See what a new septic system should cost before an installer quotes you. Pick the job, the system type and your number of bedrooms. You get a low-to-high price, line by line. No sign-up needed.
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| New septic system, installed | — |
| New septic tank, installed | — |
| New drain field, installed | — |
| Bigger tank for 4+ bedrooms | — |
| Soil and perc test | — |
| Permits | — |
National prices, not your city's. A land survey adds about $330–$900, and land clearing $1,200–$4,800 (Angi). If your installer does not include excavation, expect another $1,500–$6,300 (Angi). Based on Angi, HomeGuide, Fixr cost data, updated September 2026. See sources.
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Installed cost of a whole system, with the price for a 3-bedroom home. The 3-bedroom example includes a perc test and permits.
| System type | Installed cost | Used when | 3-bedroom home, all in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional gravity (anaerobic) | $3,000–$8,000 | Good soil and room for a full-size drain field | $4,200–$12,300 |
| Chamber (gravelless) | $5,000–$12,000 | Plastic chambers in place of gravel; suits homes with uneven use, like vacation homes | $6,200–$16,300 |
| Drip distribution | $8,000–$18,000 | Shallow soil; needs a dosing tank and pump | $9,200–$22,300 |
| Sand filter | $7,000–$18,000 | High water table or a site near a lake or stream | $8,200–$22,300 |
| Aerobic treatment unit (ATU) | $10,000–$20,000 | Smaller lots; needs power to run | $11,200–$24,300 |
| Mound | $10,000–$20,000 | High water table or shallow soil; needs a lot of space | $11,200–$24,300 |
Your soil decides the system type, and the system type decides most of the price. For a whole system, we start with the installed cost of the type you pick. For a tank-only or drain-field-only job, we use the installed cost of that part instead, and the system type does not count. A home with 4 or more bedrooms needs a bigger tank, so we add the price gap between that tank and a standard 1,000-gallon tank. Then we add a perc test if you still need one, and permits. Every figure comes from the sources below. We round to the nearest $100.
Your real price depends on your soil, your county's rules and how easy the site is to dig. Get at least three written quotes. You can find septic contractors in your city or browse septic services.
Angi reports that most homeowners pay $3,593 to $12,463, with a national average of $8,021. A conventional gravity system costs $3,000 to $8,000. HomeGuide puts a conventional system at $3,500 to $8,500 installed.
Tank size is based on bedrooms, not bathrooms. HomeGuide lists a 750-gallon tank for 1–2 bedrooms, 1,000 gallons for 3, 1,250 gallons for 4, 1,500 gallons for 5 and 1,750 gallons for 6 or more. A 1,000-gallon tank costs $1,000 to $1,500 before labor.
They need pumps, sand fill or an aerator, and more labor. Angi puts both at $10,000 to $20,000. HomeGuide reports higher prices for engineered systems: $20,000 to $40,000 or more for an aerobic treatment unit, and $25,000 to $50,000 or more for a mound.
Yes, if the other part still works. Angi reports that a new septic tank costs $3,000 to $10,000 installed, and a new drain field costs about $7,000. Angi's range for drain field installation is $5,000 to $12,000.
Angi puts soil and perc testing at $700 to $2,000. HomeGuide reports a basic soil test at $250 to $700, and a deep-hole perc test by an engineer at up to $2,000. A perc test is required before you replace a leach field.
Angi reports 15 to 40 years, with most lasting 20 to 30 years. Concrete tanks last 20 to 40 years, and plastic or fiberglass tanks 30 to 40 years. Pumping every three to five years helps it last.
National figures. We do not adjust for your region. Rates checked September 2026.