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 room.
| 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
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.