TL;DR — Dripping Tap Repair Cost At A Glance
Most people pay £50–£150 to fix a dripping tap (around £100 on average) outside London, rising to £60–£180 in London.
- A basic washer or O-ring swap is the cheapest fix at £50–£70, while a cartridge replacement runs £60–£110 and a complex valve repair £90–£140.
- The job is quick — a plumber usually sorts a dripping tap in under two hours, so most of the bill is the minimum call-out plus a small part.
- Cost drivers are the type of fault, the tap's age and type, your location, water isolation and whether you book out of hours.
- Parts are cheap (a washer is pennies; a cartridge £10–£30) — the labour and call-out make up most of the price.
- A left-to-drip tap can waste thousands of litres a year and stain the basin, so fixing it early is the money-saving move.
Get a fixed price to fix a dripping tap — check prices and book a plumber online or arrange a visit that suits you.
How Much Does Dripping Tap Repair Cost In 2026?
Fixing a dripping tap in the UK costs £50–£150, with an average of around £100 inc VAT. In London and the South East, expect £60–£180 for the same work. The single biggest reason for the spread is the fault behind the drip: a worn rubber washer is a five-minute swap, whereas a seized ceramic valve or a corroded valve seat takes longer and sometimes needs a part ordered in.
Because a dripping tap is a small job, the price is driven far more by the plumber's minimum call-out charge than by the part itself. Most plumbers charge a first-hour or call-out fee of roughly £60–£120, and a straightforward tap repair fits inside that window. That is why bundling a dripping tap with another small job — a slow-draining sink, a running toilet — often gives you much better value per visit.
Here is what you can expect to pay by the type of repair:
| Type of repair | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Basic washer or O-ring replacement | £50 – £70 | £60 – £95 |
| Cartridge replacement (mixer taps) | £60 – £110 | £80 – £130 |
| Complex valve or valve-seat repair | £90 – £140 | £120 – £150 |
| Typical dripping tap repair (all-in) | £50 – £150 (avg £100) | £60 – £180 |
Figures include VAT and reflect 2026 market rates. Your exact price depends on the fault and your postcode — get a fixed quote here.
Dripping Tap Repair Cost Breakdown: Parts Vs Labour
For a dripping tap, labour and the call-out are almost the whole bill. The parts are inexpensive, which is worth knowing if a plumber's quote seems weighted heavily towards materials.
| Component | Typical price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Rubber washer | £1 – £5 |
| O-ring seal | £1 – £5 |
| Ceramic cartridge | £10 – £30 |
| Ceramic disc valve | £15 – £40 |
| Full replacement tap (if repair isn't viable) | £30 – £350 |
| Labour / call-out (first hour) | £50 – £120 |
A washer-only fix is mostly labour. Once you reach cartridge or ceramic-disc territory, the part cost climbs a little, but labour still dominates. If the tap is old, badly limescaled or discontinued, replacing the whole unit can work out better value than repeatedly chasing drips — see the FAQ on repair versus replace below.
What Affects The Cost Of Dripping Tap Repair?
Several things decide where you land in the ranges above.
1. The Type Of Fault
A worn washer or O-ring is the cheapest and most common fix. A blocked or cracked cartridge in a mixer tap costs a little more. A corroded valve seat or a failed ceramic disc is the most involved, because the plumber may need to reface the seat or source a matching part.
2. The Tap Type And Age
Traditional pillar taps with rubber washers are quick and cheap to service. Modern mixer and monobloc taps use cartridges or ceramic discs that can be fiddlier to access. Very old or budget taps are sometimes cheaper to replace than repair, especially if parts are no longer made.
3. Your Location
London and the South East run roughly 15–30% higher than the North of England, Wales and Scotland, reflecting higher labour and travel costs. A £60 washer swap in Yorkshire is often £80–£95 for the same job in the capital.
4. Water Isolation And Access
If the tap has its own isolation valve under the basin, the plumber can shut off the supply in seconds. Without one, the water has to be turned off at the mains and the system drained, which adds time. Awkward access — a tap boxed in behind a vanity unit, for example — also slows the job.
5. Emergency Or Out-Of-Hours Booking
A booked daytime slot is the cheapest way to have a tap fixed. Same-day, evening, weekend or bank-holiday call-outs carry a premium — often 1.5 to 2 times the standard rate plus a call-out fee.
6. Whether The Tap Needs Replacing
If the tap body is corroded or the drip keeps returning, a plumber may recommend a new tap. That shifts the job from a repair into a supply-and-fit, changing the total. Ask for both options in the quote.
What's Included — And What's Not
Quotes vary in what they cover, so it pays to check line by line before booking. Here's how a dripping tap repair usually splits:
| Typically included in a dripping tap repair | Usually charged separately |
|---|---|
| Diagnosing the cause of the drip | A brand-new tap, if replacement is the better option |
| Isolating the water supply | Fitting a new isolation valve where none exists |
| Replacing the washer, O-ring, cartridge or disc as needed | Descaling or repairs to the wider pipework |
| Reassembling and testing the tap for leaks | Out-of-hours or emergency premiums |
| Small consumables such as PTFE tape and jointing compound |
Always get the scope in writing before work starts, so the final bill matches the quote.
Can You Fix A Dripping Tap Yourself?
For a traditional tap with a rubber washer, DIY is realistic if you are confident turning off the water and using a spanner. The parts cost only a few pounds, and washer kits are sold in every hardware shop. The steps — isolate the supply, remove the headgear, swap the washer or O-ring, reassemble — are well within reach for a competent home DIYer, and doing it yourself saves the call-out fee.
Bring in a professional when the tap uses a ceramic cartridge or disc, when fittings are seized or corroded, when there is no isolation valve, or when you cannot identify the cause of the drip. A plumber will also spot related problems — high water pressure straining the seals, or limescale damage — that would otherwise bring you back to the same drip in a few months. If in doubt, a quick professional fix avoids turning a £5 washer into a flooded cupboard.
How To Save Money On Dripping Tap Repair
Fix it early. A drip only gets worse, wastes water and stains the basin — a small fault now is cheaper than a seized valve later.
- Bundle small jobs. Have the plumber tackle a running toilet, a slow drain or a second dripping tap in the same visit to make the most of the minimum call-out.
- Book in normal hours. Avoid emergency and weekend premiums unless the leak is genuinely urgent.
- Supply your own tap if a replacement is needed and you have found the right model — you pay trade only for fitting.
- Fit isolation valves during any bathroom or kitchen work, so future repairs are faster and cheaper.
- Get 2–3 quotes for anything beyond a basic washer and compare what each includes, not just the headline price.
How To Hire A Good Plumber
Ask neighbours for recommendations, check reviews, or use a vetted service. Whoever you choose, confirm they are insured, ask for reviews or references, and get a written quote that states whether it covers a repair or a full replacement. For any job beyond a simple washer swap, it is worth confirming the plumber carries common cartridges and washers so a return visit is not needed.
With Fantastic Services, you get vetted, insured plumbers, transparent pricing and online booking — describe the fault and get a price up front.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost To Repair A Dripping Tap?
In 2026, repairing a dripping tap costs £50–£150 (around £100 on average) across most of the UK, rising to £60–£180 in London. A basic washer swap sits at the lower end; a cartridge or valve repair sits higher.
How Much Do The Parts Cost To Fix A Dripping Tap?
Very little. A washer or O-ring is £1–£5, a ceramic cartridge is £10–£30, and a ceramic disc valve is £15–£40. Most of the bill is labour and the minimum call-out, not the part.
What Causes A Dripping Tap?
The usual culprits are a worn washer, a damaged cartridge, a faulty ceramic disc, worn O-rings, corroded internal parts or a damaged valve seat. High water pressure and limescale build-up speed up all of these.
Is It Cheaper To Repair Or Replace A Dripping Tap?
Repair is almost always cheaper for a tap in good condition. If the tap is old, heavily limescaled, corroded or a model whose parts are no longer made, replacing it (supply and fit from £80–£250) can be better value than repeatedly fixing drips.
Can You Fix A Dripping Tap Yourself?
Yes, if it is a traditional washer tap and you can safely isolate the water. Swapping a washer or O-ring is a common DIY job costing only a few pounds in parts. Call a plumber for ceramic cartridges, seized fittings or if there is no isolation valve.
How Long Does It Take To Fix A Dripping Tap?
Most dripping taps are fixed in under two hours, and many in well under one. Time increases if the water has to be shut off at the mains, if fittings are seized, or if a part needs sourcing.
Where Can You Find A Plumber To Repair A Dripping Tap?
Use a vetted, insured provider such as Fantastic Services, where you can book online, see pricing up front and choose a slot that suits you.
Sources (market research, 2026): Checkatrade, MyBuilder, MyJobQuote, Housekeep and regional plumbing providers. All prices are indicative market ranges and should be verified against Fantastic Services' pricing before booking.
