How Much Does a Plumbing Job Cost in 2026? (UK)
A UK plumber in 2026 charges £45-£95 per hour on labour, or fixed-price by job. Common pricing: tap replacement £80-£160, simple leak repair £120-£280, radiator swap £140-£260, blocked drain clearance £100-£220, toilet replacement £220-£450, full bathroom refit £1,800-£4,500 labour-only, full re-plumb of a 3-bed house £4,500-£9,000. Emergency out-of-hours call-out adds 50-100%. London / South East premium is 15-25%. This guide gives the full 2026 ladder with cost drivers and gotchas.
Plumbing Job Cost by Type
Hourly labour rate
£45-£65/hr in the North and Midlands. £65-£95/hr in London & SE. First-hour minimum charge typical £70-£120 including call-out.
Quick repair jobs (under 2 hours)
Tap replacement £80-£160. Simple leak repair £120-£280. Toilet flush rebuild £100-£180. Stopcock replace £140-£240.
Half-day jobs (2-4 hours)
Radiator swap £140-£260, plus rad cost £120-£400. Toilet replacement £220-£450. Outside tap fit £160-£280.
Bathroom refit
Plumbing labour only £1,800-£4,500 for a typical 5-day refit. Suite cost £700-£5,000 separate. Tiler & electrician extra.
Full house re-plumb
£4,500-£9,000 for a 3-bed. Includes new mains pull-through, all hot/cold pipework, rad replacement. 5-9 days site time.
Emergency / out-of-hours
50-100% premium on labour. Burst pipe call-out £180-£380 minimum. Weekend/bank holiday standard rate 2x.
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