Replacing Water Pipes: What Does It Cost?

Renewing a water pipe costs an average of €50 per meter.
Depending on the project, the total cost ranges between €30 and €70 per meter.

Water pipes are not just simple tubes – they carry one of our most precious resources: drinking water. Therefore, they must be properly installed and maintained.

A burst pipe isn’t always the reason for replacement; often, during building renovations, old plumbing systems are renewed as part of the modernization process.

Because of the importance of clean water, these works should always be handled by a professional plumber.

What Materials Are the Pipes Made Of?

Modern drinking water systems commonly use stainless steel, plastic, or copper.

For copper pipes, it’s important to maintain the right pH value in the water:

For soft water, the pH should be at least 7.8.
For hard water, it should not fall below 7.4, to prevent copper from leaching into the water.

What Factors Influence the Price?

The total cost of renewing water pipes depends on several key factors, including:

Size of the property
Complexity and length of the pipe network
Material and installation costs
Effort required to remove old pipes

What Does Removing Old Pipes Cost?

Removing old steel pipes costs between €2 and €17 per meter.
The exact cost depends on how accessible the pipes are — the harder they are to reach, the more expensive the removal.

Service & Material	Price (incl. labor)
Drain and remove old pipes (12–55 mm), seal connections, dispose of debris	€2–17/m
Drain and remove old pipes (32–50 mm), seal connections, dispose of debris	€3–11/m
Drain and remove old pipes (65–100 mm), seal connections, dispose of debris	€4–14/m

Are There Additional Costs?

Yes. Small parts such as pipe connectors, check valves, and fittings usually add around €3–5 per meter, including labor.

What Does Installing New Water Pipes Cost?

Installing new pipes, including material and labor, costs between €7 and €64 per meter.
As mentioned, fittings and connectors add €3–5 per meter, and travel costs for the plumber are usually €10–50.

Pipe Type	Price (incl. labor)
Stainless steel 15 mm	€7–21/m
Stainless steel 22 mm	€11–30/m
Stainless steel 35 mm	€19–44/m
Stainless steel 54 mm	€27–64/m
Copper 15 mm	€12–22/m
Copper 22 mm	€15–29/m
Copper 35 mm	€24–44/m
Copper 54 mm	€35–64/m
Multi-layer pipe DN10	€2–14/m
Multi-layer pipe DN20	€6–23/m
Multi-layer pipe DN32	€14–36/m
Multi-layer pipe DN50	€41–45/m

Example Calculation: Cost of Renewing Water Pipes

During a home renovation, all existing water pipes are replaced. The old ones are removed and disposed of, and new stainless-steel pipes are installed.

Replacing 10 meters of water pipe costs approximately €340.

Service & Material	Cost
Drain, remove and dispose of old steel pipes (12–55 mm)	€95
Install stainless steel pipes (22 mm)	€205
Fittings and connectors	€40
Travel cost	€30
Total	€370