How Much Does Drain Relining Cost in 2026?

Quick Cost Overview

• The average drain relining cost in the UK ranges from £70 to £250 per metre.

• Prices vary by job type, with a patch repair at £350 - £1,200 and a full lateral relining job £1,500 - £4,000.

• Pipe diameter, from standard 100mm domestic drains to larger 150mm pipes, along with how deep and accessible the drain is, affects the total price.

A Guide to Drain Relining Costs

In this guide, we cover:

1. What Is Drain Relining and When Is It Needed
2. What Affects the Cost of Drain Relining
3. Drain Relining Cost by Pipe Diameter and Job Type
4. Drain Relining vs Traditional Excavation: Cost Comparison
5. CCTV Drain Survey and Diagnostic Costs
6. Additional Costs to Budget For
7. Signs You Need Drain Relining
8. How to Save Money on Drain Relining
9. Find a Local Plumber for Your Drain Relining
10. FAQs

This guide sets out everything that shapes the cost of relining a drain in the UK, from pipe size to the depth of the excavation the job otherwise needs.

What Is Drain Relining and When Is It Needed

Drain relining is a trenchless repair method that inserts a resin-coated liner into a damaged pipe, which then hardens to form a smooth, durable inner layer.

The technique fixes cracks, small holes, root intrusion damage and misaligned joints from inside the existing pipe, meaning there is no need to dig a trench along its full length. Plumbers and drainage specialists use it on both foul and surface water drains, and it works on clay, concrete, cast iron and plastic pipework alike.

Relining suits drains with structural damage that a simple unblocking or jetting service will not resolve. A CCTV survey usually confirms whether a pipe is a suitable candidate for lining, since severely collapsed sections or drains with major offsets sometimes still need a section dug out and replaced. For most cracked, root-damaged or leaking drains, though, relining offers a faster and less disruptive fix than excavation.

What Affects the Cost of Drain Relining

Drain relining prices vary widely because several independent factors combine to set the final quote. The pipe's diameter, the length of the damaged section, how deep the drain sits, and how easily a plumber reaches the access point all move the price up or down.

• Pipe diameter: wider pipes need more resin and a larger liner, which raises material costs.
• Length of the damaged section: patch repairs cost far less than relining a full run of pipe.
• Depth and access: drains under patios, driveways or mature trees take longer to access and inspect.
• Pipe material and condition: older clay or pitch fibre pipework sometimes needs extra preparation before a liner goes in.
• Extent of damage: a single crack costs less to fix than multiple collapsed sections or heavy root intrusion.
• Location: labour rates in London and the South East run higher than the UK average.

A CCTV survey identifies most of these factors before a plumber commits to a final price, which is why most drain relining prices come with a survey attached to the initial visit.

Drain Relining Cost by Pipe Diameter and Job Type

Drain relining cost depends heavily on the diameter of the pipe being repaired and whether the job covers a small patch or the full length of a drain run. Standard domestic drains measure 100mm or 150mm in diameter, and larger pipes cost more per metre to line because of the extra resin and cure time involved.

A small crack or displaced joint often only needs a localised patch, applied from inside the pipe without lining the whole run. Full relining, by contrast, covers the entire length of a damaged section or an entire lateral drain running from the property to the public sewer connection. The table below sets out average costs across common job types.

Job Type	Average Cost
Patch lining (single crack or joint)	£350 - £1,200
Short section relining (up to 5m)	£600 - £2,000
Full relining, 100mm pipe (per metre)	£70 - £130
Full relining, 150mm pipe (per metre)	£120 - £170
Full lateral relining (house to sewer)	£1,500 - £4,000
CCTV drain survey	£100 - £350

Here's a quick breakdown of what typically drives the final number on a drain relining quote.

• Patch lining for a single crack or joint: £350 - £1,200
• Full relining of a 100mm pipe: £70 - £130 per metre
• Full relining of a 150mm pipe: £120 - £170 per metre
• A CCTV survey establishes the extent of the damage before a plumber confirms a fixed price

Get quotes from local plumbers

Drain Relining vs Traditional Excavation: Cost Comparison

Drain relining and traditional excavation solve the same problem, a damaged drain, using very different methods, and the price gap between them is often substantial.

Excavation involves digging a trench along the damaged section, removing the old pipe, fitting a new one, and reinstating the surface above it, whether that's turf, paving or tarmac.

Relining avoids nearly all of this. Because the work happens from inside the existing pipe, there's no need to break up paving, dig up a lawn or disturb tree roots and foundations near the drain run. The table below compares typical timescales for each approach.

Job Type	Typical Time Required
CCTV survey only	1 - 2 hours
Patch lining	Half a day
Full relining (up to 10m)	1 day
Full lateral relining	1 - 2 days
Traditional excavation repair	2 - 5 days

For drains under 40 to 60 years old with isolated damage, relining generally works out cheaper and quicker than excavation once reinstatement costs are factored in. Severely collapsed pipework or drains with multiple structural failures along their length sometimes still need a traditional dig, which a CCTV survey confirms before work starts.

CCTV Drain Survey and Diagnostic Costs

A CCTV drain survey sends a waterproof camera through the pipe to record its internal condition, and it forms the diagnostic step ahead of almost every drain relining job. Surveys reveal the exact location and severity of cracks, blockages, root intrusion and joint displacement, giving a plumber the information needed to quote accurately.

• A basic look-and-see survey costs around £100 to £150, while a full survey with a written WRC-style condition report runs from £150 to £350.
• Homebuyer surveys, often requested during a property purchase, cost between £200 and £400 and cover the full drainage run for a property.
• Larger properties with more extensive drainage networks push costs up to £350 to £450, and the survey sometimes takes four to six hours to complete.

If the access point isn't obvious or ground needs digging to locate one, that adds £100 to £300 on top of the standard survey fee. Many plumbers offset the cost of a CCTV survey against the final relining quote if the customer proceeds with the repair, so it's worth asking about this before booking.

Additional Costs to Budget For

Beyond the core relining price, several additional costs sometimes appear on a final invoice depending on the property and the scope of work. Knowing about these in advance avoids surprises once the job is underway.

• Permits and permissions: work near a public sewer connection sometimes needs sign-off from the local water authority, particularly for shared or lateral drains.
• Access point creation: if there's no existing manhole or inspection chamber nearby, cutting a new access point adds to the labour cost.
• Root removal: heavy root intrusion needs cutting out before a liner goes in, which extends the job time.
• Aftercare and warranty: many drainage firms offer a workmanship guarantee on relining work, typically covering the liner for 10 to 50 years depending on the material used.
• Out-of-hours call-outs: emergency relining work outside standard hours carries a premium, particularly for burst or actively leaking drains.

Multiple quotes make these extra costs clearer upfront, since a detailed quote itemises the base relining price separately from survey fees, access work and aftercare cover. The drain unblocking cost guide covers what to expect if the issue turns out to be a blockage rather than structural damage.

Signs You Need Drain Relining

Several warning signs point to a drain in need of relining rather than a simple clear-out. Recognising these early keeps repair costs down and prevents further damage to the pipe.

• Recurring blockages in the same spot, even after professional jetting or unblocking.
• Foul smells around drain covers, gullies or inside the property near pipework.
• Damp patches, subsidence or unusually lush grass along the line of the drain run.
• Slow-draining sinks, toilets or gullies across multiple fixtures at once.
• Visible cracks, displaced joints or root growth on a CCTV survey recording.
• Gurgling sounds from pipes after water authority notices about a shared or lateral drain.

A CCTV survey confirms the cause behind any of these signs and rules out a simple blockage before a plumber recommends relining. The drain pipe repair cost guide sets out pricing for repairs that fall short of full relining, such as fixing a single displaced joint.

How to Save Money on Drain Relining

A few practical steps keep drain relining costs down without compromising the quality of the repair. Comparing multiple quotes remains the single most effective way to secure a fair price, since drain relining prices vary between local firms for the same job.

• Get at least three quotes from local plumbers or drainage specialists covering the same scope of work.
• Book a CCTV survey first rather than agreeing to a price based on symptoms alone, since an accurate diagnosis avoids paying for unnecessary excavation.
• Ask whether the survey fee is deducted from the final invoice if the same firm carries out the relining.
• Bundle nearby repairs into a single visit if a survey reveals more than one damaged section along the same drain run.
• Check whether the property has shared drainage responsibility with neighbours, since costs sometimes split between households for a communal lateral drain.

Comparing quotes side by side also reveals which firms include aftercare cover as standard, which adds long-term value beyond the initial price.

For related plumbing issues, the CCTV drain survey cost guide offers further detail on diagnosing problems before booking a repair.

Find a Local Plumber for Your Drain Relining Job

Getting the right price for drain relining starts with comparing quotes from more than one plumber, since access, pipe depth and the extent of the damage all change the cost significantly. Post the job on MyBuilder and receive responses from plumbers in the local area who cover drainage work.

All tradespeople on MyBuilder undergo checks at registration, such as ID documents, company details, certifications for regulated jobs and skill assessments, allowing you to hire with confidence.

Find a plumber

FAQs

How much does drain relining cost for a single crack?

A single crack or displaced joint typically costs between £350 and £1,200 to patch, depending on the pipe diameter and how easily a plumber reaches the access point. Full relining of a longer section costs more, priced per metre of pipe.

Is drain relining cheaper than digging up a drain?

Drain relining usually costs less than excavation once reinstatement work is included. A typical relining job runs from £70 to £250 per metre, against £1,000 to £5,000 or more for a full dig-up and pipe replacement, particularly under paving or driveways.

How long does drain relining last?

A resin liner typically lasts between 10 and 50 years depending on the material used and the condition of the host pipe. Many drainage firms back the work with a workmanship guarantee covering this period.

Does drain relining need planning permission?

Most residential drain relining work inside a property boundary needs no planning permission. Work affecting a public or shared sewer connection sometimes needs notice to the local water authority, which a plumber confirms during the initial survey.

How do I find a plumber for drain relining near me?

MyBuilder connects homeowners with local plumbers and drainage specialists who cover relining work. Posting a job with details of the damage, including any CCTV survey findings, helps available tradespeople provide accurate quotes for the specific job.

What's included in a drain relining quote?

A full quote itemises the CCTV survey, the relining material and labour, any access point work, and aftercare cover separately. Comparing itemised quotes from more than one plumber makes it easier to spot what drain relining prices actually cover.