Drain Relining Cost Per Metre (2026 UK Guide)
What drain relining costs per metre in the UK in 2026, how patch and full-length lining compare to excavation, and how long a relined drain lasts.
MyJobQuote’s collapsed drain repair cost guide (updated August 2026) puts no-dig drain relining at £80 to £150 per metre. It gives £150 to £300 for a local patch repair, and £250 to £650 per metre to dig up and replace a pipe.
Relining repairs the pipe from the inside, with no digging. That is why it usually costs less than excavation, and causes far less upheaval. Here is what drives the price, and how to tell whether relining suits your drain.
What you’re paying for
Drain relining is also called cured-in-place pipe, or CIPP. A liner soaked in resin goes into the old pipe and hardens in place. The result is a strong new pipe with no joints, formed inside the old one. It seals cracks and keeps roots out.
A relining quote usually covers the items below. Ask the installer to confirm.
- Cleaning and preparation. The installer jets the pipe clear first, so the liner bonds well.
- A CCTV survey before and after. Check both are included. The first confirms the fault, and the second checks the repair.
- The liner and the work to fit it.
Patch vs full-length lining
- Patch lining repairs a single defect, such as a cracked joint or a short damaged section. It is the cheapest structural repair. It suits a pipe that is sound apart from that one spot.
- Full-length lining renews a whole run. It suits a pipe with several defects, or wear along its length. It costs more in total, but less per metre than many separate patches.
A survey shows which you need. There’s no sense lining 8 metres of pipe to fix one bad joint.
Relining often suits older clay and stoneware runs, such as those under stone-built terraces in Bradford or Victorian terraces in Leicester and older clay runs in Coventry. The list of cities covered links every city page. Before you book, it can also help to know who is responsible for a blocked drain.
Relining vs excavation
Relining is popular because it avoids digging. To replace a pipe, someone has to dig up whatever sits above it, then put it back. That could be a lawn, a driveway or a patio.
Since it is a no-dig drain repair, relining skips that cost and mess. So it is usually the cheaper route where the pipe is suitable.
Still, relining isn’t always possible. A pipe that has fully collapsed, or lost its shape, may need digging up. The collapsed drain repair cost guide shows how those figures compare.
What changes the price
- Length. This is the biggest factor, since longer runs cost more in total.
- Diameter and access. Larger or awkward pipes take more material and time.
- Preparation. Heavy roots or scale mean more cleaning before lining.
- Bends and junctions. A complex layout can need special lining.
How long does a relined drain last?
A well-fitted liner can add many years to a drain’s life, so ask the installer what working life they expect. The new pipe has no joints, which leaves roots no way in. Roots are often what caused the fault in the first place, since tree roots damage drains by growing in through the joints. For the wider choice, weigh no-dig repair against excavation.
The bottom line
At £80 to £150 per metre in that guide, relining usually sits between a short-term clear-out and a full dig and replace. The only way to price your job is to see the pipe first. Ask for a written quote before any work starts.
Send us your postcode and we’ll pass your request on straight away. Ask for a quote for relining and for any other option, so you can compare them.