How much does a boiler repair cost in the UK?
A boiler repair costs £300 on average in the UK. Most jobs fall between £120 and £800 for the repair. Repair severity: Minor £120 to £250, Common part £250 to £500, Major £500 to £800. Prices reviewed June 2026.
A one-off, out-of-warranty gas boiler repair by a Gas Safe engineer usually costs £120 to £600, with most people paying around £300 once the callout, parts and labour are added up. The final figure depends on which part has failed.
Boiler repair cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your boiler repair in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Boiler repair cost breakdown
Typical boiler repair costs, by option:
| Repair severity | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Minor (thermostat, valve, low pressure, sensor) | £120 to £250 |
| Common part (pump, fan, PCB, diverter valve) | £250 to £500 |
| Major (heat exchanger, gas valve) | £500 to £800 |
| + Out-of-hours or emergency callout | add £60 to £150 |
What's included in the price?
Typical boiler repair prices include:
- Diagnosis or callout by a Gas Safe registered engineer
- The failed part itself (thermostat, pump, fan, PCB, valve and so on)
- Labour to fit the part and test the boiler
- A safety check that the boiler is working correctly afterwards
- A short guarantee on the part and the work in most cases
What changes the price?
The things that move boiler repair prices most:
Which part has failed (a sensor is far cheaper than a heat exchanger)
The make and model, as some parts are dearer or harder to source
Whether it is a standard callout or an out-of-hours emergency
Local labour rates, which run higher in London and the South East
The boiler's age, which affects part availability and whether repair is worth it
How the price is built up
A repair bill is built from the callout or diagnosis fee, the cost of the failed part, and the labour to fit and test it. On a minor fault the part is cheap, so most of the £120 to £250 is labour and the visit. On a major fault the part dominates, which is why a heat exchanger reaches £500 to £800 fitted while a pressure sensor stays near £120. Labour runs about £60 to £100 an hour, and on most repairs the part and the labour each make up roughly half the bill, though a cheap sensor makes the job mostly labour.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Get the callout fee confirmed up front and ask whether it is deducted from the repair if you go ahead
- Use an independent Gas Safe engineer, who is usually cheaper than a national firm for a one-off fix
- On an older boiler, get a repair quote and a replacement quote side by side before deciding
- Book a yearly service, since catching a worn part early is cheaper than an emergency callout in winter
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, a boiler repair typically costs around £390, about 30% above the UK average of £300. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £280.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £120 | £300 | £800 |
| London | £160 | £390 | £1,000 |
| South East / South West | £140 | £350 | £920 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £110 | £280 | £740 |
Guide prices for the repair, scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Boiler repair cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £100 | £260 | £680 |
| Birmingham | £120 | £290 | £780 |
| Bristol | £130 | £330 | £880 |
| Cardiff | £110 | £280 | £750 |
| Edinburgh | £120 | £290 | £780 |
| Glasgow | £110 | £270 | £720 |
| Leeds | £110 | £280 | £740 |
| Liverpool | £110 | £280 | £740 |
| London | £160 | £390 | £1,000 |
| Manchester | £120 | £290 | £770 |
| Newcastle | £110 | £270 | £720 |
| Sheffield | £110 | £280 | £740 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for boiler repair, not quotes.
Labour is dearer in London and the South East, where callout and hourly rates sit at the top of the range, and cheaper across the North and Wales.
Common questions
How much does a boiler repair cost on average in the UK?
Boiler repair typically costs £120 to £600 in 2026, with most households paying around £300 once the callout, part and labour are combined. Minor faults such as a thermostat or low pressure sit near £120 to £250, while a major fault like a heat exchanger can push the bill to £500 to £800. The exact figure depends on which part has failed and the boiler make.
What is the callout or diagnosis fee for a boiler repair?
Callout fees from independent Gas Safe engineers usually run £60 to £100, while larger firms such as British Gas charge from around £99. Many independents fold the callout into the total if you go ahead with the work, so a £200 repair stays £200 rather than becoming £280. Out-of-hours or emergency visits add roughly £60 to £150 on top.
How much does it cost to replace a boiler pump, fan or PCB?
Common part replacements sit in the £250 to £500 band once labour is added. A pump is around £120 to £250 for the part, a fan £225 to £375, and a printed circuit board £250 to £600. A diverter valve lands near £150 to £300. These are the faults most people meet on a boiler that is five to twelve years old.
Why does a heat exchanger or gas valve repair cost so much?
Heat exchanger and gas valve repairs are the priciest, typically £500 to £800 fitted, because the part alone can be £400 to £600 and the job takes longer. On an older boiler this cost often approaches a third or more of a new unit, which is the point at which many engineers suggest replacing rather than repairing. Always weigh the quote against the boiler's age.
When is a boiler repair worth it versus a new boiler?
Boiler repair is usually worth it on a unit under eight to ten years old that has been serviced and has a one-off fault. Replacement makes more sense once repairs become yearly, or when a single fix approaches 30 to 50 percent of a new boiler's £2,000 to £4,000 price. Repeated repairs on an ageing boiler tend to cost more over time than replacing it.
Are boiler repairs free under warranty or a cover plan?
Boiler repairs are often free if the boiler is within its manufacturer warranty, commonly seven to ten years on newer Worcester Bosch and Vaillant units, or if you hold a cover plan. Cover plans run around £24 to £45 a month and include callouts and an annual service, usually with a £60 excess. Check the terms, as some faults and older boilers are excluded.
Can I repair my own boiler?
No, though the common claim that it is simply illegal is not quite what the law says. Regulation 3 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 requires anyone doing gas work to be competent, and puts the Gas Safe registration duty on employers and self-employed people, so anyone you pay must be registered. Your own boiler is caught by the competence duty rather than the registration one, and competence for gas work means qualified, not willing. With labour at £60 to £100 an hour it is tempting, but an unregistered repair voids the warranty and your insurance, and carbon monoxide is the reason the competence duty exists at all. Topping up the pressure or resetting the boiler is fine; anything on the gas side is a registered engineer's job.
Check they are registered before they start
Gas work is the one job on this site you should never let an unregistered person touch. It is illegal, it cannot be signed off or insured, and the risk is carbon monoxide. Checking takes about a minute and it is free.
- Find or check a registered engineer Gas Safe Register · Anyone working on gas must be on it by law. Check the 7-digit licence number on their ID card, or text their business registration number to 85080
- How to check an engineer is Gas Safe registered HSE · The regulator's own instructions, including the free 0800 408 5500 helpline
Official guidance and sources
The rules and schemes referenced on this page come from these official UK sources. The price figures are Costwise's own; see how we price.
- Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, regulation 3 legislation.gov.uk · Requires anyone doing gas work to be competent, and puts the approved-class registration duty on employers and self-employed people.
- Building Regulations 2010, Schedule 3, paragraph 1 legislation.gov.uk · Only a person in that same approved class may self-certify a heat-producing gas appliance, so a DIY installation has to be notified to building control.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.