Cost guide · Updated 2026

How much does septic tank pumping cost?

Septic tank pumping costs $300 to $700, or about $0.30 to $0.70 per gallon. Pumping plus a full cleaning costs $500 to $1,000, and inspections and filter cleaning are often extra.

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National averages

Septic Tank Pumping · 2026

Pumping
$300–$700
Pumping and cleaning
$500–$1,000
Inspection
$150–$450
Filter cleaning
$100–$400

Typical, per pumping

$300–$700

Sourced from published data

Typical price

$300–$700

per pumping · source: HomeGuide

Price ranges

Pumping$300–$700
Pumping and cleaning$500–$1,000
Inspection$150–$450
Filter cleaning$100–$400
Jet cleaning, added$200–$300
Typical job$291–$561

National averages. Labor costs differ a lot from one area to the next, so use these to sanity-check a quote, then compare two or three local pros for the same job.

Septic Tank Pumping prices, national averages
Job	Typical price
PumpingHomeGuide	$300–$700
Pumping and cleaningHomeGuide	$500–$1,000
InspectionHomeGuide	$150–$450
Filter cleaningHomeGuide	$100–$400
Jet cleaning, addedHomeGuide	$200–$300
By tank sizeHomeGuide	$0.30–$0.70 per gallon
Typical jobHomeAdvisor	$291–$561

What changes the price

Tank size
How long since the last pumping
Digging to reach the lids
Repairs, filters or jetting
Where you live. Local labor costs, demand and travel time move prices up or down from the national average.

How to pay less

Pump on schedule. A tank that's gone too long may need jetting, which costs extra.
Install risers so the lids are easy to reach and don't need digging each time.
Ask for inspection and filter cleaning in the same visit as pumping.
Compare at least two or three quotes for the same scope. Pros on Job Hound never pay for leads, so no lead fee is built into their price.