Most small indoor grease traps cost roughly $100 to $300 per cleaning, while large outdoor grease interceptors typically run several hundred dollars to over $1,000 per pump-out. The exact price depends on tank size, access, how full and hardened the grease is, disposal fees in your area, and how often you service the unit.
The main cost drivers
Grease trap service is priced mostly on volume and labor, so two restaurants a mile apart can pay very different amounts. The factors that matter most:
Size of the unit. A small under-sink trap of 20 to 50 gallons is a quick job. A 1,000- or 2,000-gallon in-ground interceptor requires a vacuum truck, more time on site, and a much larger disposal load. Since haulers pay to dispose of what they pump, gallons translate directly into cost.
Full pump-out versus skimming. Most local wastewater authorities require a full pump-out — removing all liquid and solids, scraping the walls and baffles, and refilling with water — rather than skimming the floating grease layer off the top. A skim is cheaper but leaves the settled solids that cause backups and violations, and many jurisdictions do not accept it as a compliant cleaning. When comparing quotes, confirm you are comparing full pump-outs.
Condition and neglect. A trap on a regular schedule pumps easily. One that has gone a year without service can contain hardened, compacted grease that must be broken up by hand or with high-pressure water, which adds labor time and cost. Deferred cleaning almost always costs more than the service it postponed.
Access. A buried outdoor interceptor with a clear manhole near a parking area is straightforward. A trap in a basement, behind kitchen equipment, or with a lid under landscaping or asphalt takes longer to reach and service.
Disposal fees and distance. Pumped grease waste must go to an approved processing or disposal facility, and tipping fees vary widely by region. If the nearest approved facility is far away, drive time and fuel show up in your price.
Frequency and contracts. Many haulers discount recurring service on a set schedule versus one-off emergency calls. Emergency or after-hours pump-outs — the call you make when the floor drain is backing up on a Friday night — usually carry a premium.
Typical price ranges, honestly framed
There is no national standard rate, and any site quoting an exact average is guessing. As rough planning ranges:
- Small indoor traps (under ~100 gallons): often in the low hundreds of dollars per service.
- Mid-size traps and small interceptors (100–750 gallons): a few hundred dollars per pump-out is common.
- Large interceptors (1,000+ gallons): frequently $500 to $1,000 or more, with very large or badly neglected tanks going higher.
Regional labor rates, local disposal costs, and competition among permitted haulers move these numbers substantially. The best way to know your market rate is to get two or three quotes from haulers on your wastewater authority's permitted list for the same scope of work.
Why the cheapest quote can be the most expensive
A lowball price sometimes signals a partial service — a skim instead of a pump-out — or, worse, illegal disposal. Grease waste dumped into a sewer manhole, storm drain, or field saves the hauler a tipping fee, but the generator (you) can be held responsible under local pretreatment rules. The U.S. EPA's national pretreatment program, which underlies municipal fats, oils, and grease (FOG) requirements, exists precisely because grease discharges cause sewer blockages and overflows, and enforcement flows downhill to the businesses that generated the waste.
A legitimate hauler leaves you a manifest or service record showing what was pumped, when, and where it was taken. That paper trail is usually required by your local FOG program and is your proof of compliance during an inspection. See our guide to FOG manifest requirements for what a proper record includes.
How cleaning frequency changes your annual cost
Pumping more often costs more per year in service fees but usually less overall, because it prevents emergency backups, plumbing bills, surcharges, and fines for exceeding discharge limits. Many jurisdictions enforce a version of the "25% rule" — pump when floating grease and settled solids occupy a quarter of the trap's depth — which effectively sets your minimum frequency based on how much grease your kitchen produces. Details are in how often to clean a grease trap and the 25 percent grease trap rule.
Kitchen practices matter too. Dry-wiping pans, scraping plates into the trash, and keeping fryer oil out of the drain (used cooking oil is typically collected separately, often for free or for a rebate) all slow grease accumulation and stretch the interval between paid pump-outs.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is the price for a full pump-out, including solids removal and baffle scraping, or a skim?
- Are disposal fees, fuel surcharges, and environmental fees included in the quoted price?
- What does an emergency or after-hours call cost?
- Will you provide a manifest or service record accepted by our local wastewater authority?
- Where does the pumped waste go, and is that facility approved?
Choosing and verifying a hauler
Start with your local wastewater authority or FOG program, which in many cities publishes a list of permitted or registered grease haulers — using a listed hauler is often required, not optional. Confirm the company's permit or registration is current, ask for the name of the disposal facility it uses, and insist on a manifest or service record for every pump-out. Keep those records on site; most FOG programs require it and inspectors will ask. Directories like ours can help you find and compare local grease trap service companies from public records, but a directory listing is not a certification — verify permit status with your wastewater authority before hiring.