How Much Do Brake Pads and Brake Discs Cost?

Everyone knows that brake pads and brake discs are some of the most important parts of any car. But how many of us know how much they cost?

Find out how much you can expect to pay for a brake pad replacement here, as well as:

• How much a set of brake pads costs
• How much a set of brake discs costs
• The average brake pad and disc replacement cost in the UK
• How long brake pads and discs last
• What the brake pad warning light is

If your brakes wear out, this could lead to MOT failure, so make sure that you have you brake pads and discs replaced at the appropriate intervals. 

 

Summary

A set of brake pads costs £45.79 on average, with a set of front brake pads costing £45.97 and a set of rear brake pads £45.61. Including labour costs, a front brake pad replacement costs £121.80 and a rear £109.83. A set of front brake discs costs £97.06 and a set of rear ones £87.84 on average.

The following averages are based on bookings made through BookMyGarage between 1st September 2020 and 1st April 2023. 

The average cost of a front brake pad and disc replacement is £274.21. 

The average cost of a rear brake pad and disc replacement is £252.67.

You should change your brake pads every 40,000 miles and brake discs every 50,000 miles on average. This means a mechanic may suggest a brake pad and disc replacement at the same time to keep your appointment cost-efficient.

If you're struggling with your brakes, enter your reg and postcode to compare and save on brake pad and disc replacement near you with BookMyGarage.

 

 

How Much Do Brake Pads Cost?

A set of two brake pads cost £45.79 on average.

However, front brake pads are more expensive than rear brake pads. As they do the bulk of the braking, they are larger than rear pads. This helps them cope with the weight transfer and braking forces. There are also design differences, such as ventilation, which increase the cost.

This means that you will pay a different amount depending on what brake pads need replacing.

 

Front Brake Pads

For all our brake pad average prices, we compared prices for 18 popular UK models on Eurocarparts. As many models had more than one suitable option, we took every available part into account when calculating an average.

A set of front brake pads costs £45.97 on average.

 

 

Rear Brake Pads

A set of rear brake pads costs £45.61 on average.

 

 

*Prices unavailable for Citroen C1, Fiat 500, Nissan Micra, Renault Clio and Toyota Aygo.

 

Total Cost of Brake Pads

We compared brake pad replacements booked through BookMyGarage to calculate an average price for both front and rear brake pad replacements.

As of May 2023, it costs £128.19 to replace front brake pads and £117.25 to replace rear brake pads, on average.

 

How Can I Save Money on My Brake Pads?

If you're sick and tired of overpaying for car maintenance, you're not alone. Over 5 million UK drivers have used BookMyGarage to compare MOT, servicing and repair costs and save up to 70%! (when choosing one of the lower-cost options). Now it's your turn.

If you're looking for the best price on your brake pad replacement, enter your reg and postcode today to compare deals from garages near you. You can filter by price to find the cheapest brake pad replacement near you or sort garages by availability, distance or reviews and ratings if you're looking for the highest quality option. Whichever option you choose, you get instant prices and easy online booking. Plus, you deal with the garage directly after the initial booking process, there is no upfront payment and you can amend or cancel your booking at any time if your circumstances change.

Don't settle for an expensive brake pad replacement ever again. Enter your reg and postcode to compare garages near you and save up to 70% when you choose one of the lower-cost options through BookMyGarage today.

 

 

How Much Do Brake Discs Cost?

For all our brake disc average prices, we compared prices for 19 popular UK models on Eurocarparts. As many models had more than one suitable option, we again took every available part into account when calculating an average.

A set of front brake discs costs £80.83 on average and a set of rear brake discs costs £72.98 on average.

 

 

However, if you need a brake disc replacement, the mechanic will also replace your brake pads. Generally, brake pads don't last as long, so they will advise replacing both for your safety. But how much does this cost?

 

How Much Do Brake Pads and Brake Discs Cost?

We compared brake pad and disc replacement costs from garages on BookMyGarage and found that the average cost for front pad and disc replacement is £274.15 and £272.02 for the rear, as of May 2023.

This includes the cost of labour. In the UK, the average garage charges around £50 an hour - so it's easy to see how it can quickly add up!

If you've been quoted well over the average from another garage and you're fed up with paying through the nose for your brake repairs, compare garages near you through BookMyGarage now. We offer instant, transparent prices from thousands of UK garages and you can save up to 70% on the cost of your brake pad and disc replacement when you choose one of the lower-cost options.

Join over 5 million drivers who have compared and saved on their MOT, servicing and repair costs by entering your reg and postcode into our online comparison site now. See how much you can save on your car maintenance by using BookMyGarage today.

 

 

How Long Does it Take to Change Brake Pads and Discs?

A full brake pad and disc replacement takes between 1 and 3 hours, no matter if you need the front or rear brakes changed.

Changing brake pads on their own takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour.

 

When Do I Need to Change Brake Pads and Brake Discs?

You should change your brake pads every 40,000 miles. They last between 25,000 and 60,000 miles, so they may last longer if you drive smoothly, but you shouldn't expect it. Front brake pads experience a lot of wear and tear because they bear the brunt of the braking process. A mechanic will inspect your brake pads during a car service, so you'll always get an update on their condition when you book one.

Brake discs generally last a little longer than brake pads, but we recommend changing them together anyway. If your brake pads are heavily worn, there's a good chance that your brake discs are reaching the end of their life as well. You should change brake discs every 50,000 miles, even though they can also last longer than this.

Your safety is most important, so forking out for brake pads and discs more regularly is a necessary evil. If you can make your driving style smoother, you'll put less pressure on your brakes and increase their lifespan.

 

What Is the Brake Pad Warning Light?

In most modern cars, there is a brake pad warning light that alerts you when you need to replace your brake pads. Generally, this warning light gives you around 1,000 miles of efficient braking to book a replacement.

You shouldn't ignore this warning light.

If you see it, it means you have about 3mm wear left on your brake pads. Brand new pads have 8-12 mm of wear, so this much wear makes them very unsafe. Book a brake pad replacement at a garage near you as soon as possible. If your brakes stop working, you will lose control of your car and could have a severe accident.

The brake pad warning light looks like this:

 

Book an appointment at a local garage as soon as you see this warning light.