COSTS
What an emergency plumber costs in the UK
Emergency call-out charges and hourly rates, what makes them higher, and what to do before you ring anyone.
IN SHORT
An emergency plumber in the UK typically charges £75 to £150 an hour, with an average of £100, plus a call-out of £100 to £120, according to Checkatrade. Checkatrade also says an emergency plumber may charge up to double the normal hourly rate. MyBuilder's call-out figures are higher again at weekends and on holidays.
If you smell gas: don't use switches or naked flames. Open doors and windows, turn off the gas at the meter if you can, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. It's free and runs 24 hours. Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
If water is pouring out: turn off your stopcock by turning it fully clockwise. It's usually under the kitchen sink, but can be under the stairs, in a utility room or in a garage.
If water is near electrics: don't touch anything wet. Only switch off at the consumer unit if you can reach it safely and it's dry.
This page is part of our guide to plumbing costs in the UK. Every figure below has its source named and dated at the bottom of the page.
Emergency plumber cost in the UK
An emergency plumber typically charges £75 to £150 an hour, with an average of £100, plus a call-out of £100 to £120, according to Checkatrade. Its average emergency call-out is £110. Checkatrade also says an emergency plumber may charge up to double the normal hourly rate, which is £40 to £60 in its guide.
Other guides give similar numbers. MyJobQuote puts the average cost of hiring an emergency plumber at about £200, and a typical emergency repair at £135 to £255 in total, with materials extra. Gas Engineer Software also gives an emergency call-out of £100 to £120.
Emergency prices for common jobs
Checkatrade's call-out guide gives average labour prices for common emergencies, with parts charged separately.
| EMERGENCY | AVERAGE LABOUR |
|---|---|
| Blocked or overflowing toilet | £100 |
| Blocked sink | £100 |
| Broken pipe | £100 |
| Blocked drain | £175 |
| Boiler breakdown | £275 |
A boiler breakdown on a gas boiler needs a Gas Safe registered engineer, not just any plumber.
How much more emergency plumbers charge
The usual rule of thumb is one and a half to two times the normal rate. Checkatrade says up to double. Fantastic Services, a company that publishes its own prices, says out-of-hours, weekend or same-day work is about 1.5 to 2 times the standard rate, plus a call-out. BestBuilders also gives 1.5 to 2 times for emergency and overnight work.
One guide goes higher still. Fantastic Services' blog says emergencies at plumbing firms can cost up to two to three times the regular rate. Whatever the job, ask whether the plumber adds an out-of-hours premium, and how much, before they set off.
Emergency plumber rates at night, weekends and holidays
Only two of the cost guides we read split prices by evening, weekend and holiday, so take these as a guide. MyBuilder gives these call-out charges:
- Weekday daytime: £80 to £120
- Late night: £100 to £140
- Weekend: £120 to £150
- Holiday: £130 to £180 (MyBuilder doesn't say whether this means bank holidays)
BestBuilders gives first-hour charges instead. Outside London and the South East, an emergency or overnight first hour is £110 to £220, and a bank holiday first hour is £120 to £250. In London and the South East, it gives £150 to £300 and £180 to £350. BestBuilders doesn't say where its figures come from. MyBuilder's holiday figure is the closest any of the major platforms comes to a bank holiday price.
Before you agree to an emergency job
Ask for the price before the plumber sets off, even in a hurry. Check whether the call-out includes any work, what the hourly rate is after that, and whether parts and VAT are extra.
Be aware of your cancellation rights. The usual 14-day cooling-off period doesn't apply when you specifically asked a trader to come out for urgent repairs, and Citizens Advice gives a burst pipe as an example. Extra work beyond the urgent repair is still covered by the usual right to cancel. If a plumber suggests more work while they're there, you can ask for a separate quote and decide later.
WaterSafe Register warns that pressure tactics, such as calling work urgent, are a red flag, and suggests getting a second opinion before agreeing to "urgent" work. Our checklist for what to do before you call a plumber covers the first steps.
Fill My Day is not an emergency service
Fill My Day is for plumbing jobs that can wait a few hours, not emergencies. When it launches in Bristol, it will send your job to checked plumbers nearby who have free time that day. That suits a dripping tap or a running toilet. It doesn't suit a burst pipe or water through the ceiling.
If you've turned off the stopcock and the leak has stopped, the repair may be able to wait for normal working hours, when rates are lower. Checkatrade's standard hourly rate is £40 to £60, against £75 to £150 for emergencies. Our guide to plumber call-out charges shows what a daytime visit costs.
Need a plumber in Bristol?
Fill My Day is coming soon to Bristol, for the plumbing jobs that can wait a few hours. It's free to use at launch and isn't taking bookings yet. See what's launching in Bristol.
Where these figures come from
- Checkatrade, Plumber Costs in 2026, updated June 2026
- Checkatrade, Plumber call-out charges: Cost breakdown 2026, updated March 2026
- MyBuilder, Plumber Call Out Fees in 2026, updated 21 August 2026
- MyJobQuote, Emergency Plumber Cost Guide (UK Prices 2026), updated 7 October 2026
- Gas Engineer Software, Plumber Hourly Rates UK 2026, published 14 July 2026
- BestBuilders, How much do plumbers charge per hour in 2026 (UK)?, undated (2026)
- Fantastic Services, Dripping Tap Repair Cost In 2026, updated 30 September 2026
- Fantastic Services blog, How Much Do Plumbers Charge in the UK, updated 8 January 2026
- SGN, gas emergency advice, undated (checked October 2026)
- Bristol Water, In an emergency, could you find your stop tap?, published 11 November 2025
- Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 28, revised text to 16 October 2026
- Citizens Advice, Cancelling building or decorating work, undated (checked October 2026)
- WaterSafe Register, Advice, undated (checked October 2026)
GOOD TO KNOW
Questions,
answered straight.
How much does an emergency plumber cost in the UK?
Checkatrade puts emergency rates at £75 to £150 an hour, with an average of £100, plus a call-out of £100 to £120. MyJobQuote gives an average of about £200 to hire an emergency plumber.
How much more do plumbers charge for emergencies?
Checkatrade says up to double the normal hourly rate, plus a call-out. Other guides commonly give one and a half to two times the standard rate.
What should I do before calling an emergency plumber?
If water is escaping, turn off your stopcock, usually under the kitchen sink, by turning it clockwise. If you smell gas, leave and call 0800 111 999.
Can I cancel an emergency plumbing job I asked for?
Usually not under the 14-day cooling-off rules. They don't apply when you specifically asked a trader to come for urgent repairs, though they still cover extra work beyond the urgent repair.
Is Fill My Day an emergency service?
No. Fill My Day is for plumbing jobs that can wait a few hours. In an emergency, make the property safe first and call for help straight away.
FIRST STOP / BRISTOL
Bristol.
You’re up first.
The app is in development and isn't taking bookings yet. Plumbers first, other trades to follow.