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What changes the cost to replace taps?
In Cheshire, the cost to replace taps depends on how many taps you are changing, the type of tap, whether the new ones fit the existing holes and pipes, and how easy it is to reach under the sink or basin. We print no fitting price, so ask plumbers to quote for the same taps and the same work.
Last reviewed:What a tap replacement involves
Replacing a tap means turning off the water to it, taking off the old tap, cleaning the sink or basin surface, fitting the new tap with its seals, connecting it to the hot and cold supplies, and testing for leaks. If the old tap is stuck fast, or the pipes underneath are old, the job takes longer.
The work is the same in principle in a kitchen or a bathroom, but the space underneath is not. A kitchen sink usually has a cupboard below it. A basin on a pedestal, or a bath with a panel, can leave very little room to reach the fixings.
QuoteZila is starting in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach among the first towns. This guide does not print a price. It explains what makes one quote for new taps higher than another, so you can compare them fairly.
Repair or replace?
Not every dripping tap needs to go. Many drips come from a worn washer in an older tap, or a worn cartridge in a newer lever tap. Replacing that part can stop the drip at less cost than a new tap. For a guide to that job, see how to change a tap cartridge.
Replacement makes more sense when:
- the tap body is cracked or badly corroded
- the tap leaks from the base, not just the spout
- spare parts are no longer made for it
- you want a different style, such as a mixer instead of two pillar taps
- you are changing the sink or basin anyway
Types of tap and how they fit
- Pillar taps. One hot and one cold tap, each in its own hole. Common on older basins and baths.
- Basin and sink mixers. One spout with hot and cold mixed. Some need one hole and some need two.
- Bath shower mixers. A mixer with a shower handset, which needs a little more fitting.
- Monobloc kitchen taps. A single-hole mixer that is popular on modern sinks.
- Pull-out and boiling water taps. These have extra parts, and a boiling water tap comes with a unit that sits in the cupboard, so it is a bigger job with its own fitting instructions.
The number of tap holes in your sink or basin is the key detail. A two-hole basin cannot take a one-hole mixer without covering the spare hole.
Pressure, pipes and valves
The water pressure in your home affects which taps work well. Some modern taps are designed for higher pressure systems and run slowly on a low pressure gravity-fed system. Check the manufacturer's information, or ask a plumber, before you buy.
The pipes matter too. If the new tap has flexible connectors that do not match the old pipe, the plumber may need adaptors. If there are no isolating valves under the sink or basin, fitting them makes future repairs easier.
WaterSafe runs a register of approved plumbers that you can search by postcode [S1]. You can use it as one check when choosing who to ask.
What changes the cost to replace taps
| What is being priced | What makes it bigger or smaller | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Number of taps | One mixer, a pair of pillar taps, or several rooms | Whether the price is per tap or for the whole job |
| Type of tap | Pillar, mixer, bath shower mixer, pull-out | Which tap, and who supplies it |
| Tap holes | Same number of holes as before, or a change | Whether the new tap fits the existing holes |
| Removing the old tap | Seized nuts, corroded fixings | What happens if the old tap will not come off |
| Access | Kitchen cupboard, pedestal, bath panel | Whether removing a panel or pedestal is included |
| Valves and connectors | Existing valves, or new ones needed | Whether isolating valves are included |
| Water pressure | Low pressure system, high pressure tap | Whether the chosen tap suits your system |
| VAT | Whether the business is VAT registered | Whether the total includes VAT |
A business must register for VAT when its taxable turnover goes over £90,000 [S2]. Ask whether each total includes VAT.
Doing several jobs in one visit
If one tap is failing, others of the same age may not be far behind. Asking a plumber to change the kitchen tap, the basin taps and a bath mixer in one visit can be simpler than three separate call-outs. Ask for each tap to be listed separately on the quote, so you can drop one if the total is more than you want to spend.
The same goes for related small jobs. A running toilet, a stiff stopcock or a slow basin waste can often be looked at on the same visit.
Tap replacement in Cheshire
A plumber or handyman covering Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach and the villages nearby can usually price a tap swap from photos. Send one of the tap from above, one of the pipes underneath, and the make and model of the new tap if you have chosen it.
If you live outside the towns, say so, so a plumber can tell you whether you are in their area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business on QuoteZila.
Leaks to watch for after fitting
Most leaks on new taps show up straight away or within a day or two. Check under the sink or basin with a dry tissue after the first few uses, especially around the flexible connectors and the waste. A slow drip onto the cupboard base can go unseen for weeks and damage the unit. If you find one, ask the plumber to come back, and check what their written guarantee covers.
Choosing taps that suit your home
Taps that look the same in a showroom can behave very differently once fitted. Lever handles are easier to use with wet or weak hands than small crosshead taps. A thermostatic bath or shower mixer keeps the temperature steadier when someone uses water elsewhere in the house. A tall spout over a shallow basin can splash, while a short spout over a deep kitchen sink can make it hard to fill a pan.
Ask the plumber for their view before you buy. They will often know which styles suit your water pressure, which spares are easy to get, and which taps are awkward to fit on your sink or basin.
What to have ready before you ask for quotes
- which taps you want replaced: kitchen, basin, bath or all of them
- photos of each tap and the pipework underneath
- the number of tap holes in each sink or basin
- the taps you want, or the style if you have not chosen
- whether you are buying them yourself
- whether you know your water system: combi boiler, cylinder or gravity-fed
- your postcode and when the work could be done
How to compare tap replacement quotes
Check each quote for:
- Each tap named, and who supplies it.
- Whether the price is per tap or for the whole visit.
- Isolating valves, connectors and any adaptors.
- Removing panels or pedestals, and putting them back.
- Taking away the old taps.
- Whether VAT is included.
Citizens Advice says a quote is a fixed price, while an estimate is a rough guess, so you could end up paying more with an estimate [S3]. Ask which one you have been given.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts. "Replace a dripping kitchen mixer tap with a new one I have bought." Or: "Swap two old pillar taps on the bathroom basin for a mixer. The basin has two holes." Or: "Bath taps are stiff and leak at the base. Please quote to replace them with a bath shower mixer."
Get quotes to replace taps
Describe the taps, add photos and your postcode. Up to five matched local businesses can reply [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
See the plumbers page, the kitchen fitters page or the plumber cost guide. If the sink itself needs changing, see the kitchen sink replacement cost guide.
Official and public sources
QuoteZila is not affiliated with these organisations.
- Approved plumbers: WaterSafe [S1].
- Building regulations for kitchens and bathrooms: Planning Portal [S4].
- Quotes and deposits: Citizens Advice [S3].
- VAT: GOV.UK on when to register [S2].
Questions about tap replacement costs
How much does it cost to replace taps?
This guide does not print a price. One kitchen mixer on good pipework is a shorter job than a pair of old bath taps that are seized and hard to reach. The tap you choose, the number of taps and any pipework changes all affect the total.
Can a dripping tap be repaired instead of replaced?
Often, yes. Many drips come from a worn washer or cartridge, and replacing that part can be enough. A tap that is cracked, badly corroded or leaking from the body is usually a candidate for replacement. Ask the plumber which they recommend and why.
Can I swap two pillar taps for a mixer?
Usually, but check the tap holes first. A basin or sink with two holes needs a mixer made for two holes, or the holes need covering. Many single-hole mixers need one hole. Tell plumbers how many holes your sink or basin has when you ask for quotes.
Do new taps need building regulations approval?
Changing a tap does not usually need approval. The Planning Portal says a kitchen or bathroom refit with new fittings does not generally need building regulations approval, though drainage or electrical work within it may.
Can I supply the taps myself?
Many plumbers will fit taps you buy, but check that they suit your water pressure, the tap holes and the pipe sizes. Some taps are designed for high pressure systems and may run slowly on low pressure. Ask before you buy if you are not sure.
Should I pay a deposit to have taps fitted?
For a small job like this, many plumbers will not ask for one. Citizens Advice suggests pushing any deposit down as far as possible and not agreeing to more than 25%.
Does QuoteZila check the plumbers who quote?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
Related guides
- Plumbers: taps, valves and leaks
- Kitchen fitters: taps as part of a new kitchen
- Bathroom fitters: taps as part of a new bathroom
- Outside tap replacement cost guide
- All cost guides
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Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and jobs-for-tradesmen copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila terms and matching notes.
- S1: WaterSafe Register, WaterSafe. Accessed 2026-10-26. https://www.watersafe.org.uk/
- S2: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-26. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat
- S3: Before you get work done on your home, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-26. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S4: Is building regulations approval needed for work to a kitchen or bathroom?, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-26. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/kitchens-and-bathrooms/is-building-regulations-approval-needed-for-work-to-a-kitchen-or-bathroom/