Cost guide
How much does emergency plumber cost?
An out of hours plumber charges £90 to £180 for the first hour on a weekday evening, and £120 to £250 overnight, on a Sunday or on a bank holiday. Parts are extra, and a same day booking in working hours is roughly half the price.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on your room.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Weekday evening, first hour | £90 to £180 |
| Overnight, weekend or bank holiday, first hour | £120 to £250 |
| Each additional hour | £60 to £120 |
| Same day booking in working hours | £50 to £90 per hour |
| Burst pipe repair, accessible | £150 to £400 |
| Emergency drain clearance | £150 to £350 |
Turn the stopcock off and open the taps before anybody arrives. It costs nothing, it takes a minute, and it is worth more than the difference between any two quotes on this page.
What moves the price
- The time. Evening, overnight, weekend and bank holiday rates all differ, and some firms change rate at midnight.
- Whether the first hour is a call-out fee with time charged on top, or a minimum charge that includes an hour's work.
- Parts carried on the van against parts fetched from a merchant the following morning.
- Travel, where a firm covers a wide area and you are at the edge of it.
- Whether the visit makes the property safe or completes the repair. Containment now and a full repair tomorrow is usually cheaper.
What the money buys: burst pipes and uncontrolled leaks.
Who quotes for it
30 of the 61 plumbers and heating engineers listed on this site take on emergency plumber.
Most of them in one place: Glasgow (7), Leeds (6), Birmingham (6), Liverpool (6), Manchester (5).
Questions about emergency plumber
What does an emergency plumber charge at night?
Typically £90 to £180 for the first hour on a weekday evening and £120 to £250 overnight or on a bank holiday, plus parts. Ask whether the first hour is a minimum charge or a call-out fee with time on top.
Will my insurance cover it?
Buildings insurance usually covers the damage caused by an escape of water and the cost of tracing the leak, but not the repair to the failed pipe itself. Home emergency cover, if you have it, pays for the call-out. Photograph everything before anyone starts work.