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.
Planning the work? Check what it usually costs, or work out your own estimate. The free quote form is at the top of this page.
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.
Common Questions
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