Editorial ranges

What grease-trap 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.

Indoor / under-sink (about 20–100 gal)

$125–$250 scheduled

Often on a 2–4 week route. One-off visits land higher than a standing contract.

Small outdoor (about 250–750 gal)

$200–$450 scheduled

Access, hose distance, and how hard the grease has set matter as much as gallons.

Typical restaurant (about 1,000–1,500 gal)

$250–$600 contract · $400–$900 one-off

The most common Houston restaurant band in public hauler write-ups. Treat it as a planning range, not a bid.

Large interceptor (2,000 gal and up)

$600–$1,500+

Multiple compartments, extra disposal tonnage, and longer on-site time.

What pushes the price up

Access and hours

Alley lids under parked cars, indoor mechanical rooms, or after-close appointments add labor. Emergency and weekend tickets commonly run 25–75% above a weekday route stop.

How late the trap is

Solidified FOG, a buried inlet, or a tank that has not been fully evacuated in a year can require extra pumping, scraping, or a return visit.

Disposal and documentation

Tipping fees move with the plant. A complete Houston-style manifest (generator copy, returned copy) should be in the price — ask, do not assume.

Contract vs one-off

Standing 90-day (or tighter) routes are cheaper per visit than a single emergency call. Franchise multi-unit work can be quoted as a program, not a tank.

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.

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Not legal advice

This site explains common FOG (fats, oils, and grease) practices for commercial kitchens. It is not legal advice, a permit, or a substitute for your hauler, plumber, or the City of Houston Health Department. Section 47-512 and related Chapter 47 rules can change. Municipal utility districts and cities outside Houston set their own intervals and paperwork. Verify current Houston generator guidance.