Free plumber template
Plumber estimate template: water heater replacement
An estimate template for a same-location tank water heater swap: removal, set, code items, and testing, with the labor rate prefilled from real plumber wage data.
The labor rate, with the math shown
Median plumber wage (national)
$30.67/hr
Derived from the $63,800 annual median (BLS OEWS May 2025) at 2,080 hours a year.
Prefilled billing rate
$60 to $75/hr
The wage times a 2 to 2.5x rule of thumb for overhead, insurance, vehicle, non-billable time, and profit. The download prefills $70/hr. A starting point, not market data: set your own rate.
Download the templates
Free, no signup. The CSVs open in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers with the line items and the labor rate already in place.
What's on the estimate
Hours are typical ranges to edit, not measurements. Material quantities and prices stay open because only you know your suppliers.
| Line item | Typical hrs | Rate | Prefilled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drain and remove existing unit | 1 to 1.5 | $70/hr | $91.00 |
| Set new unit and connect water and fuel | 2 to 3 | $70/hr | $175.00 |
| Install expansion tank, pan, and valves per code | 0.5 to 1 | $70/hr | $56.00 |
| Fill, purge, and verify operation | 0.5 to 1 | $70/hr | $56.00 |
| 40 or 50 gallon water heater | your quantity and price | ||
| Expansion tank | your quantity and price | ||
| Flex connectors and shutoff valve | your quantity and price | ||
| Drain pan and discharge line | your quantity and price | ||
| Permit fee | your quantity and price | ||
| Haul-away and disposal | your quantity and price | ||
Scope notes printed on the estimate
- Price assumes a same-location swap with serviceable shutoffs; venting or flue changes are quoted separately.
- Code upgrades (expansion tank, pan, seismic straps) are listed as their own lines so the customer sees why the price moved.
Adjust the rate for your state
Plumber pay is not one number. These are the highest-paying states TradesPays tracks; the hourly figure is the state median derived the same way (annual over 2,080 hours).
| State | Median (annual) | Derived hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $99,950 | $48.05/hr |
| Minnesota | $94,410 | $45.39/hr |
| Massachusetts | $93,880 | $45.13/hr |
| Wisconsin | $81,210 | $39.04/hr |
| Washington | $81,030 | $38.96/hr |
| Michigan | $80,190 | $38.55/hr |
Full state-by-state pay: plumber salary by state.
The plumber bundle: $24 one time. Checkout opens soon.
- Every estimate and invoice template for your trade, current and future job types included
- Editable spreadsheet versions of each template, not just the free CSV
- Labor rates refreshed with each new BLS wage release, so your numbers never go stale
- A one-page guide to setting your hourly rate from the median wage, with the math shown
No payment today. Leave your email to lock the $24 launch price and get first access when checkout opens. You also get pay-data updates for your trade; one click stops them.
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Plumber rates and estimates: FAQ
- What should plumbers charge per hour in 2026?
- The national median plumber wage is about $30.67 an hour, derived from the $63,800 annual median (BLS OEWS May 2025). A common rule of thumb for plumbers billing customers is 2 to 2.5 times the wage to cover overhead, insurance, vehicle, non-billable time, and profit: roughly $60 to $75 an hour. That range is a starting point, not market data; set your own rate.
- What goes into a water heater replacement estimate?
- This template breaks the job into 4 labor lines, from "drain and remove existing unit" through "fill, purge, and verify operation", lists the usual materials with quantities left open, and prints 2 scope notes so assumptions and exclusions are in writing before work starts.
- Is the template really free?
- Yes. The estimate and invoice CSVs download free with no signup. The $24 per-trade bundle adds editable spreadsheet versions, every job type for your trade, and labor rates refreshed with each BLS release.
More plumber templates
Wage source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (BLS OEWS May 2025), national median for plumbers, 2026 site data. Hourly figures are derived (annual over 2,080 hours) and labeled as such. Billing-rate ranges are rule-of-thumb starting points, not market data.