Price guide

How much does a plumber charge per hour?

Short answer

Published local rates run from about £50 plus VAT an hour to £90 plus VAT for each extra hour. Call-outs that include the first hour cost about £120 to £160 in the week, and up to £190 plus VAT at weekends. A national survey gives about £60 an hour and a £75 emergency call-out fee.

Updated 15 October 2026 · 2 min read · 6 sources

What local firms charge

Local published call-out prices that include the first hour start at about £120 plus VAT in working hours. We found four firms near the Cotswolds that publish rates on their own websites.

Firms charge in different ways. Some charge a call-out fee that includes the first hour. Others charge a call-out fee plus an hourly rate. Parts are usually extra.

Plumbing rates published by firms near the Cotswolds
Firm (base)	Charge	Published price
Anton Plumbing & Heating (Chippenham)	Call-out with first hour, Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm	£120 plus VAT
Anton Plumbing & Heating (Chippenham)	Call-out with first hour, outside those hours	£160 plus VAT
Anton Plumbing & Heating (Chippenham)	Call-out with first hour, weekends and bank holidays	£190 plus VAT
Anton Plumbing & Heating (Chippenham)	Each extra hour (weekday, evening, weekend)	£90, £120 or £160 plus VAT
Philip Cheeseman & Sons (Melksham)	General plumbing, per hour	£50 plus VAT
Philip Cheeseman & Sons (Melksham)	Call-out, in hours or out of hours, plus hourly rate	£55 or £110 plus VAT
Your Local Plumbing & Heating (Gloucester)	Emergency call-out with first hour (Quedgeley)	£160 (VAT not stated)
The Gloucestershire Plumber (Stroud, Gloucester, Tetbury)	Emergency call-out charge	£50 (VAT not stated)

Prices that each firm publishes on its own website, checked on 15 October 2026. The Anton prices exclude parts. The Cheeseman price page was last changed in January 2025, so its prices may be out of date. These are not quotes for your job. Sources: Anton Plumbing & Heating (Chippenham): prices, Philip Cheeseman & Sons Plumbing & Heating (Melksham): prices, Your Local Plumbing & Heating (Gloucester): prices, The Gloucestershire Plumber (Stroud, Gloucester and Tetbury): home page.

National prices

A national cost survey gives a lower hourly rate. These are national figures, not Cotswold quotes.

National plumber rates
Source	Charge	National price
MyJobQuote cost survey	Emergency call-out fee	About £75
MyJobQuote cost survey	Hourly rate	About £60

National figures from the MyJobQuote emergency plumbing guide (updated 7 October 2026), checked on 15 October 2026. The page says firms usually charge the first hour in full, then in 15 or 30 minute steps. It does not state VAT. Sources: MyJobQuote: emergency plumbing cost (updated 7 October 2026).

What makes a call-out cost more

Time of day matters most. Evening, weekend and bank holiday rates are often much higher than weekday rates.

Travel adds cost in rural areas. Ask if the firm charges for travel to your village.

Parts are usually extra. Ask for the price of parts before the plumber fits them.

Some firms have a minimum charge. One Marlborough firm states a minimum of £150 plus VAT.

How to keep the cost down

A few simple steps can save money. Try these before and during the visit.

Turn off the stop tap to stop the damage, then decide if the job can wait for weekday hours.
Ask what the call-out includes, and how the firm charges after the first hour.
Ask for the price of parts before they are fitted.
Ask if the price includes VAT.
Keep the receipt and any certificate.

Questions

Does a call-out fee include any work?

It depends on the firm. Some include the first hour of labour. Others add an hourly rate on top. Ask before the plumber comes.

Are emergency plumbers more expensive?

Usually, yes. Published rates near the Cotswolds rise in the evening and at weekends. One Chippenham firm charges £190 plus VAT for a weekend call-out with the first hour.

Do plumbers charge VAT?

Firms that are VAT registered must charge it. Some published prices include VAT and some do not. Always ask.