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UK cost guide

Drain Unblocking Cost UK 2026

UK drain unblocking costs for rodding, jetting, emergency call-outs, CCTV surveys and drain relining.

Last reviewed: 1 September 2026 · Sources & data · Methodology

Typical planning costAround £85 for drain rodding
Broader project rangeAbout £75–£400 for common clearance methods before repairs
Planning figures are estimates rather than quotations. Live calculators combine dated UK benchmarks with clearly separated modelling assumptions such as region, size, condition and specification.

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What affects the cost?

Drain unblocking cost depends on blockage severity, access, whether rodding or high-pressure jetting is needed, and whether diagnosis with a CCTV survey is required. Emergency attendance adds a separate call-out premium.

  • Blockage location and severity
  • Rodding or high-pressure jetting
  • Scheduled or emergency call-out
  • CCTV survey requirement
  • Drain access
  • Damage requiring relining or repair

Typical cost breakdown

Standard call-outAround £60
Emergency call-outAround £180
Drain rodding£75–£150
Drain jetting£120–£250
Rodding and jetting£180–£400
Basic CCTV survey£150–£300

Regional planning examples

The examples below apply our published modelling factor to the same national benchmark. They are not claimed as observed city-wide average quotes.

London£100–£510
Manchester£70–£380
Birmingham£70–£390
Glasgow£70–£380
Cardiff£70–£360

Sources used for this guide

Checkatrade

Drain Unblocking: Cost Breakdown 2026

Published / checked: Updated June 2026

Used for: Drain call-out, rodding, jetting, CCTV survey and relining benchmarks

View source ↗

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to unblock a drain?

Simple drain rodding averages around £85, while jetting averages around £185. More difficult blockages or combined methods cost more.

How much is an emergency drain call-out?

A current UK benchmark is around £180 for the emergency call-out itself, before the clearance work.

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