How to Price Plumbing Jobs in Australia (Without Losing Money)
Summary (TL;DR)
Most sole-trader plumbers in Australia should charge $90–$130/hour (ex GST) in 2026. For fixed-price jobs, calculate: (estimated hours x hourly rate) + (materials x 1.2–1.5 markup) + travel + contingency (10–15%). Always quote in writing. Never discount to win work — you'll attract price-shoppers who are the worst customers.
The Two Pricing Models
Hourly Rate (Time & Materials)
Charge for every hour on-site plus materials at cost (or with markup). Best for maintenance and repair work, diagnostic work, and small jobs under 2 hours.
Fixed Price (Lump Sum)
Quote a total price upfront regardless of how long it takes. Best for new installations, renovation work with clear scope, and repeat jobs you've done many times.
Key insight: Fixed pricing is more profitable once you're experienced because you get faster at jobs but charge the same price. A hot water system swap that took 4 hours as a first-year contractor now takes 2 hours — but you still charge $1,200.
Calculating Your Hourly Rate
Hourly Rate = (Annual Costs + Desired Profit) / Annual Billable Hours
Typical Annual Costs (Sole Trader, QLD 2026)
| Vehicle (fuel, rego, insurance, servicing) | $18,000 |
| Insurance (PL + PI) | $2,500 |
| QBCC licence + CPD | $1,200 |
| Phone + internet | $2,400 |
| Software (TradeDesk, Xero) | $500 |
| Tools & equipment replacement | $3,000 |
| Accounting fees | $2,000 |
| Superannuation (11.5% of $100K) | $11,500 |
| Total Overheads | $41,100 |
If you want to take home $100,000 with 1,500 billable hours per year: ($41,100 + $100,000) / 1,500 = $94.07/hour minimum. Use our free hourly rate calculator to plug in your own numbers.
Material Markup
- Standard materials (pipe, fittings, valves): 20–30% markup
- Specialty items (hot water systems, pumps): 15–20% markup
- Small consumables (solder, tape, silicone): Include in your hourly rate
Travel & Call-Out Charges
- Call-out fee: $80–$150 for the first 30 minutes
- Travel beyond 20km: $1.50–$2.00 per km
- After-hours premium: 1.5x–2x your standard rate
- Weekend/public holiday: 2x your standard rate
Fixed-Price Quoting Formula
Quote = (Estimated Hours x Rate) + (Materials x Markup) + Travel + Contingency (10-15%)
Common Pricing Mistakes
- Forgetting non-billable time: You only bill 60–70% of your working hours.
- Not charging for quotes: For large jobs (over $2,000), consider a $100–$200 quote fee refundable if they proceed.
- Discounting to win work: Customers who choose on price alone are the worst to deal with.
- Not reviewing annually: Your costs go up every year. Review rates every July 1.
Generate Professional Quotes in Seconds
TradeDesk.now lets you create itemised, professional quotes on-site in under 60 seconds. Add line items, materials, travel, and your markup — then send as a branded PDF directly to the customer's email.