You’re standing in a puddle of grey, soapy water in your shower and the realization hits: the plunger isn't doing anything. It’s gross. You need a real tool, but you're probably wondering how much is a drain snake before you go sprinting to the hardware store or calling a pro at 9:00 PM on a Tuesday. Honestly, the price range is huge. You could spend $5 on a plastic strip that looks like a giant zip tie, or you could drop $3,000 on a trailer-mounted hydro-jetter that sounds like a jet engine.
Most people just want the gunk out of the sink.
The reality is that your cost depends entirely on whether you’re buying a tool for your garage or paying someone else to bring their own. If you walk into a big-box store like Lowe’s or Home Depot, you’re looking at three main tiers. There are the manual hand-crank snakes, the "top-shelf" electric versions that attach to a drill, and the heavy-duty drum machines that weigh more than a Golden Retriever. Let's get into the nitty-gritty of what these things actually cost and why some are cheap while others feel like a car payment.
The DIY Price Tag: Buying Your Own Snake
If you're going the DIY route, your first stop is likely the "plumbing specialty" aisle. A basic plastic hair snake—often called a Zip-It—is basically pocket change. You'll pay maybe $5 to $8 for a pack of two. They work surprisingly well for shallow bathroom clogs caused by hair and toothpaste, but they won't do a thing for a kitchen grease clog three feet down the pipe.
Moving up, we have the manual drum auger. These are the most common household snakes. They usually have a 1/4-inch cable that’s about 15 to 25 feet long. You hold the handle, spin the drum by hand, and pray you don't get a cramp. Expect to pay between $20 and $45 for a decent one from brands like Ridgid or BrassCraft. They are reliable, but they’re a workout.
Then there’s the power-operated handheld snake. These are a godsend if you value your wrists. Some are "drill-ready," meaning you plug your own cordless drill into them, while others have a built-in motor.
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- Drill-ready augers: $40 – $75.
- Dedicated electric handheld snakes (with the battery): $120 – $250.
Milwaukee and Ryobi make some popular versions of these. They’re great for "secondary lines"—the pipes under your sinks or behind your tub. But don't try to use these on a toilet. You'll scratch the porcelain, and honestly, you need a closet auger for that. A closet auger has a specific J-shaped curve and a rubber guard to protect your toilet bowl. Those usually run $35 to $60 for a professional-grade version like the Ridgid K-6.
Heavy Duty and Sewer Machines
If the clog is in your main sewer line—the big pipe that carries everything to the street—a little handheld snake is useless. You need a floor machine or a sectional drain cleaner. These are the beasts you see on the back of plumber trucks.
- Small drum machines (for 2-inch to 4-inch pipes): $400 – $900.
- Large mainline machines (with 100 feet of cable): $1,500 – $3,500.
Unless you own a multi-unit apartment building or have a very strange hobby, you probably shouldn't buy one of these. They take up a ton of space and require serious maintenance so the cables don't rust and snap.
Hiring the Pro: How Much Is a Drain Snake Service?
Sometimes you just don't want to touch the sludge. I get it. When you call a plumber, you aren't just paying for the snake; you’re paying for the insurance, the gas, the expertise, and the fact that they’re the ones getting dirty.
Nationwide, the average cost to have a professional snake a drain is $150 to $350.
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But it’s rarely a flat fee. Most plumbing companies have a service call fee (the "trip charge") which is usually between $50 and $150. Sometimes they waive this if you actually hire them to do the work, but not always. If your clog is easy—like a "pop-up" assembly in a sink that’s just jammed with hair—they might charge you the minimum. If they have to pull a toilet to reach the clog, the price jumps. Expect to pay an extra $100 to $200 just for the labor of removing and resetting that toilet with a new wax ring.
The Emergency Premium
Timing is everything. If your main line backs up on Christmas Eve or at 3:00 AM on a Sunday, that $250 job becomes a $600 job instantly. Emergency rates are usually time-and-a-half or double the standard hourly rate. Some "flat-rate" companies will just quote you a terrifying number over the phone because they know you’re desperate.
Why Some Clogs Cost Way More
It’s not always a straight line from "I have a clog" to "it’s fixed." Sometimes the snake hits something it can't chew through. Tree roots are the classic villain here. If a plumber snakes your line and pulls back a handful of wet wood chips, your bill is about to go up.
A standard snake might clear a path through roots, but it won't fix the problem. The plumber might suggest hydro-jetting. Instead of a metal cable, this uses high-pressure water (about 4,000 PSI) to scour the inside of the pipe. It’s basically a pressure washer for your plumbing.
- Hydro-jetting cost: $350 – $900 depending on the length of the run.
Another factor is the camera inspection. If the snake keeps getting stuck, the plumber will want to see why. They’ll run a waterproof fiber-optic camera down the line. Most companies charge $200 to $400 for a "look-see," though some include it for free if you're doing a major repair. It’s worth it. Knowing your pipe is collapsed beats snaking it every three months and wasting money.
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Rental Costs: The Middle Ground
If you need a big machine but don't want to buy one, rental is a solid option. Home Depot and Sunbelt Rentals are the big players here.
- Small Drain Cleaner (25-50 ft): $40 for 4 hours / $60 per day.
- Large Sewer Auger (100 ft): $75 for 4 hours / $110 per day.
Renting is cost-effective, but those machines are heavy. You’ll need a truck or a large SUV and probably a friend to help you lift it into the basement. Also, be careful. If you don't know how to handle a power auger, the cable can "flip" or kink, which can break your wrist or destroy the pipe. Always wear heavy-duty leather gloves—not the thin rubber ones—because the rotating cable will grab cloth or thin latex and pull your hand right into the machine.
Factoring in the "Hidden" Costs
When asking how much is a drain snake, you have to look past the price tag of the tool.
- Chemicals: If you poured Drano down there before deciding to snake it, tell your plumber. That stuff is caustic. It can burn their skin and damage their equipment.
- Clean-up: Snaking a drain is messy. Black sludge (basically decomposed hair and bacteria) will splatter. If you do it yourself, you need drop cloths and buckets.
- Pipe Damage: Old galvanized steel or thin copper pipes can actually be punctured by a heavy-duty snake. If you have an old house (pre-1970s), be gentle. Replacing a section of pipe behind a wall is way more expensive than a $200 plumbing bill.
Actionable Steps for Your Clogged Drain
Stop pouring boiling water and vinegar down the drain if it’s a total blockage. It won't work on a real clog. Instead, follow this progression to save money:
- Try the $5 plastic hair snake first. If the clog is in a bathroom sink or shower, this fixes it 70% of the time.
- Invest in a $30 manual drum auger. Every homeowner should have one in the garage. It pays for itself the very first time you use it.
- Check the P-trap. Before you snake deep into the wall, take the U-shaped pipe under the sink apart. Put a bucket under it first. Often, the "clog" is just a wedding ring or a clump of hair sitting right there.
- Know when to stop. If you've run 20 feet of cable and the water still isn't moving, the problem is likely in your main stack or outside. This is the point where DIY becomes risky.
- Get three quotes. If it’s a main line issue, don't just hire the first person who shows up. Ask for a flat rate for a "main line snake" and ask if a camera inspection is included.
Realistically, most people end up spending about $25 to $50 to fix it themselves, or roughly $225 to have a local pro handle it. If you’re dealing with an older home or suspicious tree roots near your sewer line, keep a "clog fund" of about $500 just in case the simple snake turns into a hydro-jetting job. Just remember: stay away from the cheap, flimsy snakes at the dollar store. They tend to snap off inside the pipe, and then you’re paying a plumber double to "fish" out the broken tool.