Plumber

Plumbers in Australia: hourly rates, call-out fees and licences

Updated 4 November 2026

Approximately, according to sellers' websites in November 2026, a licensed plumber charges A$100 to A$160 per hour, plus a call-out fee of A$80 to A$180, and some quotes add GST on top. Standard hourly rates across the market run from A$80 to A$200. To see what a plumber would charge for your job, describe it on BlaBlaPrice.

Licences and rules by state

Plumbing is licensed state by state, and the rules are strict. In New South Wales you need a licence or certificate for any plumbing, draining or gasfitting work, whatever the cost of the job. In Western Australia a plumbing and drainage licence starts with a form from the Plumbers Licensing Board. In Victoria the licence fee is paid before the application is granted. Ask to see the licence number before any work starts.

Season and planning the work

Summer runs from December to February and winter from June to August, and a hot water system is used hardest in winter. Book non-urgent work for November, between the two seasons, and keep an emergency number for cold or hot weather. Plan renovations around the seasons too, since outdoor pipe and drainage work is easier in dry weather.

How plumbing is priced

Quotes can be an hourly rate, a call-out fee, or a fixed price for a defined job. Ask whether GST is included or added on top. Plumbers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide follow their own state's licensing rules, so a plumber licensed in one state may need a new licence to work in another.

What to write in your request

Name the type of work, such as a blocked drain, a hot water system or a new bathroom, and say whether it is urgent. State the workplace address, the schedule you need, and whether you want one plumber or a small team. Say which tools you expect the plumber to bring, and whether you want a fixed price or an hourly rate with a call-out fee. The more specific your request, the more comparable the offers.

On BlaBlaPrice you describe the job in your own words in a free chat, and you can add a photo of the leak or fitting. BlaBlaPrice reads the request, asks for missing details, looks through sellers' websites and price lists in Australia, and shows the prices and businesses it finds. Registered sellers reply in the chat with their own offer, and your contact details stay hidden until you choose whom to contact. You can also send the request link to local plumbers yourself. For related work, see general labourer and construction and finishing works.