A plumber in Stockholm costs roughly 700 to 1,100 SEK per hour before the ROT deduction (2026 estimates), so about 490 to 770 SEK after. ROT gives 30 percent off the labour, but only in a home you own. Emergency call-outs cost considerably more.
What a plumber costs
2026 estimates:
| Before ROT | After ROT | |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate, daytime | 700–1,100 SEK/h | 490–770 SEK/h |
| Call-out fee (no deduction) | 400–900 SEK | 400–900 SEK |
| Emergency, evening and weekend | 1,200–2,000 SEK/h | 840–1,400 SEK/h |
Guide prices for common jobs, labour before ROT and excluding materials:
| Job | Approximate labour cost |
|---|---|
| Replacing a mixer tap | 800–1,500 SEK |
| Replacing a toilet | 1,200–2,500 SEK |
| Clearing a blocked drain | 900–2,000 SEK |
| Installing a dishwasher | 1,200–2,500 SEK |
| Replacing a sink trap | 700–1,400 SEK |
These are estimates, not quotes. Access matters a great deal: a pipe built in behind tiling takes considerably longer than an exposed one.
Hourly or fixed price?
Hourly is most common for small jobs and fault-finding, where nobody knows in advance how long it will take.
Fixed price is used for installations and renovations. It is safer for you, because the company carries the risk if the work overruns. Insist on a fixed price for anything that can be clearly defined.
Always ask for a written quote with labour and materials on separate lines. Without that the ROT deduction cannot be verified, and Skatteverket can reject part of it.
How much ROT saves you
ROT gives 30 percent off the labour cost in 2026, up to 50,000 SEK per person per year (Skatteverket). The company applies it directly on the invoice.
Worked example:
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Labour, 3 h × 900 SEK | 2,700 SEK |
| ROT deduction, 30% of labour | −810 SEK |
| Materials, mixer tap | 1,800 SEK |
| Call-out fee (no deduction) | 600 SEK |
| Total to pay | 4,290 SEK |
Note how small a share of the total actually attracts the deduction. On plumbing jobs, materials and the call-out fee are often the majority, which surprises many people.
If you rent, you get no ROT at all. Report the fault to your landlord instead — it is their responsibility and their cost. See the ROT deduction.
Emergency call-outs
Out-of-hours work carries both a higher hourly rate and a fixed call-out charge. Expect considerably more than the daytime rate, especially at night, at weekends and on public holidays.
Ask about both before ordering:
- What does the call-out itself cost?
- What hourly rate applies, and from what point is it counted?
- Is travel time included?
If the leak is shut off and contained, it is often cheaper to wait until the next working day. If the water cannot be shut off, or it is spreading to neighbours, call an emergency plumber immediately — the cost is small compared with the damage.
Insurance and water damage
Home insurance can cover sudden and unforeseen water damage, but terms vary and the excess for water damage is often high, sometimes with age-based deductions on surfaces.
Two things strongly affect what you are paid:
- Whether the work was properly certified. If the installation did not follow the industry rules, compensation can be reduced or refused entirely. See Säker Vatten.
- How quickly you acted. Delaying shutting off the water or reporting the claim can affect the assessment.
Slow moisture damage over time, such as a leaking seal, usually does not count as sudden and is rarely compensated.
Always document with photos before you clean up, and report quickly.
Keeping the cost down
- Bundle several small jobs into one visit, so you pay the call-out fee once
- Ask for a fixed price on anything that can be clearly defined
- Make the work accessible: empty the cupboard under the sink, move furniture
- Describe the problem precisely when booking, ideally with a photo, so they bring the right parts
- Ask before buying materials yourself, since the wrong part costs more in labour
- Check the labour cost is itemised separately on the invoice
Servicing and inspections do not qualify
Service work, checks and overhauls of machines and equipment are not ROT-eligible, and neither is camera-surveying drains or sludge suction.
Fault-finding on a heat pump or boiler does qualify, though, because repairing them is ROT-eligible. That differs from electrical work, where troubleshooting alone earns nothing. Repairing a washing machine or dishwasher is not ROT either but RUT, since it counts as appliance repair.
Two ways to lose the deduction
Paying cash. Since 2020, ROT and RUT require electronic payment: card, Swish, BankID or a bank transfer. Cash means the deduction is lost entirely, however properly the work was done.
Hiring a relative. The person doing the work must not be related to you. That covers a spouse, cohabiting partner, parents, children, siblings and their families. More in the ROT deduction.
Common questions
What does a plumber cost per hour in Stockholm?
Roughly 700 to 1,100 SEK per hour before ROT as a 2026 estimate, about 490 to 770 SEK after.
How much does ROT lower the price?
30 percent off the labour, up to 50,000 SEK per person per year (Skatteverket). Not in rented homes.
What does an emergency call-out cost?
A higher hourly rate plus usually a fixed call-out charge, especially at night and weekends.
Hourly or fixed price?
Hourly for small jobs, fixed price for installations and renovations.
Does home insurance cover water damage?
Often for sudden damage, but the excess is high and compensation can be reduced if the work was not properly certified.
Can I buy the materials myself?
Often yes, but ask first. Materials earn no deduction, and the company usually takes no responsibility for parts you supplied.
Related guides: what a plumber does, the ROT deduction and bathroom renovation cost. Back to plumbing in Stockholm.