# Grease Interceptor Pumping Cost in Tampa Bay (2026)

> Grease interceptor pumping cost in Tampa Bay: $300–$1,200 per pump-out by tank size, how per-gallon public bids compare, and annual cost by local rule.

URL: https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/grease-interceptor-pumping-cost/

Cost Guide

# How Much Does Grease Interceptor Pumping Cost? (Tampa Bay, 2026)

Per-visit ranges by tank size, the per-gallon public-contract benchmark, and what your city or county's pumping rule does to the annual bill.

Updated November 14, 2026

[Grease Trap Cleaning Tampa](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/) prices grease interceptor pumping by tank size. In Tampa Bay, a 500–1,000 gallon interceptor typically costs $300–$550 per pump-out, 1,000–1,500 gallons $400–$650, 1,500–2,500 gallons $500–$850, and 2,500+ gallons $700–$1,200. The annual cost depends on how many pump-outs your jurisdiction requires.

## Grease interceptor pumping cost by tank size

Interceptor size

Typical price per pump-out

Confidence

500–1,000 gallons

$300–$550

Medium

1,000–1,500 gallons

$400–$650

Medium

1,500–2,500 gallons

$500–$850

Medium (wide spread)

2,500+ gallons

$700–$1,200

Low

The medium-confidence ranges are backed by two independent sources: a Florida directory’s published Tampa Bay figures and a Florida county’s public bid. The 2,500+ range relies on commercial sources only.

## What public contracts pay per gallon

Government contracts are a useful reality check because their prices are public. Brevard County awarded its 2024 countywide septic, grease trap and lift station contract at **$0.20 per gallon** (primary vendor) and **$1.10 per gallon** (secondary vendor) for grease trap cleaning in standard time. At those rates, pumping a full tank works out like this:

Tank

At $0.20/gal

At $1.10/gal

500 gal

$100

$550

1,000 gal

$200

$1,100

1,500 gal

$300

$1,650

2,500 gal

$500

$2,750

Brevard is on Florida’s east coast, not Tampa Bay, and a large public contract buys volume, so treat these as a bracket, not a quote. The Tampa Bay restaurant ranges above sit inside it.

## What your pumping rule does to the annual cost

Visits per year are 365 days divided by your jurisdiction’s interval: 12–13 visits for a 30-day rule, 4–5 for a 90-day rule. Using the minimum visits for a 1,000–1,500 gallon interceptor at $400–$650:

Where the kitchen drains

Rule

Visits/yr

Annual (minimum visits)

Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Largo

~30 days

12–13

$4,800–$7,800

Hillsborough County, Pasco County

90 days max

4–5

$1,600–$2,600

City of Tampa, Temple Terrace

Condition-based

By fill rate

$400–$650 × visits

Clearwater

Set by the city

By schedule

$400–$650 × visits

A 25% limit (20% in Pasco) applies on top of the day count. A busy kitchen on a 90-day rule may need monthly service anyway. The [cost estimator](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/tools/grease-trap-cost-estimator/) runs this for your unit.

## What a fair price should include

A quote is only comparable if it covers the same work: pumping to empty (grease, gray water and solids), scraping the walls and baffles, checking the tees, disposal at a permitted facility, and a signed manifest with the ticket number. Tampa’s ordinance defines a pump-out exactly that way, and Pinellas County bans decanting and skimming. See [grease interceptor pumping](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/grease-interceptor-pumping/).

## How to keep the cost down

-   **Pump on schedule.** An overfull tank takes longer and costs more, and emergency work runs 20–100% higher.
-   **Cut grease at the source.** St. Petersburg’s best-practice manual recommends dry-wiping pots and plates, using sink strainers, and keeping sink water under 140°F so grease doesn’t pass through and re-solidify downstream.
-   **Measure.** Depths recorded at each visit can support a longer variance where your program allows one.

Bottom line

Expect $400–$650 per pump-out for a typical 1,000–1,500 gallon restaurant interceptor, times 4–13 visits a year depending on your rule. Ask whether disposal is included and whether the quote is a full pump-out. For a quote for your tank, call [(727) 476-9241](tel:+17274769241).

[Related service

Grease Interceptor Pumping

Outdoor interceptors pumped to empty, scraped and documented on the schedule your city or county enforces.

See the service](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/grease-interceptor-pumping/)[Also related

Grease Trap Maintenance Plans

Scheduled pumping set by your jurisdiction's rule and how fast your unit actually fills, with the paperwork kept straight.

See the service](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/grease-trap-maintenance-plans/)

Want a quote?

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## Questions about this

### Is grease interceptor pumping priced per gallon or per visit?

Both are common. Restaurants usually get a per-visit price by tank size. Public contracts often price per gallon: Brevard County's 2024 award was $0.20 and $1.10 per gallon in standard time. A per-visit price is easier to budget, and a per-gallon price rewards pumping before the tank is overfull.

### Does the interceptor pumping price include disposal?

Sometimes. Disposal at a permitted facility typically adds $0.03–$0.08 per gallon when listed separately. The signed manifest should show the disposal facility's ticket number either way.

### Why do quotes for the same interceptor differ so much?

Hose run and access, how full the tank is, disposal fees, timing, and whether the quote is a full pump-out or a skim. Florida has banned returning water to the tank since 2022, so check what each quote actually removes.

## More guides

-   [Grease Trap vs Grease Interceptor: What's the Difference?How to tell which one your kitchen has, and why it changes the cleaning schedule, who can do the work and what it costs.](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/grease-trap-vs-grease-interceptor/)
-   [What Are Pinellas County's Grease Interceptor Requirements?Pinellas County Utilities' Article VI rules: who they cover, the 30-day minimum, layer limits, how variances work, and what to keep on file.](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/pinellas-county-grease-interceptor-rules/)
-   [How Do You Check a Grease Hauler Is Registered in Tampa?City registration, county permits and the state license are three different things. Here's how to check each one.](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/registered-grease-hauler-tampa/)
-   [What Is a St. Petersburg Grease Discharge Permit?What St. Petersburg's Grease Management Program asks of every food service facility, from the permit to the quarterly report.](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/st-petersburg-grease-discharge-permit/)
-   [Buying a Restaurant? Grease Trap Requirements to CheckWhy a change of ownership matters to the grease program, and the checks to make before you sign.](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/buying-a-restaurant-grease-trap/)

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