bathroom faucet and $150 to $325 for a kitchen faucet, before parts and before any shutoff valve or supply line work. These are rough estimates, not survey data. Your number depends on your market, your rate, the faucet type and the condition of the plumbing under the sink.

Faucets look easy, and they are, until a seized shutoff valve turns a one-hour swap into a two-hour repair. This guide shows how to price both the simple version and the surprises. One note first: plumbing licensing limits vary by state. Many states allow faucet swaps by a handyman but limit work that alters pipes, so check your local rules before you quote anything beyond a like-for-like replacement.

Typical faucet replacement price ranges (estimates)

Labor only, customer supplies the faucet unless noted. Ranges vary by region, access and hardware.

Job	Typical labor range	Typical time
Bathroom faucet, single handle or 4" centerset	$125-$225	1-1.5 hr
Bathroom faucet, widespread or vessel sink	$150-$275	1.25-2 hr
Kitchen faucet, standard	$150-$275	1-1.75 hr
Kitchen faucet, pull-down/pull-out with sprayer	$175-$325	1.25-2 hr
Kitchen faucet with soap dispenser or filtered water line (add-on)	$25-$100	+15-45 min
Replace one shutoff (angle stop) valve	$85-$200 each	30-60 min
Replace supply lines (pair)	$20-$60	10-20 min
Replace a bathtub or shower valve	quote separately; often beyond handyman scope	varies

Replacing tub and shower valves involves opening walls and soldering or fitting pipes in many cases. Treat it as plumber work unless your license and insurance cover it.

What drives the price

Kitchen vs. bath

Kitchen faucets are usually larger, with a deck plate or extra holes, a pull-down sprayer or side spray, and a garbage disposal and dishwasher nearby. The sink cabinet is often cramped and full of storage.
Bath faucets are usually simpler and smaller, but vanities can be tight, drains need pop-up assemblies, and widespread faucets have three pieces to install.

The faucet itself

Standard 1- or 3-hole faucets: straightforward.
Pull-down sprayers: need a weight on the hose and room under the sink for travel.
Touchless and smart faucets: need a battery pack or a power supply, plus a solenoid valve. Allow more time and tell the customer what they need.
Wall-mount faucets: involve in-wall rough-in valves. That is often plumber territory.
Vessel sink faucets: tall faucets, specific holes and sometimes a different drain.

Shutoff valves

Shutoff valves under the sink are the biggest wild card. Old multi-turn valves can leak when disturbed or fail to close completely. Quarter-turn ball valves are the modern standard and are better.

Replacing a valve usually means shutting off water at the main, cutting, fitting a new valve and testing it. It is more than a quick swap, and it carries leak risk. Price it as a separate line from the faucet.

Never promise to "just change the faucet" without checking whether the valves close properly. In your quote, write: "Assumes functional shutoff valves. Replacement of seized or leaking valves quoted separately." That sentence has saved many handymen from a bad afternoon.

Supply lines and hardware

New supply lines (braided stainless or similar) are cheap, quick to install and prevent leaks at the connections. Reusing old lines on a new faucet is a bad habit. Most new faucets do not include supply lines of the right length or end fitting, so confirm in advance.

Access and old hardware

Corroded mounting nuts, fused basin wrenches and cabinet bottoms stuffed with chemicals all slow the job. Cramped vanities with drawers, or sinks with limited undersink clearance, justify a higher quote. A basin wrench or a faucet-installation tool is often worth buying.

Plumbing scope and licensing

Faucet replacement is generally on the easier side of plumbing, but states differ on what they allow without a license. Check these questions with your state contractor or plumbing board:

Is there a handyman or minor work exemption, and what are its dollar and scope limits?
Does replacing a shutoff valve count as plumbing work requiring a license?
Are permits required for any pipe modification?
Does your general liability policy cover plumbing work, and are there exclusions for water damage?

If the board's wording is unclear, call them or the local building department. When in doubt, refer larger plumbing work to a licensed plumber and offer a handyman-level scope only. See the handyman insurance mistakes guide for why coverage matters when water is involved.

How long does faucet replacement take?

Basic bath faucet swap: 60 to 90 minutes.
Kitchen faucet, standard: 60 to 105 minutes.
Pull-down kitchen faucet: 75 to 120 minutes.
Each shutoff valve replaced: add 30 to 60 minutes, and add time to turn off and bleed the main.
Disposal or dishwasher connection moves: add as needed and quote it up front.

Water testing is part of the job: run both hot and cold, check connections for drips and look again after 10 minutes.

Materials and tools checklist

Materials

Faucet (customer or you supply)
Braided supply lines of the right length and end fittings (3/8" compression to faucet, 1/2" FIP or 3/8" compression on the valve end, confirm the stop)
Quarter-turn shutoff valves (angle stops) in the right size and connection type
Plumber's putty or silicone for deck seals (follow the faucet maker's instruction)
Thread seal tape or paste where required
Pop-up drain assembly for bath faucets
Caulk, rags and a bucket
Disposal drain fittings if the disposal is disturbed

Tools

Basin wrench and adjustable wrenches
Channel-lock pliers
Screwdrivers, flashlight or headlamp
Pipe cutter and push-to-connect tools if you work with copper
Bucket, towels, wet/dry vacuum
Knee pads and a mat for the cabinet floor

Worked quote example

The job: replace a customer-supplied kitchen faucet, replace two old multi-turn shutoff valves with quarter-turn stops, install new braided supply lines. Your labor rate is $80 per hour, material markup is 25%, trip charge is $40.

Line item	Calculation	Amount
Remove old faucet, install new kitchen faucet, test	1.25 hr x $80	$100.00
Replace two shutoff valves (main off/on, cut and fit, test)	1.0 hr x $80	$80.00
Materials: 2 quarter-turn stops ($22), 2 braided lines ($18), putty/tape/misc ($5)	$45 x 1.25	$56.25
Trip charge	flat	$40.00
Total		$276.25

Check: labor is $100 + $80 = $180. Materials are $45 cost + $11.25 markup = $56.25. Trip is $40. So $180 + $56.25 + $40 = $276.25.

Notes for the quote:

"Faucet supplied by the customer. Warranty for the faucet is through the manufacturer. My workmanship is covered for 90 days."
"If I find damage to supply pipes or the wall connection, I will stop and quote the repair before proceeding."
"Garbage disposal, dishwasher and filter connections are not included unless listed."
"Water will be off to the home for about 30 minutes while the valves are replaced."

See how to write a handyman quote for the full format, and the material markup guide for percentages that fit small parts.

Upsells that make sense

Shutoff valve upgrade: the best add-on for older homes. It saves the next plumbing visit.
New supply lines: cheap and a good trust-builder.
Pop-up drain replacement: for bathroom sinks with slow or loose drains.
Garbage disposal replacement: connected to kitchen faucet jobs. Price it as a separate job; see the example in how to write a handyman quote.
Soap dispenser or filtered water faucet: an add-on that needs space and extra lines.
Caulk the sink edge and the backsplash: a clean finish.
Low-flow aerator or cartridge swap: small cheap repair for a dripping existing faucet.
Multiple faucets in one visit: discounted per faucet because the trip charge is shared.

Common mistakes

Not checking the shutoff valves first. Test them before you quote. If they will not close, you need a different price.
Not turning off the main when you need to. If the valves are bad, the house main is your valve.
Reusing old supply lines. Cheap to replace, expensive to flood a cabinet.
Overtightening. Compression and plastic fittings crack. Snug plus a small turn is the guide; follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Forgetting the sealing details. Putty or silicone at the deck, plumber's tape on threaded joints where required.
Not leak-testing after. Check connections with a dry paper towel and look again after ten minutes.
Working past your license. Opening walls or repiping is not a faucet swap. Know where your handyman scope ends under your state's rules.
Not photographing the before. Take pictures of existing conditions, especially corrosion or water damage under the sink. It protects you from blame.
No documentation of what was and was not included. A short line-item quote prevents arguments later.

Customer text template

Thanks for reaching out about the faucet. To price it, can you send: 1) a photo of the current faucet, 2) a photo under the sink showing the shutoff valves and supply lines, 3) the new faucet model if you already have it, and 4) whether you have a disposal, filter or soap dispenser? If the shutoff valves are old or will not close, I will tell you before I start and give you a price for replacing them.

Keep it consistent

Faucet jobs repeat. HandyBook lets you save quote line items such as faucet install, shutoff valve and supply lines, send the quote for online acceptance with an e-signature and then convert the same items into an invoice with a pay-by-card link. Pro adds SMS delivery, photo-based AI quoting and 150+ materials calculators. See the quoting and estimates feature, the invoicing feature and the pricing page for current plans.

FAQ

How much should a handyman charge to replace a faucet?

Roughly $125 to $275 in labor for a bath faucet and $150 to $325 for a kitchen faucet is a common estimate. Add parts, shutoff valves and supply lines. Build your actual price from your hourly rate and measured time.

Should I charge extra for replacing the shutoff valves?

Yes, as a separate line item. Valve replacement involves shutting off the main, cutting and fitting, and leak testing, and it carries more risk than the faucet itself. Many handymen charge roughly $85 to $200 per valve, depending on the market and the pipe type.

Do I need a plumbing license to replace a faucet?

It depends on your state. Many states let a handyman swap fixtures like faucets but limit work on pipes, valves and drains, sometimes with dollar thresholds. Check your state plumbing or contractor board and your insurance policy before you quote.

How long does it take to replace a kitchen faucet?

Plan on one to two hours for a standard kitchen faucet. Pull-down sprayers, disposal connections and corroded hardware can stretch the job, and valve replacement adds another 30 to 60 minutes per valve.

Should I supply the faucet or have the customer buy it?

Either works. If you supply it, you earn a markup and control the fit, but you own returns and mismatches. If the customer supplies it, confirm the model and the number of holes before you book, and tell them you only warranty your installation.

What if the shutoff valves will not close?

Stop and tell the customer. You can shut off the main and replace the valves as a separate line, or refer the job to a licensed plumber if the pipes are corroded or your state requires a license for the work. Do not force a seized valve and risk a flood.