Editorial ranges
Grease trap cleaning and pumping costs
These are planning bands compiled from public hauler guides and Houston-area service pages — not live quotes, and not a promise that any ZIP will land in the middle. Ask two permitted transporters. The cheapest ticket is a bad deal if the manifest is incomplete.
What pushes the price up
What to ask on a quote
- Is this a full evacuation, or a skim?
- Are disposal and Houston-style manifests in the number?
- After-hours or alley-access surcharge?
- Standing 90-day (or tighter) route versus a one-time call?
National ranges often run about $175–$2,500 per commercial service depending on size and condition. Houston restaurant work usually clusters well below the top of that national spread unless the trap is oversized, remote, or badly overdue.
Common questions
How much does it cost to pump a 1,000-gallon grease trap?
Public hauler guides often cluster a typical restaurant 1,000–1,500 gallon interceptor around $250–$600 on a standing contract and $400–$900 as a one-off. Access, solidified grease, and after-hours work can push that higher. These are editorial bands, not bids.
Why is an emergency pump-out more expensive?
After-close, weekend, and same-week tickets pull a truck off a planned route. Surcharges of about 25–75% are common. A backup also takes longer if the trap is packed.
Does the cheap quote include a legal Houston manifest?
Not always. Ask whether generator and returned copies are included and whether the company is a City of Houston–permitted transporter. An incomplete ticket is expensive at inspection time.
How should I budget for the year?
Multiply a realistic per-visit band by the interval from the schedule calculator (often four visits a year in Houston, more if you are heavy). Add one emergency buffer. See the restaurant playbook for multi-unit programs.