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Compare indicative 2026 UK plumber prices, common charges and the factors that change a quote.
Use this as a planning estimate before comparing local providers.
Indicative planning allowance
£300
Typical professional job
Compare diagnosis, written scope, parts or materials and paperwork.
Standard plumber labour commonly sits around £40–£60 per hour, but the correct total depends on the exact scope, diagnosis, access and materials. This guide separates headline rates from the items that actually change the bill.
Indicative 2026 UK planning ranges compiled from the listed sources and typical published market structures. These are not VereLocal transaction averages.
| Service or item | Typical price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Standard plumber labour | £40–£60per hour | Regional rates, minimum charges and VAT vary. |
| Routine call-out | £70–£150 | Often covers attendance and initial diagnosis, not all labour or parts. |
| Emergency attendance | £120–£300+ | Evenings, nights, weekends and holidays can cost more. |
| Repair a leaking tap or toilet | £80–£220 | Access, parts and whether isolation valves work affect the total. |
| Replace a radiator | £180–£500+ | Size, pipe alterations, system draining and balancing matter. |
Confirm VAT, minimum charges, parts, access, disposal, paperwork and urgency before comparing totals.
A clearly identified, accessible and routine task.
Normal professional diagnosis and delivery.
A larger, urgent or specialist requirement.
Small plumbing jobs are commonly priced through a minimum attendance or call-out plus labour and parts. Larger planned work is more often fixed-price after inspection. Emergency, evening and weekend attendance usually carries a premium. Ask whether the figure is a fixed total, an estimate, or a rate that continues after an included period. A cheap attendance fee can lead to a high final bill if diagnosis, return visits and parts are all separate. Conversely, a higher fixed figure may include more risk and aftercare. Compare the pricing mechanism as well as the number.
Plumbing ranges from a dripping tap or failed toilet valve to concealed leaks, damaged pipework and changes to hot-water systems. The trade you need depends on the symptom: routine sanitary repairs are different from drainage work, gas work and major bathroom installation. The biggest price variables are the exact cause or condition, access, time on site, number and availability of parts or materials, urgency, location and any safety testing, certification or disposal. Ask the provider to identify which variables are already known and which remain assumptions.
Make sure the quote says so rather than assuming.
These frequently explain why two totals differ.
Ask what the initial charge buys: travel only, attendance plus a diagnostic period, or the first part of the work. Confirm the labour rate after that allowance and whether a second visit is included. Parts and materials should be identifiable; ask whether they are original, equivalent or refurbished where that distinction matters. The quote should also state VAT and any cancellation charge.
Give each provider the same symptoms, photographs, timing, access details and desired outcome. Ask them to separate the core work, optional items, third-party costs and tax. Compare assumptions and exclusions before price. If one quote solves a different problem, it is not a cheaper version of the same service. Before extras proceed, ask what new evidence has emerged, what alternatives exist and what the revised total will be. Record your agreement in a message or revised quotation.
The published ranges above are useful for planning, but your total depends on diagnosis and scope. Regional rates, minimum charges and VAT vary.
Not automatically. Compare scope, assumptions, relevant credentials, parts or materials, paperwork, warranty and the evidence behind the recommendation.
The business should make the total or calculation method clear. Ask explicitly about VAT, attendance, labour, parts, disposal, parking and certification.
Sometimes new facts genuinely emerge. The provider should explain the evidence, options and revised total and obtain your agreement before carrying out additional work.
Research reviewed 26 August 2026. The table uses indicative UK market ranges and the official or specialist guidance listed below. It does not represent an average of VereLocal bookings, and it cannot account for local availability or the condition found on site. Treat the figures as budgeting bands and replace them with a job-specific written quote.
Describe the same requirement to suitable providers and compare written scope, evidence and total price.
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