Grease Trap Cleaning & Pumping Cost Calculator

Indoor grease traps are usually cleaned monthly, and most cities require outdoor interceptors to be pumped every three months. The price per service depends heavily on whether the trap has been kept up: a regularly maintained trap is a quick pump-out, while a neglected one can cost up to three times as much.

Grease trap pumping cost per service

Service	Typical cost
Indoor grease trap, regularly maintained	$175 – $475
Outdoor grease interceptor, scheduled maintenance	$325 – $950
Neglected trap or interceptor (up to triple)	Up to 3×

Source: Grease Management, 2026 pricing data.

Worked example: an outdoor interceptor on a quarterly schedule

A restaurant with an outdoor interceptor that is pumped every quarter pays about $325 – $950 per service nationally, or $1,300 – $3,800 a year. In California that's about $1,440 – $4,210 a year.

The 25% rule

Many cities require pumping once fats, oils, grease and solids (often shortened to FOG) reach 25% of the trap's capacity, regardless of the calendar. Waiting past that point raises the cost of the next service and risks backups, odors and fines from the local wastewater authority.

Ways to keep grease trap costs down

• Scrape plates into the trash before they go to the dish pit.
• Never pour fryer oil down a drain. Use a used-cooking-oil recycler instead. Many pick up for free.
• Keep the service log. City inspectors ask for pump-out manifests. A missing record can mean a fine even if the trap was serviced.
• Don't stretch the schedule. Skipping a service rarely saves money because the next one can cost two to three times as much.

Local rules you'll need to follow

Most cities regulate grease traps through their sewer or wastewater department. Common requirements include pumping at least every 90 days or when grease and solids reach 25% of the trap's depth, using a registered grease hauler, and keeping pump-out manifests for three to five years. Fines can be steep: Dallas, for example, lists penalties of $200 to $2,000 per day. See our guide to grease trap rules and fines for more examples and how to stay compliant.

Signs your trap is overdue

• Slow drains at the dish sink or floor drains
• Sewer or rancid odors in the kitchen or near the outdoor interceptor lid
• Grease backing up into sinks or floor drains
• A hauler reporting the trap is well over 25% full at each visit, which means the schedule should be shortened

How this estimate is calculated

Your trap type and condition select a published per-service price range. Overdue options extend the high end to three times the normal price, as the source describes. The yearly figure multiplies the range by the services per year you choose, and the total is adjusted by your state's BEA Regional Price Parity if you pick a state. See our methodology.