2026 price guidance
Drain Relining Cost UK – 2026 Price Guide
The short answer: many standard drain relining jobs may cost around £85–£150 per metre, although pricing can vary significantly depending on pipe diameter, access, length, preparation and repair method. A localised patch repair is often around £350–£1,200, and a short relining project frequently lands between £600 and £2,000.
These are general market guides, not fixed quotations. A price for your drain can only come from a specialist who has seen the CCTV footage.
Price table
Typical UK price guidance
Figures reflect residential drainage work in the UK. Commercial and adopted sewer work is priced differently and is outside the scope of this guide.
| Work | Typical UK price guidance |
|---|---|
| Basic CCTV survey | £150–£300 |
| CCTV survey with detailed report | £250–£400 |
| 100 mm drain relining | £70–£130 per metre |
| 150 mm drain relining | £120–£170 per metre |
| Patch repair | £350–£1,200 |
| Short relining project | £600–£2,000 |
| Full residential lateral / larger residential project | £1,500–£4,000+ |
These are general market guides, not fixed quotations.
What moves the price
Pipe diameter
Most UK residential drains are 100 mm or 150 mm. Larger liners cost more in materials and need more equipment, which is why 150 mm work generally prices above 100 mm.
Length to be lined
Per-metre rates fall as length increases, because mobilisation, set-up and preparation are largely fixed. A 2-metre repair rarely costs a fifth of a 10-metre one.
Access
An accessible front-garden chamber a few metres from the road is straightforward. A rear garden reached through the house, a deep chamber, or a run under an extension all add labour and time.
Bends and junctions
Each bend and branch connection makes installation harder, and junctions may need reinstating through the liner afterwards. Complex layouts price higher.
Cleaning and preparation
Heavy silt, scale, fat or hardened debris means more jetting before lining. Preparation is not optional — a liner will not bond properly to a dirty pipe wall.
Roots
Root masses need mechanical cutting before lining, which is separate work. See tree roots in drains.
Pipe condition
A cracked but round pipe lines readily. A deformed or partly collapsed pipe may need extra preparation, a different method, or excavation instead.
CCTV requirements
The initial CCTV drain survey and any formal report are usually priced separately from the repair, as is post-repair footage.
Property location
Regional labour rates vary. Work in London commonly prices higher than in Manchester or much of the north, reflecting labour, parking, congestion charging and general operating costs.
The alternative: excavation and reinstatement
When comparing quotations, count the full cost of digging: excavation, pipe replacement, backfill, spoil removal, and then reinstating block paving, resin, a patio or a lawn. That reinstatement is frequently the largest single element, and it is why relining often compares well even at a similar headline rate. The relining vs excavation comparison covers this in detail.
How to compare quotations fairly
- Length being lined, in metres, and from which chamber to which point
- Whether cleaning and root cutting are included or extra
- Whether post-repair CCTV footage is provided
- Whether junctions will be reinstated
- VAT — check whether quoted figures include it
- Written warranty terms, and what they exclude
FAQ
Cost questions
What is the average cost of drain relining in the UK?
Many standard residential relining jobs work out around £85–£150 per metre, with short projects often landing between £600 and £2,000 in total. Larger or more complex work on a full residential lateral commonly runs from £1,500 to £4,000 or more.
Why do quotations vary so much between companies?
Scope is usually the reason. One quotation may cover cleaning, lining and post-repair CCTV over 8 metres while another covers a 1-metre patch. Compare the length lined, the preparation included and whether final footage is provided.
Is the CCTV survey fee usually deducted from the repair?
Some companies credit the survey fee against subsequent repair work, others do not. It is worth asking before booking the survey.
Related
Understand the work you are paying for
Next step
Get a quote for your own drain
Guide prices only go so far. Send the postcode and symptoms and we help route your enquiry to a specialist servicing your area who can quote on the actual defect.
We are an enquiry service, not a drainage contractor. The specialist who receives your enquiry carries out the CCTV survey, quotation and any repair work.