Emergency plumber cost, our published rate card
Most emergency plumbers won’t tell you what they charge until you’ve already let them in.
One rate, whatever the hour
3am on a bank holiday costs exactly the same as Tuesday lunchtime. No call-out fee, and no extra for nights, weekends or bank holidays.
| When you call | First hour | Each extra half hour |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday, 8am to 6pm | £110 | £45 |
| Weekday evening | £110 | £45 |
| Overnight | £110 | £45 |
| Weekend | £110 | £45 |
| Bank holiday | £110 | £45 |
Parts are charged on top, at the cost of the part. If a part has to be sourced, you approve the cost before we buy it.
What an emergency plumber costs, by time on the job
£110 covers the first hour, then each extra half hour is £45, plus the cost of parts. Charging starts when the engineer arrives, not when the van sets off, and there is no call-out fee on top. The same figure applies day, night and weekend.
What is an emergency plumber call-out fee?
A call-out fee is a fixed charge for coming to your home. It is added before the plumber has looked at the problem, and on top of the hourly rate or the price of the job. Some firms charge more for a call-out at night, at weekends or on bank holidays. Others say “no call-out fee” but then charge a minimum of two hours, which is the same money with a different name. None of this is wrong in itself, as long as you are told up front. The problem is when you only find out on the invoice. So before anyone sets off, ask three things: is there a call-out fee, is there a minimum charge, and does the price change at night?
Plumber call-out cost: how to compare quotes
Do not compare the headline numbers. Compare what a normal job would cost from start to finish. Most emergency jobs take between one and two hours. So work out the total for that time from each firm: call-out fee, plus the hourly rate, plus any night or weekend extra. Then ask what the minimum charge is and how long the work is guaranteed for. A cheap-looking rate with a big call-out fee or a two-hour minimum is usually the dearer one in the end.
We do not charge a call-out fee at any time. You pay £110 for the first hour and £45 for each extra half hour. That is the same at 3am on a Sunday as on a Tuesday afternoon. There is no night, weekend or bank holiday surcharge, and no extra for your postcode. The engineer tells you what the fault is and what part it needs before fixing it, and the work is guaranteed for twelve months.
Questions people ask
Is the first-hour rate really the same at 3am?
Yes. £110 first hour, £45 per additional half hour, at any hour of any day including bank holidays. Night premiums are a choice firms make, not a cost they bear.
Do I pay a call-out fee if you cannot fix it?
There is no call-out fee at any time. You pay for the time on the job, £110 for the first hour and £45 for each extra half hour, plus the cost of any parts you agreed to.
What about parts?
Parts are charged on top of the time. The engineer tells you what part is needed and what it costs before fitting it.
What if the job turns out bigger than expected?
The engineer tells you as soon as opening up shows something different, such as a second leak or a collapsed drain, and you decide whether to carry on. The rate stays the same.