Price Guide

How Much Does a Demolition Contractor Really Cost?

Compare prices for 12 services across 342 UK locations. Data-driven pricing updated for .

12 services priced 342 cities covered Updated

National pricing

Demolition Contractor Prices

National average prices. Select a city below for local pricing.

All prices include materials and labour unless stated otherwise. Prices verified 2026

Garage Demolition

Low

£1,000

Average

£2,000

High

£3,500

1-2 days

More details

Complete demolition of a single garage including walls, roof and concrete base. Includes breaking up the slab, loading waste and skip hire for disposal.

~99% labour, ~1% materials

What affects the price

  • Garage size (single, double, triple)
  • Construction type (brick, concrete block, timber frame)
  • Whether the concrete base needs removing
  • Asbestos presence (roof sheets, guttering)

Internal Wall Removal (Non-Load-Bearing)

Low

£400

Average

£800

High

£1,500

1 day

More details

Removal of a non-load-bearing internal partition wall to create an open plan space. Includes knocking down the wall, clearing rubble, skip hire and basic making good to the ceiling and floor.

~93% labour, ~7% materials

What affects the price

  • Wall construction (stud, block, brick)
  • Size of the wall
  • Amount of making good needed (ceiling, floor, adjacent walls)
  • Whether electrical sockets or plumbing need rerouting

Chimney Breast Removal

Low

£1,200

Average

£2,000

High

£3,500

2-3 days

More details

Removal of a chimney breast on one floor. Includes structural support (RSJ or gallows brackets), building control notification, making good the ceiling and floor, and waste removal.

~88% labour, ~12% materials

What affects the price

  • Whether it is load-bearing (most are)
  • Which floor the breast is being removed from
  • Whether the stack above needs supporting
  • Structural engineer fees (typically £300-£500 extra)

Outbuilding Demolition

Low

£500

Average

£1,200

High

£2,500

1-2 days

More details

Demolition of a brick, block or timber outbuilding such as an old workshop, store room or coal bunker. Includes breaking down the structure and disposing of all waste.

~99% labour, ~1% materials

What affects the price

  • Size of the outbuilding
  • Construction material (brick, block, timber)
  • Whether foundations need breaking up
  • Accessibility for machinery and skip placement

Conservatory Removal

Low

£1,500

Average

£2,500

High

£4,500

2-3 days

More details

Complete removal of a conservatory including the frame, roof, glazing, dwarf walls and base. Includes making good the external wall where the conservatory joined, weatherproofing and waste removal.

~95% labour, ~5% materials

What affects the price

  • Size of the conservatory
  • Construction type (uPVC, hardwood, aluminium)
  • Whether dwarf walls and base need removing
  • Extent of making good to the house wall

Shed Removal

Low

£150

Average

£350

High

£600

2-4 hours

More details

Dismantling and removing a timber garden shed. Includes breaking down the structure, clearing the base area and taking all waste for disposal.

What affects the price

  • Size of the shed
  • Whether it has a concrete base to remove
  • Accessibility through the garden
  • Condition of the shed (rotten timber is harder to handle)

Garden Wall Demolition

Low

£300

Average

£600

High

£1,200

Half a day to 1 day

More details

Demolition of a brick or block garden wall. Includes knocking down the wall, clearing rubble and skip hire. Price based on a typical garden boundary wall up to 6 square metres.

~98% labour, ~2% materials

What affects the price

  • Length and height of the wall
  • Wall thickness (single or double skin)
  • Whether foundations need removing
  • Skip access and distance to carry waste

Ceiling Removal (Artex or Plaster)

Low

£300

Average

£600

High

£1,000

1-2 days

More details

Stripping an old plaster or Artex ceiling back to the joists or plasterboard. Includes removal of old material, waste disposal and preparation for replastering. Price per average room.

~92% labour, ~8% materials

What affects the price

  • Room size
  • Whether the Artex contains asbestos (pre-2000 may do)
  • Removal method (scrape, steam, chemical, overboard)
  • Whether replastering is included

Floor Removal (Tiles or Screed)

Low

£200

Average

£450

High

£800

1 day

More details

Removal of existing floor tiles, screed or other flooring down to the subfloor. Includes lifting tiles, breaking up screed if needed, clearing debris and skip disposal. Price per average room.

~97% labour, ~3% materials

What affects the price

  • Room size and floor area
  • Type of floor covering (ceramic, vinyl, stone, screed)
  • Adhesive type (some are very hard to remove)
  • Whether the subfloor needs levelling after

Asbestos Survey

Low

£200

Average

£350

High

£600

1-3 hours

More details

Professional asbestos survey of a domestic property. A surveyor takes samples of suspected asbestos-containing materials and sends them to a UKAS-accredited laboratory for analysis. Written report provided.

What affects the price

  • Property size and number of rooms
  • Type of survey (management vs refurbishment/demolition)
  • Number of samples needed
  • Whether it is a pre-purchase or pre-works survey

Asbestos Removal (Small Area)

Low

£300

Average

£700

High

£1,500

Half a day to 1 day

More details

Licensed removal of a small area of asbestos-containing material such as a garage roof panel, floor tiles or textured coating. Includes containment, safe removal, disposal at a licensed facility and clearance certificate.

~82% labour, ~18% materials

What affects the price

  • Type of asbestos (cement is cheaper, insulation is more expensive)
  • Area to be removed
  • Accessibility and containment requirements
  • Disposal and waste transfer costs

Full House Strip-Out

Low

£3,000

Average

£6,000

High

£12,000

3-5 days

More details

Complete internal strip-out of a house back to bare walls and floors. Includes removing all kitchen units, bathroom fittings, flooring, plaster, ceilings, internal doors and waste disposal.

~98% labour, ~2% materials

What affects the price

  • Property size (number of rooms)
  • Number of skip loads required
  • Whether asbestos is present
  • Accessibility for skips and waste removal

Popular locations

Demolition Costs by City

London

£1,245–£4,350

Birmingham

£935–£3,265

Leeds

£970–£3,400

Glasgow

£1,050–£3,670

Sheffield

£985–£3,450

Manchester

£975–£3,420

Bradford

£875–£3,065

Edinburgh

£1,140–£3,995

Liverpool

£990–£3,460

Bristol

£1,075–£3,765

Coventry

£960–£3,355

Leicester

£855–£2,995

Local pricing

Find Demolition Contractor Costs in Your City

Browse all 342 cities for local demolition contractor pricing.

Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley London
Brighton Milton Keynes Reading Southampton
Bournemouth Bristol Gloucester Plymouth
Colchester Luton Norwich Peterborough
Birmingham Coventry Stoke-on-Trent Wolverhampton
Derby Leicester Northampton Nottingham
Bradford Leeds Sheffield York
Bolton Liverpool Manchester Warrington
County Durham Middlesbrough Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland
Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Cardiff Swansea
Aberdeen Dundee Edinburgh Glasgow
Belfast

Regional comparison

Garage Demolition by City

Average cost of garage demolition across key UK cities.

London
+24% £2,485
Manchester
-2% £1,955
Birmingham
-7% £1,865
Glasgow
+5% £2,100
Bristol
+7% £2,150
Leeds
-3% £1,945
Cardiff
-2% £1,965
Belfast
-13% £1,740

Overview

What Does a Demolition Contractor Do?

A demolition contractor provides professional services covering structural demolition, strip-outs, asbestos removal and site clearance. They handle everything from routine maintenance and inspections to full installations and emergency repairs. Whether you need a small repair or a major project, hiring a qualified demolition contractor ensures the work is done safely, to code, and to a professional standard.

You should hire a demolition contractor whenever you need work that requires specialist skills, tools, or qualifications. Many types of demolition contractor work are regulated and must be carried out by a certified professional. Attempting DIY on regulated work can be dangerous, void your insurance, and create costly problems down the line.

Pricing for demolition contractor services depends on the complexity of what you need, the options chosen, and where you live in the UK. Simpler services sit at the lower end of the scale, while more involved or premium options will be significantly more expensive. The prices on this page give you a realistic range for each type of service so you know what to expect before getting quotes.

When hiring a demolition contractor, always get at least three quotes from different tradespeople. Read recent reviews and ask for references. Always check qualifications, insurance and recent reviews. A reputable demolition contractor will be happy to provide a detailed breakdown of costs and explain exactly what is included in their quote.

Related services

Related Services

Services often needed alongside a demolition contractor.

Skip Hire UK price guide £80–£200 Scaffolding UK price guide £600–£1,400 Builder UK price guide £30,000–£80,000 Landscaping UK price guide £500–£1,200 Roofing UK price guide £80–£275 Tree Surgery UK price guide £150–£550 Paving & Driveways UK price guide £3,500–£8,500 Fencing UK price guide £100–£220

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about demolition contractor costs in the UK.

Do I need planning permission for demolition work?
Demolishing a building over 50 cubic metres requires prior notification to your local planning authority. Listed buildings and buildings in conservation areas need full planning permission before any demolition. Even for smaller structures, check with your council first as local rules vary.
What is the difference between demolition and a strip-out?
Demolition involves bringing down all or part of a structure. A strip-out removes the interior fittings, partitions, flooring and services while leaving the main structure intact. Strip-outs are common before office refurbishments, shop fit-outs or residential renovations.
How is demolition waste disposed of?
Reputable demolition contractors sort waste on-site for recycling. Concrete, brick, metal and timber can all be recycled. Hazardous materials like asbestos must be disposed of at licensed facilities. Your contractor should provide waste transfer notes proving proper disposal.
Do I need an asbestos survey before demolition?
Yes. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, a refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey is legally required before any demolition or major refurbishment work on buildings built before 2000. Asbestos removal must be carried out by a licensed contractor and can add significant cost to the project.
Do I need a Party Wall Agreement for demolition?
If the demolition work is within 3 metres of a neighbouring property or involves a shared wall, you may need to serve a Party Wall Notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. This gives your neighbours formal notice and protects both parties. A Party Wall surveyor typically charges £700-£1,500 per neighbour.
Can I demolish a garage or shed myself?
Small timber structures like sheds can be dismantled by a competent DIYer with basic tools. However, brick or block garages with concrete bases, structures with asbestos roofing, or anything near boundaries or services should be done by a professional. You also need to dispose of waste legally — fly-tipping carries fines of up to £50,000.
How is demolition priced — by the job or by the day?
Most domestic demolition work is priced as a fixed quote for the whole job, including labour, skip hire and disposal. Some contractors charge day rates for strip-out work (typically £250-£400 per day per labourer). Always get a written quote that confirms exactly what is included, especially skip and disposal costs.
What happens to the foundations after demolition?
It depends on what you plan to do with the space. If you are rebuilding, existing foundations may be reusable subject to a structural engineer's approval. If you want a clear, level area, the concrete base and footings will need breaking up and removing, which adds to the cost.
How do I find a reputable demolition contractor?
Check that the contractor holds the appropriate waste carrier licence from the Environment Agency and has public liability insurance. For jobs involving asbestos, they must hold an HSE licence for asbestos removal. Ask for waste transfer notes after the job to prove materials were disposed of legally.
How much does a demolition contractor cost in the UK?
The most common demolition contractor job, garage demolition, costs between £1,000 and £3,500 nationally, with an average of £2,000. Prices vary depending on the scope of work, materials used, and your location within the UK.
What affects demolition contractor prices?
The main factors are the complexity and scope of what you need, the options and products chosen, and your location. London and the South East are typically 15-35% more expensive than northern regions. Getting multiple quotes is the best way to ensure a fair price.
How do I find a reliable demolition contractor?
Get at least three quotes from different tradespeople, check recent reviews and references, and ask for a detailed written quote that breaks down all costs before committing. Always check qualifications, insurance and recent reviews.
Do demolition contractor prices vary by location?
Yes, significantly. London is the most expensive area, with prices typically 20-35% above the national average. The South East is also above average. Northern England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland tend to be 5-15% below the national average. Our city pages show exact local pricing for 342 UK locations.
Do the prices shown include materials?
The prices on this page include all typical costs. However, when getting real quotes, always confirm what is and isn't included. Some tradespeople break out costs separately, while others give an all-in price. Ask for a detailed breakdown before agreeing to any work.
When is the best time to hire a demolition contractor?
Demand for demolition contractor services tends to peak in autumn and winter, which can mean longer wait times and higher prices. If your job isn't urgent, booking during spring or summer may get you a better rate and faster availability. Emergency work will always cost more regardless of the time of year.