Foundations on difficult ground
How much does piling cost?
Mini piling typically costs £250–£450 per metre of depth per pile, plus £1,500–£3,000 to get the rig and crew to site. A typical domestic extension that needs piles lands at £5,000–£15,000 all-in. Depth, pile count and access decide where in the range you sit. Tell us about the job and local piling contractors will quote their exact price.
The process
- Tell us about the job: what's being built, the ground, the access. Two minutes, no account.
- We pass your details to relevant piling contractors covering your postcode, and to no one else.
- They contact you directly with their actual price for your job. Compare, choose, or walk away.
Piling Costs is a free introduction service operated by Ellul Solutions Ltd; we pass your details to relevant local piling contractors who quote you directly. We may receive a fee from providers; you pay nothing and are under no obligation. We are not a contractor or firm of engineers and nothing here is structural advice; cost figures are typical 2026 quote ranges that vary by region, ground conditions, depth and access.
Typical piling costs, 2026
Last updated
What domestic piling typically costs: the per-metre rate, the mobilisation charge everyone forgets, and an illustrative extension job. These are typical quote ranges observed across the UK market in 2026, not fixed prices; depth, pile count, ground and access move the number.
Ranges reflect typical quotes for domestic mini piling observed across the UK market in 2026; they vary by region, ground conditions, pile depth and access. The worked extension example is arithmetic on the stated rates (6 piles at 4 m each is 24 pile-metres at £250–£450, plus one mobilisation at £1,500–£3,000), an illustration, not a quote. Pile design, soil investigation, spoil removal and the ground beams the piles support are additional unless a quote says otherwise. Get exact quotes for your job via the form above.
| Item | Typical cost (2026 quotes) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mini piling, per metre of depth per pile | £250–£450 | The metered rate; driven, bored or sectional auger to suit ground and access |
| Mobilisation (rig, crew, kit to site) | £1,500–£3,000 | Payable once per visit regardless of pile count, so small jobs carry it hardest |
| Illustrative extension: 6 piles at 4 m | £7,500–£13,800 | Arithmetic: 24 pile-metres at £250–£450 plus one mobilisation at £1,500–£3,000; not a quote |
| Typical domestic extension piling job, all-in | £5,000–£15,000 | Where the range lands depends on pile count, depth and access |
| Pile design, soil investigation, ground beams | Priced per job | Usually extra; confirm what each quote includes before comparing |
- Mini piling typically costs £250–£450 per metre of depth per pile in 2026 quotes, plus a one-off mobilisation charge of £1,500–£3,000 to get the rig to site.
- A typical domestic extension that needs piles costs £5,000–£15,000 all-in (typical 2026 quotes; pile count, depth and access decide where in the range).
- An illustrative 6-pile extension at 4 m per pile works out at £7,500–£13,800: 24 pile-metres at typical 2026 rates plus one mobilisation, arithmetic, not a quote.
Cite this page
“Typical piling costs, 2026”, Piling Costs, https://pilingcosts.co.uk/ (updated 2026-08-14). Ranges reflect typical quotes for domestic mini piling observed across the UK market in 2026; they vary by region, ground conditions, pile depth and access. The worked extension example is arithmetic on the stated rates (6 piles at 4 m each is 24 pile-metres at £250–£450, plus one mobilisation at £1,500–£3,000), an illustration, not a quote. Pile design, soil investigation, spoil removal and the ground beams the piles support are additional unless a quote says otherwise. Get exact quotes for your job via the form above.
Go deeper
Each one cites where its numbers come from.
Questions, answered directly
How much does piling cost in the UK?
Typical 2026 quotes: mini piling at £250–£450 per metre of depth per pile, plus £1,500–£3,000 mobilisation to get the rig to site. A typical domestic extension piling job lands at £5,000–£15,000 all-in, depending on pile count, depth, ground and access. Ranges vary by region.
How much does piling cost for an extension?
Typically £5,000–£15,000 all-in (typical 2026 quotes). As arithmetic: 6 piles at 4 m is 24 pile-metres, which at £250–£450 per metre plus one £1,500–£3,000 mobilisation works out at £7,500–£13,800, an illustration, not a quote. Ground beams and design are usually extra.
What is a piling mobilisation charge?
The fixed cost of getting the rig, crew and equipment to your site and set up, typically £1,500–£3,000 per visit in 2026 quotes, payable regardless of how many piles you need. It is why very small jobs cost disproportionately more per pile, and why doing all piling in one visit saves money.
What is the difference between driven and bored piles?
Driven piles are hammered in: fast, no spoil, capacity proven as driving resistance rises, but they cause vibration. Bored (augered) piles are drilled and concreted: low vibration and better next to existing structures, but they produce spoil. CFA is the continuous-auger version used for higher output. The contractor matches technique to ground and access.
Do I need a structural engineer for piling?
Yes. Pile depth and spec come from soil investigation data and pile design calculations, and building control approves the foundation on that basis. Many piling contractors offer design-and-install, which is fine, but there should always be a designed scheme and sign-off, not piles by habit.
Is this quote service really free?
Yes, free to you, with no obligation to accept any quote. We pass your details only to relevant local piling contractors, who quote you directly; we may receive a fee from those providers, which is how the service is funded.