Trenchless pipe lining costs $90–$250 a foot ($160 typical) and pipe bursting $60–$250 a foot ($150 typical). For a typical 50-ft line that's about $4,500–$12,500 to line it and $3,000–$12,500 to burst it, with little or no yard, driveway or sidewalk to put back.
Lining (CIPP): $90–$250 a foot, about $4,500–$12,500 for 50 ft
Pipe bursting: $60–$250 a foot, about $3,000–$12,500 for 50 ft
No-dig point repair of one section: $1,200–$3,500
Open-trench dig for comparison: $50–$250 a foot, before restoration
Under a driveway, trenchless usually costs less than the $7,500–$25,000 dig-and-pour price
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 56+ American pricing sources · See methodology
01 / PricesUSA · November 2026
Trenchless sewer repair prices
National prices, labor included. Per-foot rows cover the pipe work; 50-ft rows are the usual whole-line total.
Trenchless sewer repair pricesPer job, low to high with the typical price marked.
Dig under a driveway or slab, 50 ft, concrete restored$12,500$7,500–$25K
Lining a 50-ft line$8,000$4,500–$12.5K
Bursting a 50-ft line$7,500$3,000–$12.5K
Traditional dig, 50 ft under lawn (for comparison)$6,000$2,500–$12.5K
Point repair liner (one section, no dig)$2,200$1,200–$3,500
Camera inspection (before and after)$300$125–$650
$0$10K$20K$30K
Job
Low
Typical
High
Trenchless pipe lining (CIPP)per foot
$90
$160
$250
Pipe bursting (new pipe pulled through the old one)per foot
$60
$150
$250
Lining a 50-ft lineper job
$4,500
$8,000
$12,500
Bursting a 50-ft lineper job
$3,000
$7,500
$12,500
Point repair liner (one section, no dig)per job
$1,200
$2,200
$3,500
Traditional dig, 50 ft under lawn (for comparison)per job
$2,500
$6,000
$12,500
Dig under a driveway or slab, 50 ft, concrete restoredper job
$7,500
$12,500
$25,000
Camera inspection (before and after)per job
$125
$300
$650
Sewer permit and inspectionflat
$30
$250
$1,000
US prices, November 2026. Low is a simple job in a low-cost area; high is a bigger job or a high-cost city.
02 / By city195 cities priced
Does trenchless sewer repair cost change by city?
Yes. The same job costs more where labor and rent cost more. Here's how sewer line prices in the biggest US metros compare with the US typical of $7500.
Sewer line prices in the 12 biggest US metrosEach city's typical sewer line price against the US typical of $7,500.
Lining, also called cured-in-place pipe or CIPP, slides a resin-soaked tube into the old pipe and hardens it into a new pipe inside the old one. It needs the old pipe to be roughly round and on grade, and it shrinks the inside a little. It's the choice for cracked, leaky or root-filled pipe that hasn't collapsed.
Bursting pulls a new HDPE pipe through the old one, splitting the old pipe outward as it goes. It works on broken, collapsed or undersized pipe and can go up a size, but it needs a pit at each end.
02
What drives the price
Length, depth and access set most of it, and short runs cost more per foot because set-up costs the same. Pits for bursting, cleaning and cutting roots before lining, and reopening side connections all add time. Prices also vary by city: a Denver-area contractor quotes $180–$350 a foot for lining, a Fort Wayne one $110–$225.
The real comparison is against a dig plus restoration. Under lawn, a $2,500–$12,500 open trench can be cheaper. Under a driveway, patio or mature tree, trenchless usually wins against $7,500–$25,000 for digging and pouring concrete.
03
What's included in a good quote
The camera inspection before and after, cleaning and root cutting, the liner or new pipe, any access pits, reconnection at both ends, the permit and the warranty. Ask for the post-job video: it's your proof the liner went in smooth and the joints are sealed.
04
Watch out
When trenchless won't work
Lining can't fix a line that has collapsed or sagged into a belly; the liner follows the pipe, sag and all. Bursting struggles with some soils, close-by utilities and lines that change direction sharply. In those cases a dig, or a dig for the bad stretch plus trenchless for the rest, is the honest answer.
05
Permits and licensing
Trenchless work still needs a sewer permit and inspection in most cities ($30–$1,000), and it should be done by a licensed plumber or sewer contractor. Lining and bursting systems are approved by local code; ask which one the contractor uses and how long the warranty runs.
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Trenchless pipe lining (CIPP)
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05 / Questions5 answers
Trenchless sewer repair cost: FAQ
Is trenchless sewer repair cheaper than digging?
Per foot, no: lining is $90–$250 against $50–$250 for a trench. Overall it often is, because you skip the concrete, sidewalk and landscaping repairs.
How long does a pipe liner last?
Installers quote 50 to 100 years for lining and for new HDPE or PVC pipe. Ask for the warranty in writing; it's the part you can actually hold them to.
How long does trenchless repair take?
Most lining jobs take about a day, and bursting one to two days, compared with two to five days for a dig and restoration.
Can every sewer line be lined?
No. The pipe has to be roughly round and on grade. Collapsed pipe, flattened Orangeburg fiber pipe and big sags usually need bursting or a dig.
Does trenchless repair need a permit?
In most cities, yes. Expect $30–$1,000 for the permit and inspection, and a camera video for the inspector.
These are independent estimates from national cost guides, contractor price pages, city fee schedules and BLS wage data. No contractor can pay to change them, so always get two or three quotes after a camera inspection. Last reviewed November 2026. Read the full methodology →