How much does a plumber cost in 2026?
A plumber charges €45 to €85 per hour in 2026, often €100 to €125 at the weekend or in the evening. Small jobs such as replacing a tap cost €75 to €100, clearing a blockage €100 to €180. These are guide prices: the real price depends on the cause and accessibility of the problem, and follows from the quote.
How much does a plumber cost per hour in 2026?
Plumbers charge a normal hourly rate during working hours and an emergency rate outside them that can be more than double. For most standalone jobs you do not get hours but a total price, including small materials. Both are below.
| Job | Guide price 2026 | What drives the difference |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate during working hours | 45 to 85 euros per hour | A sole trader sits at the bottom, an installation firm with several engineers at the top |
| Emergency rate, evenings and weekends | 100 to 125 euros per hour | Outside working hours there is almost always a surcharge, even for a small job |
| Call-out charge | 20 to 40 euros per visit | Distance; some plumbers already fold this into their hourly rate |
| Replacing a tap | 75 to 100 euros | If the new tap fits the existing connection this is half an hour's work |
| Replacing a trap | 60 to 90 euros | Access under the basin or behind a bathroom unit |
| Connecting a toilet | 150 to 300 euros | A wall-hung toilet with a concealed cistern sits at the top of this range, rising to 750 euros if the cistern itself is included |
| Installing or moving a water pipe | 50 to 120 euros per metre | Running it in plain sight is the low end, a pipe that has to go inside a wall or floor the high end |
| Tracing and fixing a leak | 95 to 150 euros | Rises if the pipe runs under a floor or inside a wall and something has to be opened up |
| Clearing a blocked drain | 85 to 180 euros | A kitchen sink is the low end, a blockage further down the pipe the high end |
| Clearing a blocked sewer | 150 to 300 euros | How stubborn the blockage is and whether a jetting truck or camera is needed |
| Repairing a gutter | 175 to 300 euros | The length of the gutter and whether a ladder or cherry picker is required |
| Boiler servicing | 90 to 120 euros per service | A multi-year maintenance contract brings the per-service price down |
| Replacing a boiler, including installation | 1,500 to 2,300 euros | A standard high-efficiency combi boiler; a hybrid set-up runs to 5,000 euros and beyond |
Guide prices for the Netherlands in 2026, collected on 15 August 2026. The hourly and job prices exclude VAT; Homedeal states this explicitly for the hourly rate. The boiler replacement price includes VAT and installation, because that is how the source quotes it. Plumbing work carries 21% VAT.
Hourly rate
€45 - €85per hour
Call-out charge
€20 - €40
depending on the distance to the plumber
What makes up the price?
Labour
roughly 70% of the bill
Materials
roughly 15%, think of a tap, trap or piece of pipe
Call-out charge
roughly 15%, usually €20 to €40 per visit
This falls under the standard VAT rate of 21%, on both labour and materials. The reduced rate of 9% only applies to painting, plastering, wallpapering and the insulation of floors, walls and roofs in a home older than 2 years, plus cleaning work inside the home. If that kind of work is part of the same job, only that part is charged at 9%. The Dutch tax authority publishes the conditions that apply.
What determines the price?
- Nature of the problem: a blockage is usually cheaper than a leak or replacement
- Accessibility of the pipe, for example under a floor or in a wall
- Emergency work outside office hours: €100 to €125 per hour applies quickly
- Age of the pipes and installation
- Choice of materials, for example the brand of tap or type of boiler
- Distance to the plumber, which determines the travel costs
- Certification: a plumber with an InstallQ accreditation works to a set quality standard, which is worth asking about especially for a boiler or larger pipe job
What will your job cost exactly?
These are indicative market prices, not a quote. Post your job for free and get replies from plumbers near you, so you know exactly where you stand.
Post your job for freeFrequently asked questions
How much does a plumber charge per hour?
Normally expect €45 to €85 per hour excluding VAT. Outside office hours, at the weekend or in the evening, an emergency rate of €100 to €125 per hour often applies.
How much does fixing a leak cost?
Usually €95 to €150 for finding and fixing it. If the pipe is hard to reach or wall or floor work is needed, it can be more.
How much does clearing a sewer cost?
Expect €150 to €300, depending on how stubborn the blockage is and whether specialist equipment is needed.
What are a plumber's travel costs?
Usually €20 to €40, depending on the distance. For an emergency outside office hours these costs can be higher.
Is a plumber more expensive at the weekend?
Yes, for emergency work in the evening or at the weekend a higher rate almost always applies, often €100 to €125 per hour instead of the normal rate.
Can I get help the same day with a leak?
For an acute leak, many plumbers can manage, but you often pay the higher emergency rate. If you mark your job as urgent, professionals respond faster.
Does the reduced 9% VAT rate apply to plumbing work?
No, you pay 21% VAT on this, on labour as well as materials. The reduced 9% rate is limited to painting, plastering, wallpapering and the insulation of floors, walls and roofs in a home older than 2 years, plus cleaning work inside the home. If the same professional also does that kind of work as part of your job, that part may be charged at 9%. Ask for a quote that lists the parts separately, so you can see which rate applies to what.
Where these amounts come from
The amounts on this page come from the Dutch price guides below and from the Belastingdienst, accessed on 5 August 2026. Prices go up, so check at the source before you decide anything. Spotted something that is out of date? Email info@jouwpro.nl and we will fix it.
- Homedeal: plumber costs per hour, prices 2026
- Homedeal: clearing blockages and sewers, costs 2026
- Homedeal: boiler replacement costs, price overview 2026
- OfferteAdviseur: boiler costs 2026, installation included
- InstallQ: accreditation schemes for installation companies
- Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority): btw rate for work on homes older than 2 years
Do you work as a plumber yourself?
Anyone can look at the open job requests on JouwPro. Replying costs nothing and you only pay once you win a job and finish it.
See the open jobs for plumbersAre you allowed to do this yourself?
Before you compare prices it helps to know what the law allows and who is liable for what.
Guides that go with this one
Work that tends to come up in the same project.