What does a plumber cost in 2026?
Hourly rate, call-out costs, job prices and the emergency surcharge: all price guides in one place, plus the 6 factors that drive the bill.
A plumber in 2026 costs on average € 65 to € 95 per hour, plus € 25 to € 45 call-out costs. Guide prices apply for common jobs: unblocking a drain € 95-225, repairing or replacing a tap € 85-200 (excl. materials), fixing a heating breakdown € 100-275, and tracing and fixing a leak € 150-450.
Six factors drive the bill: whether the plumber charges per hour or per job, the call-out costs, the timing (evenings, nights and weekends carry a 150-200% surcharge), materials, the accessibility and age of the pipework, and the region: Randstad rates run 10-20% higher than in the north and east.
Mind the difference between an hourly rate and a job price. A fixed job price gives certainty upfront; with an hourly rate you pay exactly the hours worked but the job can run over. With hourly rates, always ask for a duration estimate and whether travel time is billed.
For non-urgent jobs, always request multiple quotes: differences between companies run up to 40% for exactly the same job. For emergencies a different rule applies: ask for the hourly rate, call-out costs and surcharge on the phone, and confirm them briefly in writing (a text message suffices) before the engineer sets off.