Our rates
Published pricing — standard, after-hours and public holiday. Free quotes, no callout fee, and the quote is the price.
The rate card
Very few trades publish their rates. We'd rather you knew what an hour costs before you ring than found out on the invoice, so here is the whole card.
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Standard hourly rate | $95 +GST |
| First hour minimum — includes travel | $135 +GST |
| Out-of-hours hourly rate | $120 +GST |
| First hour minimum, out of hours — includes travel | $250 +GST |
| Public holiday hourly rate | $250 +GST |
| First hour minimum, public holiday — includes travel | $350 +GST |
| Gas certificate | $40 +GST |
All rates are in New Zealand dollars and exclude GST. Standard rates apply Monday–Friday during normal business hours; out-of-hours and public holiday rates apply outside those times. Materials used on a job are calculated separately and charged on top of the hourly rate.
What each rate covers
- Standard hourly rate — $95 + GST. Monday to Friday, normal business hours.
- First hour minimum — includes travel — $135 + GST. The first hour of a standard weekday job. Travel is in the price; there is no separate callout fee and no distance surcharge.
- Out-of-hours hourly rate — $120 + GST. Evenings, nights and weekends, after the first hour.
- First hour minimum, out of hours — includes travel — $250 + GST. The first hour of an after-hours or overnight callout.
- Public holiday hourly rate — $250 + GST. After the first hour on a public holiday.
- First hour minimum, public holiday — includes travel — $350 + GST. The first hour of a public holiday callout.
- Gas certificate — $40 + GST. The certificate itself, for gas work that needs one.
No callout fee, and no surcharge for distance
The first hour of a standard weekday job is $135 + GST including travel. There's no callout fee bolted on top and no extra for how far we've come, which is why an address in Papanui costs the same as one in St Martins, five minutes from our door. We're a family owned business working right across greater Christchurch, and every suburb we cover is charged the same way.
Materials are charged separately
The rates above are for labour. Materials used on a job are calculated separately and charged on top of the hourly rate — the cylinder, the tapware, the fittings, the pipe, whatever the job actually takes. That's the standard way plumbing work is charged in New Zealand, and it's why an hourly rate on its own never tells you what a job will cost.
If you'd rather know the total before we start, ask for a quote: a quote covers labour and materials together, in one number.
Quotes are free, and the quote is the price
For anything that can be priced up front, ask for a quote. It costs nothing, there's no obligation, and what we quote is what you pay — nothing gets added at the end. For work that can't be sized until it's opened up, you're charged for the hours it actually takes at the rates above, and we'll tell you before we carry on if a job turns out to be bigger than it looked.
Backed by the 2-year guarantee
Every job, at every rate on this page, is covered by our 2-year workmanship guarantee. Not two years with conditions and a form to fill in — two years, and if something we did isn't right, we come back and put it right.
Emergencies and after hours
We're open 24 hours. If you've got water running, a gas smell or no hot water in the middle of the night, ring rather than waiting for business hours — the out-of-hours rate is what it costs to have someone there now, and the damage from waiting usually costs more. There's more on how after-hours callouts work on the emergency plumber page.
Get a free quote instead
Hourly rates are for work that can't be priced up front. If yours can be, tell us what needs doing and we'll come back with a fixed price.
If you smell gas, or have a burst pipe actively flooding your property, don't wait on a form — call 027 811 5916 now.
Questions about pricing
Do you charge a callout fee?
No. There's no separate callout fee and no distance surcharge. The first hour of a standard weekday job is $135 + GST and that includes travel, so an address in Belfast costs the same as one in Beckenham.
Do these rates include GST?
No. Every rate on this page is quoted excluding GST, which is the way trade rates are normally published in New Zealand. GST is added to the invoice at the current rate.
When do out-of-hours rates apply?
Standard rates apply Monday to Friday during normal business hours. Outside that — evenings, nights and weekends — the out-of-hours rates apply, and public holidays have their own rate again. We're open 24 hours, so if you're not sure which rate your job falls under, ring and ask before you book.
Are parts and materials included in the hourly rate?
No. The rates on this page are for labour. Materials used on a job — cylinders, tapware, fittings, pipe and so on — are calculated separately and charged on top of the hourly rate. If you want one number covering both, ask for a quote.
Do you charge for a quote?
No. Quotes are free and there's no obligation. Tell us what needs doing and we'll come back to you with a price.
Will the price change once you've started?
The quote is the price. If we quote a job, that's what you pay — nothing gets added at the end. On hourly work you're charged for the time it takes, and if something unexpected turns up we'll tell you what it means before we carry on rather than after.
How much does a gas certificate cost?
$40 + GST. A gas certificate is the compliance paperwork for gas work that requires it, issued by a certifying gasfitter. There's more detail on the gas certificate page, including when one is legally required.