The Short Answer
On our estimates, a plumber's call-out fee, where one is charged, is typically £70 to £160. A weekday daytime visit is at the lower end (£80 to £120); late nights (£100 to £140), weekends (£120 to £150) and bank holidays (£130 to £180) cost more.
Not every plumber charges a separate call-out; some just charge by the hour, at about £40 to £60 an hour. Either way, agree the call-out, the hourly rate and what's included before they come.
Call-out fees by time of day
| When | Typical call-out fee |
|---|---|
| Weekday, daytime | £80 to £120 |
| Late night | £100 to £140 |
| Weekend | £120 to £150 |
| Bank holiday | £130 to £180 |
| Emergency, per hour after the call-out | £75 to £150 |
Common repair prices
| Repair | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Unblock a toilet | £75 to £150 |
| Fix a leak at a joint or valve | £75 to £130 |
| Fix a leaking tap | £50 to £150 |
| Repair a burst pipe | £50 to £200 |
What to agree before they come
Citizens Advice's guidance on hiring a trader applies to a plumber too:
- A quote is a fixed price; an estimate is a guess. A trader can't charge more than a quote unless you ask for extra work, or they tell you more is needed and you agree.
- On an hourly or day rate, get in writing how long they expect it to take and when they need your go-ahead to carry on.
- Pay by card, not cash. A credit card payment for £100.01 to £30,000 gives you a section 75 claim if things go wrong.
I'd ask three things on the phone: does the call-out include the first hour, are parts extra, and will they give a fixed price once they've seen the problem?
Why a WaterSafe plumber
WaterSafe is the national register of approved plumbers, run with the water suppliers. Its members are trained in the Water Fittings Regulations. For most types of plumbing work, a plumber has a legal duty to tell the water supplier before starting, which can cause delays; approved businesses can do some work without that advance notice. They give you a certificate when the work's done, which is your defence if the water supplier ever says the work breaks the regulations, and they have to put non-compliant work right.
Hourly rates and bigger jobs
For hourly and day rates by experience, see plumber rates. A gas boiler fault needs a Gas Safe registered engineer: see boiler repair costs.
Get plumbing repairs quotes
Tell them what's wrong and they'll price the call-out and the fix.
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Frequently asked questions
Do plumbers always charge a call-out fee?
No. Some charge a fixed call-out, often for emergency or out-of-hours visits; others just charge by the hour, about £40 to £60. Ask before they come.
How much is a plumber's call-out charge?
Typically £70 to £160 on our estimates: about £80 to £120 on a weekday and £120 to £150 at the weekend.
What is a reasonable call-out fee for a plumber?
For a weekday daytime visit, about £80 to £120; I'd treat more than £180 as high even on a bank holiday. Check whether it includes the first hour.
How much does a plumber charge per hour?
About £40 to £60 an hour on our estimates, and £75 to £150 for emergency work.
How we priced thisView sources (3, 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.
- OfficialBefore you get work done on your home (England), Citizens Advice. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialWhat are the benefits of choosing a WaterSafe approved plumbing business?, WaterSafe. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- OfficialThe Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, regulation 3, legislation.gov.uk. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
