50 Gallon Water Heater Replacement Cost
Replacing a 50 gallon water heater costs $800 to $1,800 installed for electric and $1,000 to $2,500 for natural gas in 2026, including unit, labour, connections, and haul-away. The 50 gallon size is the single most common residential replacement: it fits a household of 3 to 4 people. If you are weighing a different capacity, compare the full water heater replacement cost by size before you commit. Below are the published 50 gallon heater prices, how to add your labor quote, how to work out the running cost, and what pushes a quote toward the top of the range.
50 gallon replacement cost at a glance
Total installed cost (unit + labour + connections + haul-away). Permits are set by your local building department.
50 gallon heater prices: what Home Depot lists
The heater is the one part of the bill that is published. These are the 50 gallon Rheem models on homedepot.com, at regular price. Installation labor, the permit and any code work are quoted on top.
| 50 gallon model | Type | Listed price |
|---|---|---|
| Rheem Performance 50 gal medium, 4500W (XE50M06ST45U1) | Electric tank | $569 |
| Rheem Performance 50 gal tall, 4500W (XE50T06ST45U1) | Electric tank | $669 |
| Rheem Performance 50 gal tall, 38,000 BTU (XG50T06EC38U1) | Gas tank | $749 |
| Rheem ProTerra 50 gal hybrid heat pump (XE50T10HS45U1) | Heat pump (hybrid) | $1,950 |
| Rheem Performance Platinum ProTerra 50 gal, 120V plug-in (XE50T10HM00U0) | Heat pump (hybrid) | $2,119 |
Regular prices on homedepot.com product pages, read 13 November 2026 (store context Ellsworth, Maine). Some heat pump models were on a Black Friday sale for less. Prices change and vary by store.
Adding the labor for a 50 gallon swap
Neither Home Depot nor Lowe's publishes a labor price; both quote after a consultation. Home Depot says a basic installation, the new tank in the same spot on existing code-approved lines, typically takes two to three hours. Your labor line is the hours on your quote times your installer's hourly rate, plus any trip or flat fee. For scale, the median plumber in the US is paid $30.67 an hour (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is the wage, not what a plumbing company bills, which also covers the van, insurance, licensing and overhead.
Price my 50 gallon swap in the calculator50 gallon running cost: work it from the label
Every water heater carries a yellow EnergyGuide label with its estimated yearly energy use: therms for gas, kWh for electric and heat pump models. Multiply that by the rate on your own utility bill to get your yearly running cost, and compare models side by side the same way. Home Depot links the label PDF on each product page. A heat pump model uses far fewer kWh than an electric resistance tank of the same size, which is what pays back its higher price. See the gas vs electric comparison for the fuel choice.
What pushes a 50 gallon quote toward the top of the range
Code upgrades on replacement
Current code often requires a thermal expansion tank, a new T&P discharge line, and a drain pan with a drain line if the unit sits above finished space. Older 50 gallon installs frequently lack these, so a code-compliant replacement adds them.
Vent type (gas only)
An atmospheric-vent 50 gal unit into a healthy chimney is the cheapest gas path. No chimney means a power-vent unit, which costs more than an atmospheric one and needs a new exterior wall penetration.
Location and access
A garage-floor or basement install is quick. An attic or second-floor closet adds labour for hauling the old tank out and the new one in, plus mandatory pan and drain. Tight closets may need a door or louver modification.
Emergency vs scheduled
A same-day, evening or weekend swap can be billed at a higher rate than a scheduled weekday appointment; ask before you book. If your tank is leaking, see the emergency replacement guide before paying a rush rate you may not need.