What does grease trap pumping cost?
Most grease trap price ranges online come from pumping companies quoting themselves. The City of Tempe, Arizona publishes an actual price list for its grease cooperative, size by size, with every add-on fee. It is the most concrete public benchmark there is.
The short answer
- Small indoor grease trap: about $118 per service on Tempe's 2025 price list; $125–$275 for larger high-capacity indoor units.
- Outdoor gravity interceptor: from $150 for a 300-gallon tank to $270 for 1,000 gallons and $380 for 1,500, up to $2,400 for 10,000 gallons.
- Add-ons — after-hours, emergency, difficult access, extra hose — can add $50 to $225 a visit.
Tempe's prices are a cooperative rate, negotiated for many restaurants at once, so treat them as the low end of a fair price rather than what every pumper will quote. State Industrial, which sells grease trap treatment chemicals, puts typical pumping at $115–$475 for a regularly serviced indoor trap and $325–$1,040 for an outdoor interceptor.
Outdoor interceptors: price by size
City of Tempe Grease Cooperative, effective 1 March 2025:
| Interceptor size | Price per pump-out | Per gallon |
|---|---|---|
| 300–350 gal | $150 | ~$0.46 |
| 500 gal | $165 | $0.33 |
| 750 gal | $200 | $0.27 |
| 1,000–1,050 gal | $270 | $0.27 |
| 1,200–1,250 gal | $306 | $0.25 |
| 1,500 gal | $380 | $0.25 |
| 2,000 gal | $500 | $0.25 |
| 2,500 gal | $630 | $0.25 |
| 3,500 gal | $892 | $0.25 |
| 5,000 gal | $1,275 | $0.26 |
| 10,000 gal | $2,400 | $0.24 |
Above about 750 gallons the price settles at roughly 25 cents a gallon of tank. Small tanks cost more per gallon because the truck, the trip and the setup cost the same whatever the size. Per-gallon pricing is also how many pumpers quote, so this gives you a way to compare quotes on interceptors that don't match these sizes exactly.
Indoor traps: price by model
| Indoor trap (hydromechanical) | Price per service |
|---|---|
| Standard indoor grease trap | $118 |
| Thermaco Trapzilla TZ-400 / TZ-600 / TZ-1826 or similar | $125 / $140 / $155 |
| Schier GB-50 / GB-75 / GB-250 or similar | $130 / $145 / $160 |
| Endura XL75 / XL100 / XL150 or similar | $150 / $160 / $170 |
| Schier GB-500 / GB-1000 or similar | $180 / $275 |
The fees that change the bill
| Add-on (Tempe 2025) | Indoor trap | Outdoor interceptor |
|---|---|---|
| After hours (3pm to 5:30am) | +$125 | +$200 |
| Emergency, within 24 hours | +$75 | +$225 |
| Missed appointment (unserviceable visit) | $50 | $200 |
| Extra hose | +$65 | +$75 |
| Extra labour | +$50 | +$60 |
| Difficult access (portable vacuum unit) | +$65 | — |
| Line jetting | $265 an hour | |
Three of these are within your control. Book during opening hours where you can — a restaurant that only allows pumping after close pays the after-hours fee every time. Make sure the trap is accessible on the day: blocked lids, locked gates and parked cars are what an "unserviceable visit" charge is for. And keep to a schedule, because emergencies cost more than routine visits.
What a year costs
Multiply the visit price by the frequency your city requires. At Tempe's rates:
| Device | Frequency | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Standard indoor trap | Monthly | $1,416 |
| 1,000-gallon interceptor | Quarterly | $1,080 |
| 1,000-gallon interceptor | Every 60 days | $1,620 |
| 1,500-gallon interceptor | Quarterly | $1,520 |
Your frequency is set by your city and by the 25% rule, and it varies a lot — from every two weeks to once a year depending on the city and the device. See how often should a grease trap be pumped for the rules.
Why a neglected trap costs more
State Industrial says pumping can cost up to three times as much when a trap hasn't been regularly maintained: hardened grease takes longer to remove, and more waste means more disposal. Add the emergency fee when it backs up, line jetting at $265 an hour if the grease has reached the pipes, and any fines from the city, and skipping a pump-out is the expensive choice.
What about chemical treatment programs?
Some companies sell monthly chemical or bacterial treatment as a way to pump less often. State Industrial, which sells such a program, prices it at $150–$400 a month and argues it saves money. Check with your city first: Pleasanton, California, for example, bans bacteria, enzymes and emulsifiers in grease control devices, because they move grease further into the sewer rather than removing it. In a city like that, a treatment program doesn't replace a single required pump-out.
Getting a fair quote
- Know your device: indoor or outdoor, and its size in gallons or its model number. It's usually on the lid or in your building plans.
- Ask for the price per pump-out and per gallon, and every add-on: hose, access, after-hours, disposal.
- Confirm it's a complete pump-out. San Jose requires one, and forbids returning water to the tank.
- Make sure the invoice will show where the waste goes. San Jose requires it, and you can be liable for illegal dumping of your own waste.
- Ask whether your city runs a cooperative or approved-hauler program like Tempe's. Group rates are often lower.