How Much Should a Plumber Spend on Google Ads?

If you’re a plumber in Australia, chances are you’ve thought about running Google Ads but got stuck on one question: how much should I actually spend?

The truth is, there’s no one size fits all. Your ad budget depends on your goals, your service area, and how aggressive you want to be in winning jobs. Let’s break it down so you know exactly where to start.

Why Google Ads Are a Game Changer for Plumbers

Think about it. When someone’s sink is overflowing or their hot water system blows up, they don’t scroll Facebook. They Google “plumber near me” and call the first business that looks trustworthy.

That means Google Ads isn’t just nice to have, it’s the fastest way to put your business in front of customers when they’re ready to buy.

Average Cost Per Click (CPC) for Plumbers

In Australia, plumbing keywords are competitive. On average:
✅ $10 to $25 per click for high intent terms like “emergency plumber Sydney”
✅ $5 to $12 per click for broader terms like “local plumber”

If you’re in a big city like Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, expect to be at the higher end. Regional areas like Albury Wodonga or Geelong can be cheaper.

How to Work Out Your Budget

Here’s a simple formula:

1. Work out your job value. If your average plumbing job is worth $400 and you’re aiming for 20 jobs per month, that’s $8,000 in revenue.
2. Know your close rate. If you close 50% of leads, you need 40 leads to land 20 jobs.
3. Factor in CPC. If clicks cost $15 each, and 20% of clicks become leads, you’ll need 200 clicks. 200 x $15 = $3,000 spend.

👉 In this example, a $3K ad spend can generate $8K in revenue. That’s a solid 2.6X return before repeat customers and referrals kick in.

Recommended Starting Budgets

Here’s what we suggest at Elevation Marketing based on experience with plumbing clients:

Small Town Plumber (Regional Area): $30 to $50 per day ($1K to $1.5K per month)
City Based Plumber (Competitive Metro): $80 to $150 per day ($2.5K to $4.5K per month)
Growth Focused Plumbing Business: $200 to $300 per day ($6K to $9K per month)

The more you spend, the more market share you grab, but it only works if your website and landing pages are built to convert.

Don’t Waste Money, Optimise First

Too many plumbers throw money at ads without fixing the basics. Before you spend big, make sure you have:

✅ A fast, mobile friendly website
✅ Clear call to action (click to call button, enquiry form)
✅ Real reviews and trust signals
✅ Service area and emergency callout info front and centre

Without this, you’ll pay for clicks that never turn into jobs.

So, How Much Should You Spend?

If you’re just starting, $1.5K to $3K per month is a safe entry point. Track your results for 60 to 90 days, then scale up once you see profitable returns.

At Elevation Marketing, we help plumbers build campaigns that don’t just get clicks, they book jobs. With the right setup, Google Ads can be the difference between fighting for scraps or dominating your local market.

Final Word

Google Ads isn’t an expense, it’s an investment. Spend too little and you won’t see traction. Spend smart and you’ll turn $1 into $3, $4, or even $10 in booked jobs.

If you want to see what the right budget could do for your plumbing business, chat with our team at Elevation Marketing Agency. We specialise in helping tradies like you turn ads into actual revenue.

‍