Posted on 8th February 2026

If you’re searching for "how much does a plumber cost in the UK or Horsham" or wondering why professional rates across the UK have shifted, you deserve an honest answer.

Six years ago, I launched my business with a plan scribbled on a napkin: £50 for the first hour and £30 for the second. I thought I was on my way to "minting it." In reality, I was building a trap that nearly cost me my home. 

Today, I understand the math of a professional business. Here is the raw truth about what you are actually paying for when a professional engineer arrives at your door.

2026 Pricing Summary: The Bottom Line

To keep things simple, here is how our pricing structure breaks down. These rates ensure we remain solvent, insured, and ready to honour your warranties for years to come.

Standard first hour: £108 Covers travel, fuel, vehicle wear, and specific job admin.

Project days: £75 per hour Where we are on a project and going to be there 8+ hours a day.

The Reality Check: Single-hour jobs include "invisible" travel and setup time that day rates do not. We pass that efficiency saving directly back to you.

The Myth of the "Easy Hour"

Most people see a plumber work for 60 minutes and assume the hourly rate is pure profit. The reality is governed by Billable Efficiency. When I attend four 1-hour jobs in a day, I’m not just working 4 hours. Between Horsham traffic, loading the van, and managing four different sets of admin, a 4-hour "tools-on" day actually takes 9 hours of my life.

At £108 for a single visit: The rate covers the time spent getting to you. At £75 per hour for a day project: My efficiency goes up because I park once and work for 8 hours straight.

The Invisible Costs of Staying in Business

I am no longer just a "man in a van." To provide a reliable service in 2026, I’ve had to invest in professional structures.

VAT: Once a business hits the £90,000 threshold, we become unpaid debt collectors for the government. This means extra accounting software expenses and also an accountant to deal with the quarterly and end of year returns—added costs just to be VAT registered. That extra 20% on your bill doesn't stay with me; it goes straight to HMRC.

The Support Team: To ensure someone always answers your call, I’ve hired a Customer Service Rep and a marketer.

Accountability: If an engineer accidentally causes a leak, our rates ensure we are insured and solvent enough to cover costs immediately. If we under-price a job and it takes an extra day to complete, we bite the bullet and honour the fixed price agreement we gave to you. If we don't account for certain materials, we find this in our own margins and complete the agreement for the agreed price.

Expenses: The amount of expenses a business has to pay is significant. When we start our financial year in April, it often takes us until June before we've even made any profit and paid off our subscriptions and staying-in-business expenses. Even when we're not on a job, we still have to keep up-to-date with current expenses like training days to keep our workers certified and growing their skill sets.

The Human Cost: A Crisis in the Trades

This is the hardest part to talk about. The UK trade industry is in the middle of a mental health crisis. Recent data shows that workers in skilled trades are four times more likely to die by suicide than the national average.

This is driven by the "noose of debt." When plumbers charge "mate rates" or "hobby prices," they fall behind. They spend their tax money just to buy groceries. The weight of working 60-hour weeks while still being "in the red" breaks men. I refuse to go back to that "break-even" life, and I refuse to let my industry stay there. Charging fairly means my team is healthy, focused, and capable of doing their best work for you.

Supporting our community: We are proud supporters of Band of Builders, a charity providing hands-on help to tradespeople and their families during times of crisis.

Value Over Price: What You Are Buying

When you hire us, you aren't just paying for a wrench to turn a nut. You are paying for accountability: I’ll be here next year to honour your warranty. You are paying for expertise: 20 years of experience and constant re-certifications. Most importantly, you are paying for peace of mind. You called because you have a problem you can't fix, and I provide the solution so you can get back to your life.

Plumbing prices in 2026 must reflect inflation and the cost of a dignified life. By choosing a professional service, you are ensuring your home—and the person fixing it—are in safe hands.

Because every home and every leak is different, we have moved to a fixed-price quoting system. This removes the guesswork for you and puts the accountability on us.

Do you have a project in mind or an urgent repair? [Click here to book a professional assessment] or call us on 07341664280 today. 

About the Author

Mike Lee is the founder of Mike Lee Plumbing and Heating, a Horsham-based plumbing and heating firm built on 20 years of hands-on experience. After realising early in his career that "cheap" prices lead to exhausted engineers and compromised service, he rebuilt his business on a foundation of transparency, fair living wages, and absolute accountability. When he isn't solving complex boiler issues or mentoring the next generation of engineers, he is an advocate for mental health awareness within the UK trades.