How to Price Plumbing Jobs & Make Profit

Ever feel like you’re constantly on the tools, but your bank balance isn’t quite reflecting the grind? 

For many UK plumbers, pricing jobs can feel like a guessing game – charge too much and you struggle to find jobs, but charge too little and you’re always scraping to make ends meet. 

Pricing is a fine needle to balance—and plumbers in the UK are well-known for undervaluing their own services. 

In this blog, we’ll provide a straightforward formula for how to price a plumbing job. 

Why Every Plumber Needs to Have a Great Pricing Strategy

Accurate pricing isn’t just about quoting a number; it’s the foundation of every successful plumbing business. 

• Steady Cash Flow: When you price properly, you guarantee enough money coming in to cover all your outgoings, keeping your finances flowing as smoothly as a newly installed central heating system.
• Builds Trust & Wins Repeat Work: Transparent, well-calculated quotes show professionalism. When clients see you know your numbers, it builds confidence, making them more likely to rehire you and recommend your services.
• Guaranteed Profitability: By factoring in every last cost and adding a healthy profit margin, you stop hoping for profit and start guaranteeing it. This prevents those frustrating financial headaches down the line.
• Underpricing is like being on a treadmill: You’ll constantly be working hours on end trying to make enough money to get by, but never quite meeting your goals. 

Tip: It’s always harder to raise your prices than it is to lower them. Start on the higher end and see how it goes.

The Big 4: What Your Prices Need To Cover

To price a plumbing job properly, you need to make sure you know how much the job is going to cost you.

This can be broken down into four parts:

Labour Costs:

Your time, your team’s time – the hands-on hours spent on the job.

Material Costs:

Every pipe, fitting, boiler, or tool consumable needed.

Overheads:

The hidden costs of running your plumbing business, from your van to your insurance.

Profit:

The essential reward that keeps your business growing and sustainable. While technically not a “cost”, considering it as one makes pricing a plumbing job profitably far simpler. 

Getting these right means a healthier bottom line. Here are a few pro tips for consistent pricing:

• Have a Go-To Pricing Strategy: For predictable, smaller jobs (like fixing a leaky tap), flat rates work wonders. For complex projects (a full bathroom renovation), an hourly rate might be more appropriate. Consistency in how you quote builds customer confidence.
• Know Your Local Market: Keep an eye on what other plumbers in your local area are charging for similar services. You should never be the cheapest – quality and reliability often win over rock-bottom prices – but it helps to know the landscape.
• Templates are Your Time-Savers: Create standard price lists or templates for frequently performed tasks. This is just as useful for bigger tasks, as you can break them down into smaller chunks before tallying them up as a total.

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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Pricing Any Plumbing Job

Let’s break down exactly how to construct a robust quote that covers all your bases.

1. Scope Out the Job

Before you even think about numbers, get a clear picture. If necessary, visit the site. Ask yourself:

• Are there any access challenges? (Think tight spaces under floors or in lofts).
• Does any prep work need doing before you can start?
• How long will the plumbing job really take? Break things down, and be realistic.
• What specific tasks are involved? 

Taking photos can be a lifesaver for larger projects, helping you recall details later.

2. Calculate Your Labour Costs

This is your time and skill. To get your hourly rate sorted:

• Figure out your total annual labour expenses. This includes everything from: 
• Your own desired salary, 
• Any wages for employees, 
• Taxes
• Benefits
• Determine your annual billable hours. Don’t include parts of your work like admin, driving, training, holidays, and things you wouldn’t directly charge a customer for.
• Divide total expenses by billable hours. This gives you a true hourly rate to cover your labour.

Once you have your hourly rate, estimate how long the specific plumbing job will take. Track your time on similar jobs to build an accurate library of task durations.

Quick Example: If your annual labour costs are £60,000 and you have 1,500 billable hours, your baseline labour cost is £40/hour. If a job takes 2.5 hours, that’s £100 just for labour before profit.

Read our full guide on labour costs, or use this quick calculator: 

3. Account for Every Material

Plumbing often involves a lot of materials, so be thorough:

• List everything. From a small pipe section to a brand-new boiler, don’t miss anything significant.
• Get current quotes from suppliers. Material prices can fluctuate, so always get up-to-date figures.
• Add a small markup. A 10-20% markup on materials covers your time handling, collecting, and transporting them.
• Protect yourself from price hikes. For bigger items, include a validity period on your quote or a clause about potential material cost increases.

Quick Example: A new boiler at £1100, plus £50 for copper pipe and fittings. Add a 15% markup (£172.50) and your material cost is £1322.50.

4. Factor in Your Overheads

These are the costs of simply being in business, regardless of the job. Think van fuel, tools, insurance, professional training, and your FieldRocket subscription.

• Total your monthly overheads. This will include costs such as: 
• Office bills
• Insurance
• Van expenses
• Fuel
• Internet & phone costs
• Divide by your monthly billable hours. This gives you an hourly overhead rate.

Quick Example: If your monthly overheads are £2,500 and you work 120 billable hours, each hour needs to cover £20.83 in overheads. So, a 2.5-hour job would add £52.08 to your costs.

5. Add Your Profit Margin

This is where your hard work pays off. Profit is what allows you to invest, grow, and secure your future.

• Aim for 15% to 30%. This is a typical range for UK trades, but it can vary based on your specialisation (e.g., emergency plumbing vs. scheduled installations) and local market demand.
• Total up all your costs. (Labour + Materials + Overheads).
• Apply your desired profit percentage.

Quick Example: Total Costs (from above examples) = £100 (labour) + £1322.50 (materials) + £52.08 (overheads) = £1474.58. Add 20% profit: £1474.58 * 0.20 = £294.92. Final Job Price = £1474.58 + £294.92 = £1769.50.

6. Deliver a Polished, Professional Plumbing Quote

Numbers are great, but presentation is key. A clear, itemised quote builds trust and helps prevent disputes.

• Use quoting software (like FieldRocket!). It makes creating professional, branded quotes quick and easy.
• Break it down. Don’t just give a lump sum. Show line items for labour, materials, and any specific tasks.
• Include terms and validity. State how long the quote is valid and any other important conditions.

Overcoming Common Plumbing Pricing Headaches

Even with a formula, challenges pop up. Here’s how to tackle them:

• Rising Material Costs: Prices for copper or specific parts can jump. Always get fresh supplier quotes for big jobs. Consider adding a small buffer or a “price valid for X days” clause to your quotes.
• Client Haggling: When clients try to negotiate, your itemised quote is your shield. Clearly explain your value, your expertise, and any guarantees. Your price reflects your quality!
• Underestimating Time: We’ve all done it. Keep a log of how long similar jobs actually took. Regularly review your past quotes and adjust your time estimates based on real-world experience.

Average Plumbing Job Prices in the UK

Prices will vary by location, complexity, and urgency. That being said, having a general sense of average plumbing job prices in the UK can be a useful benchmark. 

In 2025, the average rates are as follows:

Hourly labour: 58.57

Callout fee: 86.65

Emergency callout: 109.18

Gas Safety Certificate: 78.37

Get More From Your Plumbing Business with FieldRocket

Accurate pricing and professional quotes don’t have to eat up your evenings. With FieldRocket, you can:

• Generate customisable quotes in minutes using pre-set templates, perfect for those common plumbing jobs.
• Create and issue all essential industry certificates (like Gas Safety Records) directly from your mobile app on site – no more paperwork headaches!
• Keep every customer detail, job, and invoice neatly organised in one central place.

Stop guessing and start profiting. Work smarter, not harder, with FieldRocket. It helps you look professional, save hours each week, and get more out of your plumbing business.

Ready to take control of your pricing? Start your free FieldRocket trial today!

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