The short answer
Expect to pay about £150 to £350 for a simple, accessible burst pipe repair and £400 to £1,200 when the pipe is concealed, plus an emergency call-out of roughly £80 to £200. London is around a fifth dearer than the UK average. Drying out and redecorating are normally priced separately, and buildings insurance often pays for the water damage but not for the pipe itself. We give a written price on site before we start, so you know the cost first.
What does a burst pipe repair cost?
| Job | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Emergency call-out | £80 to £200 |
| Simple repair, pipe easy to reach | £150 to £350 |
| Moderate burst with minor flooding | £300 to £450 |
| Section of pipe replaced | £200 to £600 |
| Frozen pipe thawed and repaired | £150 to £450 |
| Leak detection | £100 to £600 |
| Hidden repair under a floor or in a wall | £400 to £1,200 |
| Buried or under-slab supply pipe | £800 to £2,500 |
| Making good (plaster, paint, flooring) | £150 to £800 or more |
These ranges bring together 2026 UK price guides from published sources. Treat them as a guide, not a quote, and check whether VAT is included.
What changes the price of a burst pipe repair
Two burst pipes can cost very different amounts. The main things that move the price are:
- Access. A split pipe in an open airing cupboard is quick. One behind tiles or under floorboards needs lifting, cutting and reinstating.
- Materials are the small part. Pipe, fittings and sealant usually total £15 to £50, so labour and access set the price.
- Pipe material. Copper and modern plastic pipework are easy to repair. Old lead or corroded galvanised pipe is often replaced rather than patched.
- How much has failed. One clean split is cheaper than a tired run of pipe with several weak points.
- Timing. Evenings, weekends, bank holidays and hard frosts all push call-out prices up.
- Where you live. London and the South East have the highest labour rates in the country.
- The damage. The wet ceiling, floor and plaster can cost more to fix than the pipe.
Emergency call-out and out-of-hours charges
Most plumbers charge a call-out fee for emergencies, and published UK guides put it at roughly £80 to £200, although some quote as low as £50. Hourly rates are usually £40 to £80 on weekdays and £80 to £150 or more in an emergency. At 2am, the same job can cost several times the daytime rate.
If you can turn the water off at the stopcock and nothing is still leaking, booking the next daytime slot is cheaper. If water is still escaping, or has reached sockets or the ceiling light, treat it as an emergency. For urgent jobs, see our emergency plumber service.
Burst pipe repair cost in London and the South East
A 2026 UK price guide puts the London emergency call-out at £98 to £244, about 22% above the UK average, and the South East about 12% above. Labour rates drive most of the gap, along with parking, upper-floor flats and limited access.
In flats, the burst may be on shared pipework or may be coming from the flat above, which changes who pays and who can open up the wall. Tell the plumber what you know about the building before they arrive.
Hidden and underground burst pipes
When the pipe is hidden, the leak has to be found before it can be fixed. Leak detection is usually priced at £100 to £600 and uses methods such as thermal imaging and acoustic listening before anyone opens a wall or floor. A concealed repair then costs £400 to £1,200, and a buried supply pipe or under-slab leak can reach £800 to £2,500.
The supply pipe between the boundary and your house is normally the property owner’s responsibility, while the water company looks after its own pipes up to the boundary. Check with your supplier, and read our guide on who is responsible for a water meter leak.
Frozen pipes and how to prevent bursts
Water expands as it freezes, which can split a pipe. The damage often shows only when the ice thaws and water starts to flow. If you suspect a frozen pipe, turn off the water at the stopcock, open the taps and thaw the pipe slowly with warmth, never a naked flame.
Published guides put a frozen pipe thaw and repair at about £150 to £450. Lagging pipes in lofts, garages and outside walls is cheap protection before the cold weather arrives.
To prevent a repeat, insulate pipes in lofts, garages and outside walls, keep the heating on low during cold spells, and make sure everyone in the home knows where the stopcock is. Fixing a slow drip early is also cheaper than waiting for the pipe to fail.
Making good after the repair
The pipe repair is often the smaller part of the bill. Plastering typically costs £150 to £800 or more, ceiling repairs £150 to £1,200 or more, and replacing flooring £300 to £3,000 or more. Hiring a dehumidifier costs about £50 to £150 a week, and water extraction after heavy flooding £200 to £1,000.
Ask whether making good is included in the price. We state clearly in our written price what is and is not included, so there are no surprises when the invoice arrives.
Does home insurance cover a burst pipe?
Buildings insurance usually covers sudden water damage from a burst pipe, such as ceilings, walls and floors. The repair of the pipe itself is often treated as maintenance and not covered, unless your policy includes trace and access cover. Gradual leaks and some frozen-pipe claims in empty homes are often excluded.
Contents insurance covers your belongings. Check your excess before you claim, take photos before you clear up, and keep every receipt. If you rent, our guide explains who pays for a burst pipe, landlord or tenant.
What to do before the plumber arrives
A few minutes of action can cut the final bill:
- Turn off the water at the stopcock, usually under the kitchen sink.
- Open the cold taps to drain the system, and turn off the heating and hot water if needed.
- Keep away from wet electrics. If water is near sockets or the fuse box, switch off at the consumer unit only if it is dry and safe to reach, and call an electrician.
- Take photos of the burst and the damage for your insurer.
- Move belongings, use towels and buckets, and open windows to start drying.
More detail is in our guide on what to do if a pipe bursts in your house.
How long does a burst pipe repair take?
A simple, exposed pipe usually takes one to two hours. A standard repair takes two to four hours. A hidden pipe can take half a day to a full day, and a major replacement a day or longer. If plaster, flooring and drying are needed, the whole job can run to several days.
Having the right fittings on the van matters. When the parts are on board, most straightforward repairs are finished in one visit.
How to get a fair burst pipe quote
A good quote is in writing and says what you are paying for. Ask whether the call-out fee is included, whether the price is fixed or hourly, what parts are covered, whether VAT is added, whether making good is included, and what guarantee comes with the work.
If the job is not urgent, compare two or three quotes. Be careful with a very low price on the phone that grows once someone arrives. You can also check that a plumber is registered with WaterSafe for work on your water supply.
Common causes of burst pipes
Most burst pipes come from a small number of causes: freezing weather that makes water expand inside the pipe, high water pressure or pressure surges (water hammer), corroded or ageing pipework, damage from building work or poor installation, and joints that fail over time. A blocked drain does not normally burst a supply pipe, so a wet ceiling is not always a burst pipe. A roof or rain leak is a roofing problem, not a plumbing one.
What a plumber’s quote should include
Ask for a written quote that separates labour, parts and any making good. Check whether VAT is included, whether the price covers an emergency visit or normal hours, and what happens if a second fault is found once the pipe is open. Parts such as joints, push-fit connectors and isolation valves are usually a small part of the bill. Access and labour time make the biggest difference.
These figures are a guide only. Real prices depend on the job and its conditions, can be lower or higher than the ranges here, and are subject to our terms and conditions. See how we price jobs. If water is running now, call an emergency plumber. If water is coming through a ceiling, read our guide on water coming through a ceiling.
How we price burst pipe repairs
We start with a make-safe visit: the water is turned off, the burst is found and explained, and we make a temporary repair where it is practical. Then you get a written price for the full repair, agreed on site before we begin. When the parts are on the van, we replace the damaged section and test the system in one visit.
We attend within a day across London and the Home Counties, and every repair carries our 6-month workmanship guarantee. See our burst pipe repair service or call 020 3831 5477.
Related service: burst pipe repair and emergency plumber in London.
A few common questions
How much does it cost to fix a burst pipe?expand_more
A simple, accessible burst pipe repair usually costs £150 to £350 in the UK. A hidden pipe under a floor or behind a wall costs £400 to £1,200, and a buried supply pipe can reach £800 to £2,500. London is typically about a fifth higher. Water damage repairs are extra.
How much does an emergency plumber charge for a burst pipe?expand_more
Published UK guides put emergency call-out fees at roughly £80 to £200, with hourly rates of £80 to £150 or more out of hours. Turning the water off at the stopcock and booking a daytime slot can lower the cost if nothing is still leaking.
Does home insurance cover a burst pipe?expand_more
Buildings insurance usually covers sudden water damage caused by a burst pipe, but often not the repair of the pipe itself unless you have trace and access cover. Contents insurance covers your belongings. Check your policy, photograph the damage and keep receipts.
How long does it take to fix a burst pipe?expand_more
A simple exposed pipe takes one to two hours and a standard repair two to four hours. A hidden pipe can take half a day to a full day. If plastering, flooring and drying are needed, the whole job can take several days.
Can I fix a burst pipe myself?expand_more
You can slow the damage by turning off the stopcock, draining the taps and using a pipe repair clamp or tape as a short-term measure. A permanent repair should be done by a qualified plumber, particularly if the pipe is hidden or the water supply is affected.