How Much Does a Leased Line Cost in the UK? 2026 Pricing Guide
Quick Answer
A leased line in the UK typically costs between £150 and £2,000+ per month in 2026, depending on your postcode, speed, contract length, installation route and whether you need a managed router, resilience or enhanced SLA.
Typical leased line prices are:
| Leased line speed |
Typical monthly cost |
Best for |
| 100Mbps leased line |
£150-£300+ per month |
SMEs, VoIP, cloud apps and reliable uploads |
| 500Mbps leased line |
£250-£600+ per month |
Growing teams, hybrid work and heavier cloud use |
| 1Gbps leased line |
£300-£800+ per month |
Larger offices, data-heavy teams and multi-user sites |
| 10Gbps leased line |
£1,000-£2,000+ per month |
Enterprise, media, SaaS, finance and high-capacity sites |
Installation can cost £0-£10,000+, depending on whether your premises already has suitable fibre access. The biggest pricing factor is often postcode and installation complexity, not just the provider.
A leased line is usually worth comparing if your business relies on VoIP, cloud software, hosted desktops, large file uploads, video calls, VPNs, EPOS systems or always-on connectivity.
Compare leased line quotes for your postcode →
Key takeaways
- Leased lines usually cost £150-£2,000+ per month in the UK.
- A 100Mbps leased line is often enough for smaller businesses using VoIP, cloud apps and video calls.
- A 1Gbps leased line is better for larger teams, hosted desktops, cloud backups and heavy file transfers.
- Installation can be free on some contracts, but excess construction charges can add thousands if new fibre, ducting or civils are needed.
- Postcode matters because providers price leased lines based on nearby fibre infrastructure and build complexity.
- Most leased lines offer symmetrical upload and download speeds, unlike standard broadband.
- Leased lines usually come with stronger SLAs and faster fault repair targets than business broadband.
- BTnet advertises a 100% availability SLA and 5-hour target fix time.
- Virgin Media Business says its DIA leased line packages start from £185 per month for 100Mbps upload and download.
- Businesses should compare leased lines against full fibre business broadband before signing, because many SMEs do not need a dedicated circuit.
Leased Line Cost Calculator UK
Estimate your monthly leased line cost, annual spend, total contract value and whether dedicated internet is likely to be worth comparing for your business.
Choose the committed speed your business needs.
A larger bearer can make future speed upgrades easier.
Higher usage may increase recommended resilience and speed.
Leased line pricing is highly postcode-specific.
Longer contracts usually reduce the monthly price.
Useful if downtime would stop trading.
Higher SLA expectations can affect provider choice.
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This calculator is an estimate only. Actual leased line costs vary by postcode, network availability, bearer size, contract length, installation, excess construction charges, SLA, resilience, provider and survey results.
Leased line cost calculator: quick estimate
Use this as a rough guide before getting postcode-level quotes.
| Your business situation |
Likely leased line need |
Typical monthly cost |
| Small office using VoIP and cloud apps |
100Mbps leased line |
£150-£300+ |
| 10–30 staff using video calls and SaaS tools |
100-500Mbps leased line |
£200-£600+ |
| 30–100 staff with heavy cloud use |
500Mbps-1Gbps leased line |
£300-£800+ |
| Creative, media or data-heavy business |
1Gbps leased line |
£400-£1,000+ |
| Enterprise, data centre or large campus |
10Gbps+ leased line |
£1,000-£2,000+ |
| Business needing high resilience |
Leased line plus backup circuit |
Quote required |
Important: these are national guide prices. Your actual quote depends on postcode, survey results, provider network, installation route and contract length.
Get a postcode-based leased line quote →
Table of contents:
Typical UK leased line price bands
| Speed |
Typical monthly cost |
Typical installation cost |
Best for |
| 10Mbps |
£100-£200+ |
£0-£3,000+ |
Very light dedicated connectivity needs
|
| 100Mbps |
£150-£300+ |
£0-33,000+ |
SMEs, VoIP, Microsoft 365 and cloud apps
|
| 500Mbps |
£250-£600+ |
£0-£5,000+ |
Growing teams and heavier cloud use
|
| 1Gbps |
£300-£800+ |
£0-£10,000+ |
High-usage offices and large uploads
|
| 10Gbps |
£1,000-£2,000+ |
Quote required |
Enterprise and data-heavy sites
|
| 100Gbps |
Quote required |
Quote required |
Data centres, carriers and very high-capacity sites
|
How Much Will a Leased Line Cost Your Business?
Typical monthly pricing in the UK:
- Small offices or SMEs: £150-£300/month
- Growing teams: £250-£500/month
- High-capacity or multi-site operations: £500-£2,000+/month
💡 In many cases, the one-off installation charge matters just as much as the monthly rental.
What Is a Leased Line and How Does It Work?
A leased line is a dedicated, symmetrical broadband connection that directly connects your business to the internet or another site (such as a data centre or secondary office).
they can be identified by the following as they have:
- ✔️ Dedicated bandwidth – No slowdowns due to network congestion
- ✔️ Symmetrical speeds – Upload and download speeds are equal
- ✔️ Speeds up to 100Gbps – Far faster than standard broadband
- ✔️ Uninterrupted reliability – Unlike shared broadband, leased lines don’t slow down during peak hour.
A leased line creates a direct, private connection between two locations via fibre optic cables or copper wires and unlike broadband, leased lines are not shared with other users, ensuring consistent speeds and reliability.
What affects leased line costs?
| Cost factor |
Why it matters |
| Postcode |
Providers check how close your premises is to fibre infrastructure |
| Speed |
Higher speeds usually cost more each month |
| Installation route |
Civils, ducting and new fibre can increase costs |
| Contract length |
36-month terms often reduce monthly price or installation cost |
| SLA |
Stronger service guarantees can increase cost |
| Managed router |
Provider-managed hardware may cost more |
| Resilience |
Backup circuits, failover and diverse routing add cost |
| Wayleaves |
Landlord or building permissions can delay installation |
| Excess construction charges |
ECCs can add significant one-off costs |
| Provider network |
On-net providers may price more competitively |
| Location type |
City centres often have more competitive pricing than rural sites |
Monthly rental vs installation costs
Leased line pricing is made up of two main parts.
| Cost area |
What it covers |
What to check |
| Monthly rental |
Dedicated circuit, bandwidth, monitoring, SLA and support |
Speed, contract length, SLA, router and service credits
|
| Installation |
Fibre build, survey, equipment, civils and connection work |
Free install terms, ECC cap, wayleave risk and install timescale
|
Some providers subsidise installation on longer contracts, but this does not always mean installation is genuinely free. If the survey finds that extra construction work is needed, you may still face ECCs.
Our tip: Always ask whether the quote includes installation, whether ECCs are capped, and what happens if the survey changes the price.
Excess construction charges explained
Excess construction charges, often called ECCs, are one of the biggest hidden leased line cost risks.
| ECC trigger |
|
| No nearby fibre route |
Provider may need to build more network
|
| Blocked ducts |
Civil engineering work may be needed
|
| Long private road or estate |
More cabling may be required
|
| Listed or managed building |
Extra permissions can delay work
|
| Wayleave required |
Landlord or freeholder approval may be needed
|
| Rural location |
Network build costs can be higher
|
| Complex business park |
Shared access and duct routes can delay installation
|
What leased line speed do you need?
| Speed |
Best for |
Not ideal for |
| 10Mbps |
Very light dedicated use or legacy requirements |
|
| 100Mbps |
SMEs using VoIP, email, SaaS, video calls and cloud apps |
Large uploads or heavy multi-user workloads
|
| 500Mbps |
Growing teams, hybrid work and regular cloud file use |
Enterprise-grade high-volume data
|
| 1Gbps |
Larger teams, agencies, hosted desktops and cloud backups |
Businesses with light internet use
|
| 10Gbps+ |
Enterprise, data centres, media, finance and SaaS-heavy sites |
Most SMEs |
Simple rule
- Choose 100Mbps if you need reliability more than raw speed.
- Choose 500Mbps if your team is growing and cloud usage is heavy.
- Choose 1Gbps if uploads, backups, hosted desktops or large files matter.
- Choose 10Gbps+ only for enterprise or highly data-heavy use.
Not sure what speed you need? Compare quotes before overpaying →
Leased line vs business broadband
| Feature |
Business broadband |
Leased line |
| Typical cost |
£20-£100+ per month |
|
| Connection |
Shared |
Dedicated |
| Upload speed |
Usually lower than download |
|
| SLA |
Basic to enhanced |
Stronger service guarantees
|
| Fix time |
Varies |
Often 4-6 hours depending on provider
|
| Installation |
Usually faster |
Usually longer |
| Best for |
Small businesses and standard use |
Critical, cloud-heavy or high-demand businesses
|
| Main downside |
Less predictable performance |
Higher cost |
Leased line vs full fibre broadband
| Feature |
Full fibre broadband |
Leased line |
| Monthly cost |
Lower |
Higher |
| Speed |
Can be very fast |
|
| Upload/download |
Often asymmetric |
|
| Contention |
Shared network |
|
| SLA |
Weaker than leased line |
Stronger |
| Installation |
Faster in many areas |
|
| Best for |
Many SMEs |
Critical or high-demand businesses
|
Leased line vs 5G business internet
| Feature |
5G business internet |
Leased line |
| Monthly cost |
Usually lower |
Higher |
| Installation |
Fast |
Slower |
| Performance |
Signal dependent |
Dedicated and predictable |
| SLA |
Limited |
Stronger |
| Best use |
Backup or temporary connectivity |
Primary critical business connection |
| Main risk |
Signal strength and congestion |
Higher cost and install complexity |
Managed vs wires-only leased lines
| Option |
Best for |
Pros |
Cons |
| Managed leased line |
Businesses wanting provider support |
Router, monitoring and support included |
|
| Wires-only leased line |
Businesses with in-house IT or MSP |
More control and potentially lower cost |
Requires technical expertise
|
| Managed firewall |
Security-conscious businesses |
Connectivity and firewall support together |
Higher cost |
| SD-WAN / managed WAN |
Multi-site businesses |
Centralised network control |
|
Why leased line prices vary so much
Location
Businesses closer to fibre Points of Presence (PoPs) benefit from:
- Lower build costs
- Faster install times
- More competitive pricing
- Rural or hard-to-reach sites are more likely to incur ECCs.
Speed
Higher speeds require:
- Higher bandwidth allocation
- More expensive bearer services
- Stronger SLA commitments
Contract length
Typical terms:
- 12 months – highest monthly cost
- 24 months – lower monthly cost
- 36 months – lowest monthly cost, often with subsidised install
Managed vs wires-only
Most businesses choose managed leased lines, which include:
- Provider-supplied router
- 24/7 monitoring
- Fault management
Wires-only options are cheaper but require in-house network expertise.
👉 This is why postcode-level comparison matters so much with leased lines.
Leased line vs alternative options
A leased line isn’t always necessary and depending on your needs, alternatives may be more cost-effective:
Leased line vs FTTP
- FTTP is cheaper but shared
- No guaranteed speeds or fix times
- Suitable for non-critical use
Leased line vs Ethernet broadband
- Ethernet broadband offers better performance than FTTP
- Still contended and lower SLA
- Often sufficient for smaller teams
Leased line vs 5G backup
- 5G is best used as resilience, not a primary connection
- Performance varies by location
- No service guarantees
Leased line cost by business type
| Business type |
Likely need |
|
| Small office |
Reliable cloud and VoIP |
100Mbps leased line or full fibre broadband
|
| Accountancy or legal firm |
Secure cloud tools and calls |
|
| Creative agency |
Large uploads and file transfers |
500Mbps-1Gbps leased line
|
| Call centre |
VoIP-heavy usage |
500Mbps-1Gbps leased line with SLA
|
| Hotel |
Guest Wi-Fi and operational systems |
1Gbps leased line or resilient setup
|
| Warehouse |
Stock systems, CCTV and cloud tools |
|
| Healthcare site |
Reliability and secure systems |
100Mbps-1Gbps leased line
|
| Multi-site business |
Site-to-site connectivity |
Managed WAN, SD-WAN or leased lines
|
| Enterprise |
Critical systems and large teams |
1Gbps-10Gbps+ leased line
|
UK leased line providers
| Provider |
Best for |
Network type |
Pricing style |
| BT |
Mission-critical uptime |
Openreach |
Premium |
| Virgin Media |
Ultra-high speeds |
Own network |
Mid–high |
| TalkTalk |
Cost-conscious SMEs |
Wholesale |
Competitive |
| Colt |
Multi-site enterprises |
Own network |
Bespoke |
| Daisy |
Fully managed services |
Aggregator |
Variable |
| Zen |
Reliability-focused SMEs |
Wholesale |
Transparent |
Pros & Cons of Leased Lines
| Pros |
Cons |
| Dedicated, uncontended bandwidth |
Higher monthly cost |
| Symmetrical upload & download speeds |
Installation takes 45-90 days |
| Strong SLAs & rapid fix times |
Possible wayleave delays |
| Ultra-low latency for VoIP & cloud apps |
ECC charges may apply |
| Scalable speeds up to 10Gb |
Not essential for very small teams |
What are the Benefits of Leased Lines?
The benefit of lease lines for a business are vast. The main benefits we hear from users are:
- ✔️ Ultra-fast speeds – Up to 100Gbps
- ✔️ Minimal downtime – High uptime guarantees compared to standard broadband
- ✔️ Supports VoIP & cloud applications – No latency or jitter issues
- ✔️ 24/7 technical support – Many providers offer first-line and second-line assistance
- ✔️ Boosts workplace productivity – Ensures a stable, high-speed internet connection
What are the Disadvantages of Leased Lines?
The main disadvantage of leased lines are the cost – often up to ten times the price of standard business broadband.
The other disadvantages we notice from users include:
- 1️⃣ Speed – Ranges from 10Mbps to 10Gbps+
- 2️⃣ Location – City areas (e.g. London, Manchester) have cheaper pricing
- 3️⃣ Managed vs Wires-Only – Managed lines include monitoring & support, whereas wires-only
📍 Find the cheapest leased line deals near you:
Different Types of Leased Lines
Although a leased line is simply a dedicated, symmetrical connection – there are a few different types of leased line, and they mainly vary based on how they are delivered (copper or fibre) and speeds available:
| Leased Line Type |
Description |
| FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) |
Full fibre leased line offering speeds up to 100Gbps. The gold standard. |
| EoFTTC (Ethernet over FTTC) |
Uses street cabinets, meaning speeds are lower than FTTP. |
| EFM (Ethernet First Mile) |
Uses copper wiring, making it cheaper but slower. |
| DIA (Direct Internet Access) |
Same as FTTP, but branded differently by providers. |
| EAD (Ethernet Access Direct) |
Another name for FTTP, but location-dependent pricing applies. |
What to Consider When Choosing a Leased Line Provider
- ✅ Location – Coverage and pricing vary by area
- ✅ Speed – Choose a speed that fits your needs
- ✅ Customer service – Prioritise fast-response support
- ✅ Contract terms – Ensure fair pricing & SLAs
Leased Line SLA’s (Service Level Agreements)
| SLA feature |
Why it matters |
| Availability target |
|
| Fix time |
Shows how quickly faults should be resolved
|
| Latency commitment |
Important for VoIP and real-time apps
|
| Packet loss commitment |
Important for voice, video and cloud systems
|
| Service credits |
Compensation if SLA targets are missed
|
| Monitoring |
Helps faults get detected quickly
|
| Resilience option |
Reduces single point of failure
|
BTnet advertises a 100% availability SLA and 5-hour target fix time. Zen says its leased lines include 99.9% uptime as standard, with 100% available with resilience
Leased line decision table
| Your priority |
Best option |
| Lowest monthly cost |
Compare 100Mbps quotes and full fibre alternatives
|
| Best for SMEs |
100Mbps or 500Mbps leased line
|
| Best for VoIP |
SLA-backed leased line with low latency
|
| Best for cloud software |
|
| Best for large file uploads |
500Mbps–1Gbps leased line
|
| Best for hosted desktops |
500Mbps–1Gbps leased line
|
| Best for multi-site |
Managed WAN or SD-WAN comparison
|
| Best for maximum uptime |
Leased line with resilience
|
| Best for enterprise |
1Gbps–10Gbps+ leased line
|
| Best overall route |
Compare postcode-level leased line quotes
|
Compare 2026 Leased Line Deals →
Looking to bundle deals? We can also help with:
Leased Line Installation Times
Typical leased line installation takes 45–90+ days, but complex sites can take longer.
| Stage |
Typical timescale |
|
| Availability check |
Same day to a few days |
Incomplete address or unclear site details
|
| Survey |
1-2 weeks |
Engineer access or complex premises
|
| Wayleave |
2-12+ weeks |
Landlord, freeholder or managing agent delays
|
| Civils / fibre build |
2-12+ weeks |
Blocked ducts, roadworks or permits
|
| Router and testing |
A few days |
Configuration or internal IT readiness
|
| Go-live |
Final handover |
Delayed equipment or access issues
|
Are Leased Lines Worth It for Small Businesses?
In short: yes! but only if your business truly depends on reliable, symmetrical, high-speed connectivity. A leased line can be transformational for some small businesses, yet overkill for others.
For many small businesses, we often say (because it’s true!) that a leased line can be a smart investment, especially if your internet connection keeps the whole operation running. Unlike standard broadband, a leased line gives you/your business your own dedicated connection, so you’re not sharing bandwidth with anyone else.
What you get, for slightly more per month in fees, are faster, more reliable speeds in both directions and strong service guarantees if something goes wrong.
If your business relies on cloud tools, video calls, large file transfers, or multiple sites staying connected, it’s often well worth this extra cost. But if you mostly use the internet for emails, browsing, or light admin work, a solid business broadband plan might do the job just fine for much less.
Ultimately, we think it comes down to value. If downtime or slow speeds would cost your business more than a leased line would each month, then upgrading is probably the right move.
Why compare leased line quotes with Compare Your Business Costs?
Compare Your Business Costs helps UK businesses compare leased line providers quickly without contacting every supplier one by one.
We can help you compare:
- 100Mbps leased lines
- 500Mbps leased lines
- 1Gbps leased lines
- 10Gbps leased lines
- Dedicated Internet Access
- BTnet, Virgin Media Business, TalkTalk, Zen and other providers
- managed and wires-only leased lines
- installation costs and ECC risks
- SLA and fix-time options
- full fibre broadband alternatives
- SD-WAN and managed WAN options
- postcode-level availability and pricing
Compare leased line quotes →
Why trust our leased line reviews?
Our leased line guides are written to help UK businesses make practical buying decisions, not just compare headline speeds.
We focus on:
- realistic UK 2026 leased line pricing
- postcode-led availability
- installation, wayleave and ECC risks
- 100Mbps, 500Mbps, 1Gbps and 10Gbps use cases
- SLA, fix time and resilience options
- leased line vs business broadband comparison
- managed router and wires-only differences
- provider comparison based on practical fit
- quote-led guidance for businesses that need reliable connectivity
Our verdict
Leased lines are worth comparing if your business depends on fast, reliable, symmetrical connectivity. They are especially valuable for VoIP, cloud software, hosted desktops, video calls, VPNs, large file uploads, cloud backups and multi-site operations.
However, not every business needs one. A small business with light usage could easily be better served by full fibre business broadband, especially if cost is the main concern.
The most important thing is not choosing the cheapest advertised leased line. The best deal depends on postcode, speed, SLA, fix time, installation route, ECC risk, wayleaves, router management and total contract cost.
Compare leased line prices for your postcode and save up to 40% →
FAQs
How much does a leased line cost in the UK?
A leased line in the UK usually costs between £150 and £2,000+ per month, depending on speed, postcode, provider, contract length and installation complexity.
How much does a 100Mbps leased line cost?
A 100Mbps leased line typically costs around £150-£300+ per month. Virgin Media Business says its 100Mbps Dedicated Internet Access packages start from £185 per month.
How much does a 1Gbps leased line cost?
A 1Gbps leased line typically costs around £300-£800+ per month, but pricing depends heavily on location, provider, installation route and contract length.
Why are leased lines more expensive than business broadband?
Leased lines cost more because they provide dedicated, uncontended bandwidth, symmetrical upload and download speeds, stronger SLAs and faster fault repair targets than standard shared broadband.
Are leased lines faster than full fibre broadband?
Leased lines are not always faster on headline speed, but they are usually more consistent. Full fibre broadband may offer high download speeds, but a leased line provides dedicated bandwidth and stronger service guarantees.
How long does leased line installation take?
Leased line installation often takes 45-90+ days. Complex sites involving wayleaves, civil works or excess construction can take longer.
What are excess construction charges?
Excess construction charges are extra installation costs that apply when additional work is needed to connect your premises, such as new fibre routing, duct work, roadworks or complex building access.
Do leased lines include unlimited data?
Yes, most leased lines are sold with unlimited usage because they are dedicated business circuits rather than usage-capped broadband packages.
What speeds are available with leased lines?
Common leased line speeds include 100Mbps, 500Mbps, 1Gbps and 10Gbps. Some enterprise providers can support higher-capacity circuits.
Do leased lines include an SLA?
Yes. Leased lines normally include a service level agreement covering uptime, fault repair, latency and service performance. BTnet advertises a 100% availability SLA and 5-hour target fix time.
Is a leased line worth it for small businesses?
A leased line is worth it for a small business if downtime, slow uploads or unstable connectivity would cost more than the monthly rental. If you mainly use email and light browsing, full fibre broadband may be enough.
What is the difference between DIA and a leased line?
DIA stands for Dedicated Internet Access. It is another name often used for a leased line. Virgin Media Business says Dedicated Internet Access is also referred to as a leased line, dedicated leased line or DIA.
Should I choose 100Mbps or 1Gbps?
Choose 100Mbps for smaller teams using VoIP, cloud software and video calls. Choose 1Gbps if you have many users, hosted desktops, cloud backups, large uploads or heavy data use.
Can I upgrade my leased line speed later?
Many leased line providers allow upgrades, especially if the bearer circuit supports higher bandwidth. Check upgrade terms before signing.
How do I get the best leased line deal?
Compare providers by postcode, speed, SLA, fix time, contract length, installation route, ECC risk, managed router options and total cost.
Related Leased Line & Business Connectivity Guides
Looking to compare leased line costs, understand installation, choose the right speed or find the best provider for your location? These guides cover UK leased line pricing, installation, provider reviews, Ethernet services, WAN solutions, security and business connectivity alternatives.
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Compare 2026 Leased Line Deals
Most businesses overpay because they:
- only compare one provider
- don’t check installation properly
- choose the wrong speed
- miss hidden civils or ECC costs
👉 Compare the best leased line quotes in your area now and get tailored pricing in under 60 seconds.
James Ward is the CEO & Founder of Compare Your Business Costs — a UK-verified comparison platform helping SMEs save money on business broadband, leased lines, phone systems, mobile telecoms, managed services and IT support. With over 10 years of experience in telecoms and technology procurement, James is a trusted UK business expert featured in national media and verified on Companies House.