fill my day Coming to BristolComing soon

COSTS

What plumbers charge per hour in the UK

Hourly and day rates for plumbers in the UK in 2026, what changes them, and when a fixed price makes more sense.

IN SHORT

Most plumbers in the UK charge £40 to £60 an hour in 2026, according to both Checkatrade and MyBuilder, with a day rate of about £325 to £375. Expect more in London and the South East, for evenings and weekends, and for experienced plumbers. Parts are usually extra.

This page is part of our guide to plumbing costs in the UK. Every figure comes from a named, dated source, listed at the bottom. We've shown each source's figures as it gives them rather than averaging them together.

Plumber rates per hour in the UK

The main trade platforms agree that a typical plumber charges £40 to £60 an hour in 2026. Checkatrade and MyBuilder both give that range. Where they differ is the average: Checkatrade says £50 on its main plumber guide and £45 on its call-out guide, while MyBuilder says the average is about £40.

Smaller guides tend to run higher. WaterSafe Register and Gas Engineer Software, a firm that makes software for plumbers, both give £40 to £70. Here is what each source says.

SOURCEHOURLY RATEAVERAGE
Checkatrade, June 2026£40 to £60£50
MyBuilder, August 2026£40 to £60About £40
MyJobQuote tap guide, September 2026Not givenAbout £50, national
WaterSafe Register, 2026£40 to £70Not given
Gas Engineer Software, July 2026£40 to £70£58, among its own users
BestBuilders, 2026£45 to £70 outside London and the South EastNot given

Most of these sources don't say whether VAT is included. BestBuilders' figures are before VAT. WaterSafe Register and BestBuilders don't name a data source for their ranges, so lean on the Checkatrade and MyBuilder figures first.

Plumber day rates

For a job that takes most of a day, a plumber may quote a day rate instead of an hourly one. Checkatrade and MyBuilder both put it at £325 to £375, and Checkatrade gives an average of £350. Checkatrade's broader guide to tradespeople's rates gives a wider £320 to £480.

BestBuilders splits it by region. Outside London and the South East it gives £160 to £250 for half a day and £280 to £420 for a full day. In London and the South East it gives £230 to £380 and £400 to £650. WaterSafe Register's range is £250 to £400.

What changes a plumber's hourly rate

Location, timing, experience and what's included all change what a plumber charges per hour.

Where you live

Every source with a view says London and the South East cost more. BestBuilders gives £65 to £110 an hour there, and says London inside the M25 runs about 30 to 50% above most of the North, the Midlands, Wales and Scotland. Fantastic Services, a company that publishes its own prices, puts London and the South East at about 20 to 30% above the rest of the UK. MyJobQuote's emergency guide puts London at £75 to £95 an hour. Checkatrade, MyBuilder and Which? agree London costs more, but give no figure.

Experience

MyBuilder splits its rates by experience. It gives £15 to £25 an hour for an apprentice, £40 to £60 for a mid-level plumber and £60 to £80 for an experienced one.

Time of day

Evenings, weekends and emergencies cost more. Checkatrade says an emergency plumber may charge up to double the normal hourly rate, plus a call-out charge. BestBuilders gives £80 to £130 an hour for evenings and weekends outside London and the South East, about one and a half times its standard rate. Our guide to emergency plumber costs covers this in full.

Parts and materials

Hourly rates are usually for labour only. Checkatrade says parts are charged separately, and BestBuilders says materials are often charged at cost plus about 10 to 25%. On a small job the part may be a few pounds. On a bigger one it can be most of the bill.

VAT

VAT only applies if the plumber is VAT-registered, Checkatrade notes. BestBuilders says registered firms add it at 20%. Most cost guides don't say whether their figures include VAT, so when you compare quotes, check whether each one does.

Minimum charges and call-outs

Some plumbers charge a minimum, such as one hour, or a call-out fee that may or may not include the first hour. Checkatrade suggests asking about this up front, because a short job can end up costing more than the hourly rate suggests. Our guide to plumber call-out charges explains how to compare them.

Hourly rate or fixed price for small jobs?

For a small job, a fixed price for the whole job is usually easier to compare than a price per hour. Travel, parking and setting up come with every visit, so plumbers often price small jobs by the visit rather than the minute.

Which?'s survey of its Trusted Traders gives prices for whole jobs. Fixing a leaky kitchen tap came out at £45 to £200, including parts but not VAT. Checkatrade says most dripping-tap repairs take an hour or less, and the parts cost a few pounds.

Citizens Advice draws a useful line here. A quote is a fixed price the trader has agreed to, while an estimate is their best guess. Clear photos of the problem help a plumber give you a firm price before they set off. Our guide on why small plumbing jobs are hard to get done has more on making a small job easy to price.

EXAMPLE

A Southville homeowner has a dripping bathroom tap and a toilet that keeps running. Booked separately, each visit might carry its own minimum charge. Listed together for one visit, with photos of both, the plumber can price the pair at once, and the travel is paid for only once.

Plumber hourly rates in Bristol

We found only one Bristol figure, so treat it as a rough guide. MyJobQuote's emergency plumber guide, updated 7 October 2026, lists Bristol at £60 to £75 an hour and £380 to £480 a day, with a call-out of £75 to £95.

That table sits on an emergency guide and doesn't say whether these are standard or out-of-hours rates, or whether VAT is included. BestBuilders places Bristol and parts of the South West between London and the rest of the UK, without a number. The best way to know is to compare a few quotes for your actual job.

Need a plumber in Bristol?

Fill My Day is coming soon to Bristol. It will send your job to checked plumbers nearby who have free time, and each one replies with their own price, so you can compare them side by side. It's free to use at launch, and it isn't taking bookings yet. See what's launching in Bristol.

Where these figures come from

GOOD TO KNOW

Questions,
answered straight.

How much does a plumber cost per hour in the UK?

Usually £40 to £60 an hour in 2026, according to Checkatrade and MyBuilder. Checkatrade gives an average of £50 on its main plumber guide.

Do plumbers charge a minimum of one hour?

Some do. MyJobQuote's emergency guide gives a one-hour minimum, and Checkatrade suggests asking about any minimum charge, because a short job can cost more than the hourly rate.

Are plumbers' hourly rates labour only?

Usually, yes. Checkatrade and BestBuilders both say parts are charged separately, and BestBuilders says materials are often charged at cost plus about 10 to 25%.

How much is a plumber's day rate?

About £325 to £375 a day, according to Checkatrade and MyBuilder. Checkatrade's guide to tradespeople's rates gives a wider £320 to £480.

Do plumbers charge more in London?

Yes. BestBuilders puts London and the South East at £65 to £110 an hour, against £45 to £70 elsewhere. Checkatrade, MyBuilder and Which? agree London costs more but give no figure.

KEEP READING

Where to next.

FIRST STOP / BRISTOL

Bristol.
You’re up first.

The app is in development and isn't taking bookings yet. Plumbers first, other trades to follow.

About the Bristol launch Try the app concept