Cost guide
How much do blocked drains cost?
A straightforward drain clearance is £80 to £200. High pressure jetting is £150 to £350, and a CCTV survey with a written report is £150 to £350. Excavation and repair starts around £800.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on your home and the job.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Internal blockage, sink, bath or WC | £80 to £200 |
| External drain, rodded clear | £100 to £250 |
| High pressure jetting | £150 to £350 |
| CCTV survey with report | £150 to £350 |
| Root cutting and jetting | £250 to £500 |
| Excavate and repair a collapsed section | £800 to £2,500 |
Lift the inspection chamber before you call anybody. Two minutes with a cover key tells you whether this is your drain or the water company's, and the water company's is free.
What moves the price
- Where the blockage is: an internal trap is an hour, a run under a drive is a different job.
- Whether rodding clears it or a jetting unit has to be brought out.
- Time of day. Out of hours drainage carries the same premium as emergency plumbing.
- Whether a survey is needed to find a recurring cause.
- Access for a jetting vehicle, which needs to park within hose reach.
What the money buys: clearing blocked sinks, baths and toilets.
Who quotes for it
841 of the 7,519 plumbers and heating engineers listed on this site take on blocked drains.
The towns where most are based: Bristol (10), Nottingham (10), Leeds (8), Manchester (7), Glasgow (7).
Questions about blocked drains
What does a CCTV drain survey cost?
£150 to £350 for a domestic property with a written report and footage. Worth it before buying a house with mature trees, and before anybody quotes to excavate.
Why does my drain keep blocking?
Repeated blockages in the same place usually mean a defect: a displaced joint, a partial collapse, root ingress, or a section laid at the wrong fall. Clearing it again will not fix that.