COST GUIDES
How much does brake pad replacement cost in 2026?
Updated 04/26
Brake pads typically need to be replaced around every 50,000 miles. Are you near or over that point? Here's the average brake pad replacement cost if your time for new brake pads has arrived!
Fast Facts
You can expect to spend somewhere between £189 and £276.50 for brake pad and disc replacement
Brake pads and discs are usually replaced together
Front brake pads cost slightly more to replace than rear brake pads
Noticed juddering or scraping when you use the brake pedal? It could be time to replace your brake pads.
Here, we'll reveal the average brake pad replacement cost. When you consider the safety risks of driving with faulty brakes, it’s definitely a cost worth spending!
How much does it cost to replace brake pads?
The average cost to replace brake pads in the UK ranges from around £105 to £135 for the front brake pads.
Meanwhile, the cost to replace your rear brake pads is on average £100 to £130.
As you can see, it costs slightly more to replace your front brake pads than it does to replace your rear ones. This is to do with the size and composition of the brake pads, as well as your car's weight distribution and the way the braking system works.
That said, the cost of replacing your brake pads will vary based on lots of different factors. These include the make of your car, its engine size and whether you replace the discs at the same time.
Find a checked mechanic who works in your area
What's included in a brake pad replacement quote?
When a mechanic gives you a quote for brake pad replacement, you can usually expect it to include the costs of:
New brake pads and discs
Other materials
Labour and installation
Waste disposal
Additional costs to budget for:
Premiums for certain makes and models of car
Other repairs your brakes may need
Travel and parking, if necessary
What affects the cost of a brake pad replacement?
The main factors that are likely to affect how much your brake pad replacement costs are:
Whether they're for the front or rear wheels
The make and model of your car
Your car's engine size
Your location
The extent of any damage or wear and tear
Let's break down the cost of brake pad replacement based on some of these key factors.
Cost to replace brake pads and discs by engine size
| Engine size | Front pads cost | Front pads and discs cost | Rear pads cost | Rear pads and discs cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1300cc | £105 | £190 | £100 | £185 |
| Up to 1600cc | £115 | £205 | £110 | £200 |
| Up to 1900cc | £120 | £215 | £115 | £210 |
| Up to 2200cc | £130 | £230 | £125 | £225 |
| Over 2200cc | £135 | £240 | £130 | £235 |
| Last updated: April 2026 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | ||||
As you can see, the bigger your car's engine size, the higher your brake pad and disc replacement costs will generally be.
For example, you can expect to spend around £185 to replace the rear brake pads and discs on a car with an engine size that's up to 1300cc.
But the same job will typically cost closer to £235 on a car with a bigger engine of over 2200cc.
Cost of replacing brake pads and discs by location
| Location | Average Cost (+VAT) |
|---|---|
| Glasgow | £189 |
| Birmingham | £201 |
| Manchester | £207 |
| Liverpool | £233 |
| Newcastle | £248.50 |
| London | £276.50 |
| Last updated: June 2026 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | |
Just like other car repairs, brake pad disc replacement costs differ across the UK.
Glasgow is one of the cheapest cities for getting your brake pads and discs replaced, with an average cost of £189.
Meanwhile, London has the highest average cost, at £276.50.
Cost of replacing brake pads and discs by car make
As a general rule, the more premium your car brand, the higher your brake pad disc replacement costs will be. Although of course, there are exceptions.
Amongst the most expensive brands are BMW, costing £377.50 on average, and Mercedes, costing £358 on average.
At the cheaper end, you’ll find Toyota cars, with an average cost of just £198.50.
If you own a luxury or high-performance car, your costs are likely to be higher still. This is largely because these cars come with expensive parts that cost more to replace.
Find a checked mechanic who works in your area
Try the job estimator tool
To find out how much it may cost to replace the brake pads on your car, why not use our job estimate calculator? Just offer a little information about your car, and the tool will dig into Checkatrade data to give you an approximate cost.
Job Estimate Calculator
How much does it usually cost to replace brake pads alone?
To replace just the brake pads on their own, a Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 has an average brake pad replacement cost of £89, as an example. This is compared to £175 to replace both the pads and the discs.
Similarly, you’ll be looking at a brake pad replacement cost of around £154 for a Volkswagen Golf 1.4. In comparison, you can expect to pay £264 for replacing the brake pads and discs together.
Your brake pads and discs work together to make sure your car stops safely when you hit the brake pedal. As such, brake pads and discs are often replaced together.
Should you replace brake pads and discs together?
Yes, it's best practice to replace your brake pads every time you get your brake discs replaced.
To access your brake pads or discs, your mechanic will need to take the wheels off and remove the calliper. This is a time-consuming job that accounts for a lot of your labour costs
Replacing your brake pads while your car is in this state will save you from having to pay these labour costs again a month or two down the line. It will also improve your car's performance and increase the life of your brakes
On the other hand, brake pads are made of a softer material than metal brake discs. This means they tend to wear out faster and need replacing more often
With that in mind, it's not always necessary to replace your brake discs when your brake pads need replacing.
If your brake discs aren't showing much wear and tear and your mechanic suggests replacing the pads alone, just make sure that they check the brakes are all even. That way, you won't end up with uneven wear.
How long should brake pads last?
As a rule of thumb, brake pads need to be replaced every 50,000 miles.
The average driver covers around 12,000 miles each year. That means you'll likely need to replace your brake pads roughly every four to five years.
If you're reaching that mark and your brake pads haven't been replaced, that's a sign that it may be time to head to a mechanic.
Having said that, this isn't an exact science. Depending on factors like how often you use your brakes and how much weight you put in your car, your brake pads could last anywhere from 25,000 to 70,000 miles.
Signs that your brake pads need replacing
Your mechanic should check your brakes during your regular car service and MOT. But you should still keep an eye out for these key signs that your brake pads could do with a replacement.
Noisy brakes - A squealing or scraping noise when you press the brakes is one of the most common signs that your brake pads need replacing.
Vibrating - If you spot vibrating or juddering when you use your brakes, this often means that your brake discs are worn and need attention.
Less effective braking - If your stopping distances have increased or your brakes are less responsive, head to a mechanic straight away.
Visible damage - If you see any deep grooves or score marks on the discs, this could suggest they've degraded to the point where they need replacing.
Getting your car serviced
Discover why regular car servicing is essential, along with tips on choosing a provider and what to expect during your service.
Find a checked mechanic who works in your area
Can you drive with worn brake pads?
You can, but you shouldn't. While you can technically drive with worn brake pads, it's not something you should risk doing. Not only will it impact your braking ability, which is incredibly dangerous - it can also cause damage to your car.
That's right, driving with worn brake pads can damage the brake rotors and callipers. And it can even wear down your tires!
So, you won't just be risking your safety - you could also end up paying more expensive car repair costs in the future.
Can I save on brake pad replacement costs by doing it myself?
No, not unless you really know what you're doing. You might be tempted to save on the cost of brake pad replacement by trying your hand at it yourself, but the dangers associated with faulty brakes are just too high to risk a bodged job!
To find a trusted mechanic near you and get a tailored brake pad replacement cost for your car, use our free search.
Find a checked mechanic who works in your area
Your brake pad replacement cost checklist
To get the most accurate quote for your brake pad replacement, make sure you have all the information in our checklist handy.
Brake pad replacement cost checklist
FAQs about brake pad replacement costs
The average cost to replace brake pads in the UK ranges from £99.85 to £134.95, depending on the size of your car engine, whether you're having the front or rear brake pads replaced and your location.
These costs are for brake pad replacement only. You can expect to pay more to replace both brake pads and discs.
The cost to repair brakes in the UK will vary depending on the exact problem and the make and model of your car. As a rough guide, a mechanic working from a garage will typically charge around £60 per hour, while a mobile mechanic will charge around £45 per hour.
Head over to our guide about mechanic hourly rates to learn more.
Front brake pads and discs tend to cost a little more to replace than rear brake pads and discs. You can expect to pay somewhere between £189.95 and £239.95 to have your car's front brake pads and discs replaced.
For a car with an engine size between 1600cc and 1900cc, you're looking at around £119.95 for the front brake pads and £114.95 for the rear brake pads. Bear in mind that this doesn't include brake disc replacement costs.
It will usually take under an hour to change a pair of brake pads on their own in the UK. Alternatively, you're generally looking at between one and three hours to change both brake pads and discs.
See the tradespeople we've checked for your job