2026 UK emergency callout rate benchmarks
Recommended callout fees (one-off charge on top of hourly rate) and emergency hourly rates, by trade. Applies a 1.0x multiplier — adjust for your region and time slot.
| Trade |
Callout fee |
Emergency rate |
Night premium |
Min charge |
| Plumber | £70 to £95 | £65 to £90/hr | +80% | 1 hr |
| Electrician | £75 to £100 | £70 to £95/hr | +80% | 1 hr |
| Gas Engineer | £85 to £120 | £85 to £120/hr | +80% | 1 hr |
| Heating Engineer | £80 to £110 | £80 to £115/hr | +80% | 1 hr |
| Locksmith | £60 to £90 | £80 to £120/hr | +80% | 1 hr |
| Roofer | £65 to £90 | £60 to £80/hr | +80% | 1 hr |
| Builder | £50 to £70 | £40 to £65/hr | +60% | 2 hrs |
| Carpenter | £55 to £75 | £50 to £75/hr | +60% | 1 hr |
| Drainage Specialist | £80 to £120 | £80 to £120/hr | +80% | 1 hr |
| Boiler Engineer | £85 to £120 | £85 to £120/hr | +80% | 1 hr |
| Solar Installer | £70 to £100 | £65 to £90/hr | +60% | 2 hrs |
| Pest Control | £65 to £90 | £65 to £90/hr | +60% | 1 hr |
All figures are national averages for 2026. London rates are typically 25 to 35% higher. These callout fees are charged regardless of how long the job takes and cover travel time, fuel, and out-of-hours inconvenience. Time-slot multipliers apply to both the callout fee and the hourly rate.
How to price emergency callouts without underselling yourself
The most common pricing mistake in emergency work is not charging enough for the callout itself. Tradespeople routinely absorb the cost of 30 to 60 minutes of travel, late-night fuel, and the genuine inconvenience of leaving their home at 2am, and then charge only a modest uplift on their standard rate. A customer with a burst pipe at midnight is not price-sensitive in the way a customer requesting a routine annual service is.
62%
of tradespeople say they undercharge for emergency callouts
3x
more likely to win an emergency job if you answer the first call
91%
of customers who reach a competitor after a missed call do not call back
Callout fee vs. uplift on hourly rate: which is better?
Most experienced tradespeople use a two-part structure: a fixed callout fee charged regardless of how long the job takes, plus an emergency uplift on their standard hourly rate. This approach is transparent, easy to explain over the phone, and hard to dispute at the end of the job.
A pure hourly uplift (no separate callout fee) has one weakness: if the job is resolved in 20 minutes, the customer feels they got value, but you have driven 40 minutes and disrupted your evening for the equivalent of a third of an hour's pay. The callout fee solves this by guaranteeing a minimum return before the first wrench is picked up.
- Callout fee. Covers travel, fuel, and out-of-hours inconvenience. Charged regardless of job duration. Typical range: £60 to £120 nationally, £90 to £160 in London.
- Emergency hourly rate. Your standard rate multiplied by the time-slot premium: 1.4x evenings, 1.8x nights, 1.5x weekends, 2.0x bank holidays.
- Minimum charge. Most trades apply a 1-hour minimum. This means even a 20-minute fix earns one full hour's labour plus the callout fee.
Emergency jobs you miss cost you the most
At emergency rates, a single missed call is worth £180 to £400 in lost revenue. TextBack Pro sends an automatic SMS to every missed caller within 30 seconds, keeping them from calling the next number on the list.
Start your free 14-day trial
No credit card required. Set up in under 5 minutes.
How to tell a customer your emergency rate without losing them
The biggest fear tradespeople have about charging a proper emergency rate is that the customer will refuse and call someone else. In practice, the opposite is true: a clear, confident price over the phone reassures the customer that you are professional, available, and worth trusting with an urgent problem.
Use the quote script this calculator generates. It follows a three-part structure: confirm what you can do, state the price with each component clearly separated, and confirm availability. This structure removes ambiguity and gives the customer exactly the certainty they need in a stressful moment.
- State the callout fee and hourly rate separately: "My callout fee is £95. On top of that it is £80 per hour."
- Give a realistic job estimate: "For a job like this it usually takes one to two hours, so you are looking at £175 to £255 all in."
- Confirm what is included: "That includes parts up to a reasonable cost, and I will give you a written invoice."
- Close with availability: "I can be with you in about 40 minutes. Shall I come now?"
Frequently asked questions
How much should a plumber charge for an emergency callout in the UK?
A UK plumber should charge a callout fee of £75 to £120 for a standard daytime emergency, rising to £120 to £200 for night-time or bank holiday callouts. This is on top of the hourly labour rate of £55 to £95 per hour. In London, expect these figures to be 25 to 35% higher. The total for a burst pipe emergency, including a one to two hour fix, typically runs £180 to £350.
What is a fair emergency callout fee for an electrician?
A fair emergency callout fee for a UK electrician in 2026 is £80 to £130 during the day, £130 to £200 in the evening, and up to £250 at night or on bank holidays. This is separate from the hourly labour rate. Most electricians charge a minimum of one to two hours regardless of how quickly the job is done.
Should I charge a separate callout fee or just a higher hourly rate for emergencies?
Both approaches are valid, but a separate callout fee plus a standard hourly rate is easier for customers to understand and harder to dispute. The callout fee covers your travel time, fuel, and the inconvenience of responding urgently. Charging a flat premium per hour for the full job often results in customers questioning why they are paying more when the job only took 45 minutes.
How much extra should I charge for a bank holiday or weekend callout?
A weekend premium of 40 to 60% above your standard rate is normal and expected in the UK trades market. Bank holiday premiums typically run 80 to 120% above standard. These premiums apply to the hourly rate and, in many cases, an additional bank holiday callout fee. Customers in genuine emergencies are not price-sensitive to a fair premium; they expect to pay extra.
How do I tell a customer what my emergency callout will cost?
Give the price clearly and confidently before you go out: state the callout fee, the hourly rate, and the estimated total for the job. Saying something like "My callout fee is £95, plus £80 per hour. For a job like this it typically takes one to two hours, so you are looking at £175 to £255 all in" is far more reassuring to a customer than vague estimates or quoting only on arrival. Customers in an emergency want certainty, not negotiation.