Drain Relining Cost Per Metre (2026 UK Guide)

Drain relining typically costs £100–£250 per metre in the UK in 2026, with a short localised patch repair often coming in at a few hundred pounds. Because it repairs the pipe from the inside with no digging, relining is usually far cheaper — and far less disruptive — than excavating and replacing a run.

Here’s what drives the figure, and how to tell whether relining is the right fix for your drain.

What you’re paying for

Drain relining (cured-in-place pipe, or CIPP) inserts a resin-soaked liner into the existing pipe and cures it in place. The result is a strong, jointless new pipe formed inside the old one, sealing cracks and blocking root ingress. The price covers:

• Cleaning and preparation — the pipe is jetted clear first so the liner bonds properly.
• A pre- and post-repair CCTV survey — to confirm the fault before, and a sound repair after.
• The liner and installation itself.

Patch vs full-length lining

• Patch (localised) lining repairs a single defect — a cracked joint or a short damaged section. It’s the most economical structural repair and is ideal when the rest of the pipe is sound.
• Full-length lining renews an entire run, which suits a pipe with several defects or widespread deterioration. It costs more overall but less per metre than repeated patches.

A survey decides which you need — there’s no sense lining 8 metres to fix one bad joint.

Relining vs excavation

The reason relining is popular is simple: it avoids groundwork. Excavating and replacing a pipe means digging up — and then reinstating — whatever sits above it, whether that’s a lawn, a driveway or a patio. As a no-dig drain repair, relining skips that cost and mess entirely, which is why it’s usually the more economical route where the pipe is suitable.

That said, relining isn’t always possible. A pipe that has fully collapsed or lost its shape may need excavation — see our collapsed drain repair cost guide for how those figures compare.

What changes the price

1. Length — the biggest factor; longer runs cost more in total.
2. Diameter and access — larger or awkward pipes take more material and time.
3. Preparation — heavy root growth or scale means more cleaning before lining.
4. Bends and junctions — complex layouts can need specialist lining.

How long does a relined drain last?

A properly installed liner can extend the life of a drain by decades — commonly quoted at 50 years or more. Because the new pipe is jointless, there are no joints for roots to exploit, which is often what caused the original problem. In practice, relining turns a recurring headache into a long-term fix.

The bottom line

At £100–£250 per metre with no excavation, relining is usually the sensible middle ground between a temporary clear-out and a full dig-and-replace. The only way to price it accurately is to see the pipe first.

Send us your postcode and we’ll survey the drain and quote relining against any alternative, so you can choose the repair that lasts for the least disruption.