The Short Answer
Swapping a kitchen tap like for like costs about £95 to £180 in labour, depending on whether there are isolation valves under the sink, and takes an hour or two. A new sink and tap in the same place is about £350 to £450. Moving the sink is a bigger job: our estimate is £600 to £1,300.
A boiling water tap like a Quooker needs a socket under the sink and decent water pressure, and costs about £360 to £480 to fit.
Sink and tap prices
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Kitchen tap swap, labour only | £95 to £180 |
| Kitchen tap, supplied and fitted | £140 to £240 |
| New sink and tap, same position | £350 to £450 |
| Sink moved to a new position | £600 to £1,300 |
| Fitting a Quooker boiling water tap | £360 to £480 |
What makes a tap swap cost more
- No isolation valves under the sink: the plumber has more to do, and the labour nearly doubles (about £80 against £150, plus VAT, on one trade platform's figures when we checked in October 2026).
- Awkward pipes inside a cabinet or behind tiling take longer.
- Pull-out sprays and touchless taps add cost.
- Old pipework: older homes can have imperial pipes or non-standard fittings that need adapters.
- A leak found on the day: a burst or leaking pipe found during the job adds about £330 on average, on the same platform's figures.
Boiling water taps
Quooker's own installation criteria:
- A 13 amp socket with an earth pin in the cupboard under the sink (or Quooker's Powerswitch if there's no spare socket).
- At least 2 bar of cold water pressure, and hot as well for some models.
- Water and power within 50cm, below worktop height, with room for the tank.
Quooker says you can fit one yourself and a plumber isn't required. In England, a hot water store of 15 litres or less isn't notifiable building work, as long as its electrical connection is exempt too (plugging into an existing socket is). If a new circuit is needed, that part is notifiable and needs a registered electrician.
Keep a drinking water tap
Changing the sink
- Measure the existing cut-out before you buy: a sink that fits it is a simple swap.
- Belfast and butler sinks are heavy and may need a reinforced base unit.
- Undermount sinks need a solid surface: stone or solid laminate, not standard laminate. See worktops.
The Planning Portal says refitting a kitchen with new fittings doesn't generally need building regulations approval, so you can change a tap yourself if you're confident isolating the water. I'd get a plumber (£320 to £480 a day) if there are no isolation valves, the sink is moving or the worktop is stone.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do plumbers charge to fit a kitchen tap?
About £95 to £180 in labour for a like-for-like swap, including VAT. It's at the low end if there are isolation valves under the sink.
How much does a new kitchen tap cost fitted?
About £140 to £240 for a standard mixer tap, supplied and fitted, on our estimates. Pull-out and touchless taps cost more.
Do I need a plumber to fit a kitchen tap?
Not legally: new fittings don't generally need building regulations approval. You need to be able to isolate the water first. Get a plumber if there are no isolation valves or the tap is awkward to reach.
How much does it cost to replace a kitchen sink?
About £350 to £450 for a new sink and tap in the same position with mid-range parts. Moving it costs more: our estimate is £600 to £1,300.
Do boiling water taps need an electrician?
Quooker's taps need a 13 amp socket under the sink. Plugging into an existing socket isn't notifiable; if a new circuit is needed, that part needs a registered electrician.
How we priced thisView sources (7, 3 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- Trade guideHow much does tap installation cost in 2026?, Checkatrade. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Trade guideHow much does it cost to replace or install a kitchen sink and taps in 2026?, Checkatrade. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryInstallation criteria for a Quooker, Quooker. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialThe Building Regulations 2010, Schedule 4 (England and Wales versions), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 14 Oct 2026.
- OfficialThe Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, Schedule 2 (WC flushing, drinking water taps), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryChoosing a sink for solid laminate worktops, Worktop Express. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialIs building regulations approval needed for work to a kitchen or bathroom?, Planning Portal. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
