QuoteIron › Plumbers price book › Replace a Garbage Disposal
The disposal itself is the biggest line, so the markup on parts does more work than your hourly rate. The plumbing book prices a mid-grade 3/4 HP unit; the handyman book prices a contractor-supplied 1/2 HP unit. Customers asking for a bigger unit are asking for a bigger parts line, not more labor.
Price breakdown: labor, parts, markup
Here is replace garbage disposal as a contractor would build it at the book’s sample rate of $95 an hour and a 30% parts markup.
| Labor hours | 1.25 h |
| Labor at $95/hr | $118.75 |
| Parts at your cost | $130.00 |
| Parts markup (30%) | $39.00 |
| Subtotal before rounding | $287.75 |
| Typical flat rate (rounded up to $5) | $290 |
| Effective rate per labor hour | $232/h |
| Markup as a share of the price | 13% |
The range: each version of the job at three labor rates
One search, several jobs. The book separates them by size or method, so quote the one that matches the site. All at a 30% parts markup, rounded up to $5:
| Job | Hours / parts | At $75/hr | At $95/hr | At $125/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replace garbage disposal | 1.25h / $130 | $265 | $290 | $330 |
| Replace garbage disposal | 1.25h / $130 | $265 | $290 | $330 |
Reality check: what customers see online
Public consumer cost guides (HomeAdvisor, source, read October 8, 2026) publish:
- Average $550, range $200 to $625; labor $50 to $100 per hour.
The book's typical flat rate is below that average because it prices a mid-grade unit on an existing connection. Premium units, new electrical and local rates push real quotes up, so check your own supplier cost before you copy any number.
What the flat rate covers
- Replace garbage disposal. Swap the failed disposal for a mid-grade 3/4 HP unit and check for leaks.
- Replace garbage disposal. Remove the old unit and install a new contractor-supplied 1/2 HP disposal with mounting ring and discharge tube.
What moves the price
- Electrical. The row swaps a unit onto an existing cord or hardwire connection. A missing outlet or switch under the sink is a separate electrical line.
- The drain connection. An old, brittle discharge tube and trap often do not survive removal; keep the kitchen drain assembly handy as a quoted add-on.
- Dishwasher knockout. A new disposal feeding a dishwasher needs the knockout plug removed. Say it on the quote.
Add-ons to put on the quote
These are separate rows in the same book, priced at the $95 sample rate. Put the ones that apply on the quote so they are lines, not arguments.
| Add-on | Hours / parts | Price at $95/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Replace kitchen drain assembly and trap | 1.25h / $30 | $160 |
| Replace P-trap under sink | 0.75h / $15 | $95 |
| Hook up customer-supplied dishwasher, replacing existing | 1.5h / $35 | $190 |
| Replace fixture shutoff valve (angle stop) | 0.5h / $12 | $65 |
| Clear jammed garbage disposal, no replacement | 0.5h / $5 | $55 |
How to present it: Good, Better, Best
Offer three options on one quote and let the customer choose. Each is a sum of real book rows at the $95 sample rate. Better renews the drain assembly and trap with the unit; Best adds fresh shutoffs on the hot and cold supplies.
- Replace garbage disposal
- Replace garbage disposal
- Replace kitchen drain assembly and trap
- Replace garbage disposal
- Replace kitchen drain assembly and trap
- Replace fixture shutoff valve (angle stop)
- Each additional fixture shutoff (angle stop) replaced, same visit
How these numbers are built
QuoteIron’s price book stores structure: typical labor hours and a mid-grade parts cost for each job (book priced 2026-09). Your rates do the pricing: hours × your hourly rate, plus parts at cost with your markup, rounded up to the next $5. The low, typical and high figures use $75, $95 and $125 an hour at the book’s default 30% markup. They are formula outputs, not a survey of what your market pays, so replace them with your own rate and markup before you send anything. Prices checked October 8, 2026.
Related job pages
Hours and parts are typical starting points for a straightforward site; your market, supplier and the specific conditions decide the real number. Licensing, permits and local rules stay yours to handle. General information, not tax or legal advice.