Cost to Replace Galvanized Pipes: $4,000–$7,500

Replacing galvanized pipe throughout a house is a full repipe, estimated at $4,000–$7,500 in PEX or $8,100–$12,000 in copper for a house with 2 full baths and 11 fixtures. Galvanized pipe is iron pipe with a zinc coating, and it was common in homes built before the 1960s. The estimate is the same as for any repipe because the plumber replaces every supply line, whatever it was made of.^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11}

Key figures

Item	Figure
PEX replacement estimate (a house with 2 full baths and 11 fixtures)	$4,000–$7,500^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}
Copper replacement estimate (same house)	$8,100–$12,000^{1,2,3,5,6,9,10}
PEX, per fixture (8 published prices)	$360–$660^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8}
Copper, per fixture (5 published prices)	$730–$1,070^1,2,3,5,6

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What galvanized pipe is

Galvanized pipe is iron pipe with a zinc coating, and it was common in homes built before the 1960s. Once the zinc wears off, the iron rusts, corrosion builds up inside the pipe and the pipe leaks. Old corroded pipe can cause low water pressure and discolored water. The East Bay Municipal Utility District says the coating can contain lead and cadmium, and lead-containing scale inside the pipe can come loose or dissolve into the water over time. The same utility says the only way to know whether your water has lead in it is to have it tested.

Sources¹¹

Galvanized replacement cost by number of bathrooms

National estimate for replacing all galvanized supply pipe, by number of bathrooms, permit included^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}
House	Fixtures	PEX	Copper
1 bath	8	$2,900–$5,600	$5,900–$8,800
1.5 baths	10	$3,600–$6,900	$7,300–$11,000
2 baths	11	$4,000–$7,500	$8,100–$12,000
2.5 baths	13	$4,700–$8,900	$9,500–$14,200
3 baths	14	$5,100–$9,500	$10,300–$15,300
4 baths	17	$6,200–$11,500	$12,400–$18,500

These figures assume every supply line in the house is replaced. This site does not estimate partial replacement.

States with the most homes built before 1960

The share of housing units built before 1960 is a rough guide to where galvanized supply pipe may remain, since it was common before the 1960s. Many of those houses have been repiped already; only an inspection can tell.

Share of housing units built before 1960, ACS 2024 1-year
State	Share built before 1960	Median year built
New York	51%	1959
Massachusetts	45%	1965
Pennsylvania	44%	1966
Ohio	37%	1971
Illinois	37%	1971
New Jersey	36%	1971
Michigan	36%	1972
Indiana	30%	1977
Missouri	27%	1978
California	26%	1977

Sources^12,11

Common questions

How much does it cost to replace galvanized pipe?

For a house with 2 full baths and 11 fixtures, the estimate is $4,000–$7,500 with PEX and $8,100–$12,000 with copper, including a plumbing permit. It assumes all of the supply lines are replaced. Each additional full bath adds 3 fixtures to the price.

Can galvanized pipe put lead in drinking water?

The East Bay Municipal Utility District says the coating can contain lead and cadmium, and lead-containing scale inside the pipe can come loose or dissolve into the water over time. The same utility says the only way to know whether your water has lead in it is to have it tested. The utility's page explains how to arrange a test.

What are the signs of corroded galvanized pipe?

Once the zinc wears off, the iron rusts, corrosion builds up inside the pipe and the pipe leaks. Old corroded pipe can cause low water pressure and discolored water. A plumber can confirm whether the supply lines are galvanized and how far the corrosion has gone before you price a repipe.

For the full national figures, see what repiping a house costs.

Sources

How Much Does It Cost to Repipe My Home?, The Repipe Company. Accessed November 10, 2026.
How Much Does It Cost to Replumb a 1,500 Square Foot House in 2026?, Repipe Solutions Inc. Accessed November 10, 2026.
PEX vs Copper Piping: Which Is Better?, Kimco Plumbing & Air. Accessed November 10, 2026.
PEX vs Copper, Repipe1. Accessed November 10, 2026.
Copper Repipe vs PEX: Which Is Better for Your Home?, All Pro Repipes Inc. Accessed November 10, 2026.
Whole-Home Repiping Pricing, Home Therapist Cooling, Heating, and Plumbing. Accessed November 10, 2026.
Cost to Repipe a House in Florida: 2026 Pricing and Homeowner Guide, Alberto Pro Plumbing. Accessed November 10, 2026.
Average Cost to Repipe a House with PEX, Action Craft Experts. Accessed November 10, 2026.
Construction Permit Fees, Effective October 1, 2026 (PG_012_INF Rev 7.2026), City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections. Accessed November 10, 2026.
2026 Combined Development Related Fee Schedule, City of Columbus Building and Zoning Services. Accessed November 10, 2026.
Galvanized Iron Pipes, East Bay Municipal Utility District. Accessed November 10, 2026.
American Community Survey 2024 1-year, tables B25034 (Year Structure Built) and B25035 (Median Year Structure Built), U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed November 10, 2026. State rows of the summary files acsdt1y2024-b25034.dat and acsdt1y2024-b25035.dat.

How these figures are built: methodology. Updated November 2026.