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Cost of Unblocking a Toilet

By Kim

Last updated 17th April 2024 - Reading time: 13 mins

At a glance

The average cost of unblocking a toilet is around £45
The job will take approximately 30 minutes (dependent on complexity) to complete

In this article, you'll discover the following:

A complete pricing breakdown which includes cost factors to consider, along with what such a task usually involves
How long the job should approximately take and a general overview of what kind of jobs can be performed
How to find and hire a plumber

Want to find out the costs of clearing a blocked toilet?

There's nothing worse than the moment you realise your toilet is clogged up – especially when you only have one toilet in your home. Toilet blockages need to be fixed quickly. Here we discuss the costs of toilet unblocking.

To give you a rough idea, most blocked toilet clearance jobs will cost between £30 and £60 on average.

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Average Cost of Unblocking a Toilet:

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes: 30 minutes (dependent on complexity)

£45

How Much To Unblock A Toilet?
- Blocked Toilet Prices
Supply Only Costs
Additional Costs
Labour Costs and Timescales
Cost Factors of Unblocking a Toilet
What's Involved in Unblocking a Toilet?
Can I Unblock a Toilet Myself?
Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Unblocking a Toilet
Hiring Contractors to Unblock a Toilet Checklist
FAQs
Sources

How Much Does It Cost To Unblock A Toilet?

If you're wondering how much it costs to unblock a toilet, this article will tell you everything you need to know.

This includes unblocking a toilet prices, the timescales you can expect, and some things that you should look out for when finding the right contractor for the job.

I have a Blocked Toilet, how do I unblock it without creating a bigger problem with the water in the toilet the level of which is not lowing? and how much would be a fair price to get a plumber to come and unblock it?

"Have you got any idea what could be blocking the toilet? For example waste itself, wet wipes, or what I had a couple of weeks ago was the plastic disinfectant that is placed on the pan. Normal waste can be a relatively simple job by using a plunger, or by improvising (plastic bag tied tight to a mop) if you haven't got one. If its something that's been flushed down, it can be a bit tricky. You would expect a normal call out charge from your local plumber or drainage company."

R Lewis Gas & Oil

Clearing Blocked Toilet Prices

Below is a table highlighting the costs that you can expect when it comes to unclogging a toilet:

Job Description	Average Cost	Duration
Fix blockage within the toilet using a plunger	£30-£60	30 minutes
Fix blockage within the toilet using a toilet snake	£30-£60	30 minutes
Fix blockage in external drains via drain rodding	£80-£100	Up to an hour
Fix blockage in external drains via drain jetting	£150-£175	1-2 hours
Fix blockage in external drains via drain rodding and jetting	£150-£200	1-2 hours

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So how much does unblocking a toilet cost? A plumber will typically charge an initial call-out fee to come and assess the issue. Then, assuming the blockage is minor and not hidden in the pipework, unblocking can take as little as 30 minutes and will usually come at a price of around £30-£60. However, this may cost a little bit more if you live in the London area.

Some more complicated or severe blockages will take longer to fix and will cost more. You could pay up to around £100-£200 for more severe blockages depending on the problem and how long it takes for the plumber to fix it.

Supply Only Costs

If you think the blockage is quite small and within the toilet itself and not the pipework, then you may be tempted to try to unblock it yourself as a DIY job. If so, you will need some materials to complete the job.

Below is a list of some of the supplies that you may need to purchase to help you unblock the toilet, along with how much you can expect to pay for each item:

Material	Average Cost
Plunger	£2-£20
Toilet unblocking chemicals	£5-£30
Toilet snake	£10-£60
Baking soda and vinegar	£2-£5

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Additional Costs

There are several additional costs that you may need to think about with this type of work. Below is a list of the main additional costs that may come up when you have your toilet unlocked:

New Pipework

If the current pipework that connects to your toilet is insufficient or faulty, then it may need to be replaced. It could be that it is damaged or corroded and you can't see it. If this is the case, you can expect to pay around £30-£40 for new pipework to be installed.

Replacement Toilet

If your toilet is prone to blockages or quite old, then it may be a good idea to think about replacing your old toilet with a new one now. The average cost to have a new toilet installed is around £300-£600.

However, you can usually find a wide range of different toilets to suit any budget, so you may find a cheaper deal if you shop around.

New Bathroom Installation

If you are thinking about getting a new toilet installed, you may even want to consider getting a whole new bathroom with matching components.

The cost for a new bathroom will vary depending on the size of the bathroom and the quality of the materials used. However, the average cost for a new bathroom in the UK is around £5000-£10,000.

Drain Unblocking

If you start to notice foul odours coming from your drains or your sink, then you may have a blockage in your drains. A professional drain unblocking service will usually cost around £80-£150 depending on the issue and the method used to unblock it.

Labour Costs and Timescales

When you have a blocked toilet, it is best to call a professional plumber to come and complete the work of unblocking it. As a general rule, plumbers tend to charge a daily rate of around £150-£200.

When it comes to minor toilet unblocking or small toilet repairs, these can usually be completed within 30 minutes and will usually cost around £60. This is the average call-out price for most plumbers in the UK.

If the blockage is more severe or extends out into the pipework, then the time it takes to unblock it may increase up to around two hours. More extensive unblocking jobs could cost up to around £200 on average.

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Cost Factors of Unblocking a Toilet

There are several factors that may affect the cost of unblocking a toilet. Below is a list of the main things that could have an impact on the overall cost of the job:

Type of Blockage

Many things can cause a blockage within your toilet, and some are easier to fix than others. A mild blockage can take as little as 30 minutes to unblock, but a more severe blockage such as a blocked toilet drain or a blockage within the pipework could take a few hours. The longer the plumber needs to spend at your property, the more you should expect to pay for the work.

Ease of Access

The location of the blockage can affect the overall cost of the job. A blockage within the toilet bowl U-bend is much easier to access than a blockage that is further down the waste pipe. The more difficult the blockage is to get to, the longer it will take to unblock and will end up costing more.

Location of Property

Your location within the UK can have quite a substantial effect on how much you will pay to have your toilet unblocked. Plumbers in the London area can charge around £30-£100 more per day than plumbers based in other parts of the UK. So, if you are based in London, you can expect to pay more to get your toilet unblocked than someone who lives in another part of the UK.

What's Involved in Unblocking a Toilet?

There are several methods that can be used to unblock the toilet. The method used will depend on the type of blockage and the location of the blockage. Below is an overview of the main types of drain unblocking techniques:

Unblocking with Plunger

Most minor blockages can be resolved using a plunger. Take the steps below to unblock your toilet with a plunger:

Place the plunger in the toilet and ensure the water covers it and that a seal is formed around the draining outlet.
Water may need to be added to the bowl if there is not enough in there.
Use a pumping motion by slowly pushing the plunger into the toilet and then quickly pulling it back, ensuring that the seal isn't broken.
Repeat this step around 20 times or less if you notice that the water level is dropping.
If the blockage is still present, refill the bowl and repeat the process.

Unlock with Toilet Snake

A plumbing snake is a flexible piece of wire with a helix-style attachment on the end. This is used to break up and dislodge items that are blocking the toilet. Take the steps below to unblock your toilet with a toilet snake:

Position the toilet snake over the toilet bowl and then feed it down into the U-bend until you make contact with the blockage.

Use an up and down or twisting motion on the handle to begin the process of breaking up the blockage.

Repeat this process until the blockage is cleared.

Unblock with Chemical Agents

Chemical toilet unblocking agents work by reacting with the blockage materials to break them down. Take the steps below to unblock your toilet with a chemical unblocking agent:

Start by reading the label as each unblocking agent is different and may require a different method.
Take the appropriate safety precautions as described on the label.
Ventilate the room by opening the windows.
Pour the recommended amount of agent down the toilet bowl and allow it to sit there for the recommended time according to the label.
Flush the toilet to check that the blockage has been cleared.

Can I Unblock a Toilet Myself?

In most cases, it is possible to unblock a toilet yourself, providing you have the appropriate tools needed to do so. The methods above are quite simple and can be completed as a DIY task. Most of the time, the above methods will work for fixing minor blockages.

However, if the blockage is within the pipework, you will most likely need to hire a plumber to complete this work for you. Blockages in the external pipework and drainage systems can be quite difficult to reach and will require specialist equipment to complete the unblocking.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Unblocking a Toilet

When it comes to unblocking a toilet, you won't need to worry about building regulations or planning permission.

Hiring Contractors to Unblock a Toilet Checklist

You will need to consider a few things before hiring contractors to unblock a toilet for you. Below is a list of some of the main things that you should consider when looking for the right contractors for the job:

Does the contractor offer any guarantees with their work?
How much is the work to complete? – Ask for a breakdown of costs so you can ensure you are paying a good price for each element of the job.
Is the contractor experienced in unblocking toilets -specifically with the type of blockage that you have?
How many years' worth of experience does the contractor have in unblocking toilets?
How many contractors will carry out the job?
Will the contractor fix any issues that may arise?
Will the contractor take care of any relevant waste removal?
Do you need to hire any additional contractors for different parts of the work?
Which method of unblocking will the contractor use?
Do you need to provide any materials to assist with the unblocking?

FAQs

What's the best way to clean a toilet?

There are many different methods for cleaning a toilet. Below is a step-by-step guide on the best way to clean your toilet:

Start with the outside of the toilet itself. Work your way up from the foundation to the lid by spraying the underneath thoroughly with a disinfectant spray. Spray all areas of the toilet, including the small area between the seat and the tank, and also spray the tank itself.
Next, spray down both sides of the lid with a decent amount of disinfectant.
Then, spray both sides of the toilet seat and lower it back onto the bowl once it's been thoroughly sprayed.
While you're waiting for the disinfectant to dry, you can move on to cleaning some of the tougher points that are more prone to germs. Clean the toilet flush handle, especially as this can be one of the dirtiest parts of a toilet and is prone to many germs. Do this with a sponge or cloth and some disinfectant.
Once the disinfectant is mostly dry, give your entire toilet a wipe using a sponge or a cloth.
Clean the inside of the toilet bowl using some toilet cleaner and a toilet brush.
Always finish your cleaning session with a flush.

What is the main cause of a blocked toilet?

The main cause of a blocked toilet is usually too much toilet paper being pushed down in a single flush. This can cause a build-up in the system and can result in blocking.

Do cistern blocks cause damage to my toilet?

Cistern blocks don't tend to cause any damage to your toilet. However, they can make them operate less effectively. Once they start to wear down, the blocks can become stuck in the space between the cistern and the toilet, resulting in insufficient flushes. Due to their nature, they will dissolve over time and won't cause any damage to the toilet system.

Do I need to call out a plumber to fix my blocked toilet?

You won't necessarily need to call out a plumber to fix your clogged toilet. It will depend on the type of blockage and the severity of the blockage. We have provided you with some methods of unblocking the toilet yourself within this article. If these methods fail, it is best to call a plumber to avoid any damage caused to the system.

What is the best way to remove a toilet seat?

Your toilet seat will most likely be attached with screws or bolts that are hidden by two caps. Remove the caps using a flat head screwdriver and then unscrew the fixings underneath. Your toilet seat should now lift away easily.