How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Tap in the UK?

Last updated on November 11, 2026 by Emma Collins

A dripping tap is a small job with a small bill — usually. For most UK homes, a standard tap replacement costs £140 to £260 fitted, according to Checkatrade’s June 2026 guide. Bath taps sit at the dear end, basin taps at the cheap end, and a repair is often cheaper than either. Here is what each type costs, what a quote should include, and when a £50 repair is enough. If the spout is only furred with limescale, a kettle-style descale of the aerator may be enough before you replace the tap.

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Tap in the UK in 2026?

For most UK homes, replacing a tap costs between £140 and £260 including labour and a standard replacement tap, according to Checkatrade’s 2026 cost guide (last updated June 2026). The average cost of tap installation is around £140 for labour only, with the tap itself on top. MyJobQuote’s quote-based figures, updated 30 September 2026, run lower — its average is around £100 for a straight swap. The two sources measure different things: MyJobQuote averages real quotes for simple like-for-like jobs with basic taps, while Checkatrade’s ranges cover dearer taps and trickier access. Budget from the Checkatrade range; if your job is a simple swap with a basic tap, the MyJobQuote figures are the ones to expect.

Tap type	Tap only (supply)	Fitted (supply + labour)	Notes
Basin taps (pair or mono mixer)	£30–£50	£140–£220	Usually the cheapest job
Kitchen mixer tap	~£60	£140–£240	Straight swap ~£110 on MyJobQuote quotes
Bath taps	£60–£80	£200–£320	Dearest — awkward access, bath panel may come off
Mixer tap (general)	£50–£60	£140–£260	Checkatrade’s broadest band
Outdoor tap	£10–£30	£120–£200	Needs new pipework and a double-check valve
Labour only (you supply the tap)	—	£80–£200	£40–£60 an hour; a simple swap takes 1–2 hours

Supply-only prices are from MyJobQuote (September 2026); fitted ranges are from Checkatrade (June 2026). A boiling-water tap is a different job: Checkatrade puts fitting at £300–£400, with the unit itself around £1,500. A good quote should list the tap (or confirm you are supplying it), the labour, any new isolation valves or flexible hoses, and whether VAT is included. Ask whether removing the old tap is included too. HomeServe’s plumbing repair guide, based on BCIS research, puts changing a tap at around £254 including labour and parts — inside the Checkatrade range.

What Affects the Price of a Tap Replacement?

The tap you choose matters more than anything else. A basic chrome mixer tap is far cheaper than a designer tap, a pull-out spray tap, a touchless tap or a boiling water tap, and the dearer taps can also take longer to fit. Access is the second big factor. A kitchen tap with clear space underneath the sink is a quick job. A bath tap boxed in behind tiles, or a basin tap in a tiny cloakroom with no room to work, takes longer and costs more. Old pipework can add to the bill too, if seized isolation valves need replacing or corroded pipes need a section replaced. Plumbers in London and the South East typically charge 20 to 30 percent more than those in the North and Midlands. Get two or three local quotes, and make sure each one covers the same tap and the same work.

Kitchen, Basin and Bath Taps: What Each One Costs

Kitchen taps are the most commonly replaced, and a standard mixer tap swap usually costs £140 to £240 including labour and the tap. Replacing the sink at the same time costs more, averaging around £400 for a same-position swap. Boiling water taps and pull-out spray taps cost more to buy and to fit.

Basin taps in a bathroom or cloakroom are usually the simplest job. A pair of basin taps or a single mixer tap typically costs £140 to £220 fitted. Bath taps are the dearest, at around £200 to £320. The taps sit low and tight against the bath, so the plumber often works in an awkward space, and the bath panel may need to come off.

Repair or Replace: When a New Tap Is Worth It

Not every faulty tap needs replacing. A dripping tap is often a worn washer or tired cartridge, which a plumber can usually fix for £50 to £150. A stiff tap may only need a new valve, and a tap that has lost pressure might just have a blocked aerator. Unscrew it, soak it in vinegar overnight — the same approach used to descale a kettle or remove limescale from a toilet — and the flow often comes straight back.

Replacement is the better choice when the tap body is cracked, the chrome is peeling, or the internal parts are so worn that a repair will not last. It is also worth replacing a tap if it is more than 15 years old and parts are hard to find. If a mixer tap will not hold its temperature, the cartridge is usually at fault, but a matching cartridge can be hard to find for obscure brands. If the whole bathroom is draining slowly as well as dripping, that is a different job — our guide to unblocking a shower drain without chemicals covers it.

DIY or Hire a Plumber?

Replacing a tap is a job a confident DIYer can tackle, but only if you can turn the water off first. Every home should have an isolation valve under the sink or by the tap, and a stopcock where the water enters the house. If you cannot find them, or they are seized shut, call a plumber.

The job itself is straightforward: turn the water off, drain the pipes, disconnect the old tap, fit the new one with fresh washers, reconnect the pipes, and check carefully for leaks. Hire a plumber if the pipework is old, the tap is a bath tap, or the tap is moving position. Checkatrade puts a DIY tap installation at around £80 for tools and materials — worth comparing against a professional quote, but a leak from a bad DIY fit costs far more than the saving.

Tap Replacement FAQs

Conclusion

Start with the repair question: a washer or cartridge fix at £50 to £150 beats a new tap when the tap body is sound. If you do replace, budget £140 to £260 fitted for a standard tap, more for a bath tap or a boiling-water model. Get two or three written quotes that list the tap, labour, valves and VAT, and fix a dripping tap sooner rather than later — a steady drip wastes water every day it is left.