Leased Line Comparison UK 2026 | Compare Prices, Speeds & Providers Quick Answer
A leased line comparison should look at more than the cheapest monthly price. In the UK, leased lines usually cost around £150–£2,000+ per month, depending on speed, postcode, contract length, provider network, installation route and service level agreement.
Typical 2026 leased line comparison points are:
Typical monthly cost Best for
100Mbps leased line
£150-£300+
SMEs, VoIP, cloud apps and reliable uploads
500Mbps leased line
£250-£600+
Growing teams and heavier cloud use
1Gbps leased line
£300-£800+
Larger teams, hosted desktops and cloud backups
10Gbps leased line
£1,000-£2,000+
Enterprise, media, finance and data-heavy sites
Leased line with resilience
Quote required
Businesses that cannot tolerate downtime
The best leased line is not always the cheapest advertised deal. Businesses should compare:
postcode availability
symmetrical upload and download speed
SLA and fix time
installation cost
excess construction charges
wayleave risk
managed router options
resilience and backup
contract length
total contract cost
Compare leased line provider quotes →
How do we work?
Transparent, impartial, and data‑driven reviews made by a team of expert humans, never AI generated – here’s exactly how Compare Your Business Costs helps you find the best deals from trusted UK providers: click here
Authored by: Ally Cox (Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist 10+ Years’ Experience)
Reviewed by: James Ward (Telecoms Specialist, 12+ Years Experience)
Last Updated: June 2026
Key Takeaways
Leased lines give businesses a dedicated, uncontended connection with symmetrical upload and download speeds.
Prices usually range from £150-£2,000+ per month, but the final quote depends heavily on postcode and installation route.
A 100Mbps leased line is often enough for smaller businesses using VoIP, cloud software and video calls.
A 1Gbps leased line is better for larger teams, large file transfers, hosted desktops and heavy cloud use.
Installation can cost £0–£10,000+ if civil engineering, new fibre or wayleaves are required.
BTnet advertises a 100% availability SLA and 5-hour target fix time.
Virgin Media Business says its Dedicated Internet Access packages start from £185 per month for 100Mbps upload and download.
TalkTalk Business highlights built-in resilience and 4-hour fix SLA messaging on its leased line/DIA page.
Zen says its leased lines offer 99.9% uptime as standard, with 100% possible using additional resilience.
Businesses should compare leased lines against full fibre business broadband before signing, because some SMEs do not need a dedicated circuit.
Leased line comparison table UK 2026
Feature 100Mbps leased line 500Mbps leased line 1Gbps leased line 10Gbps leased line
Typical monthly cost
£150-£300+
£250-£600+
£300-£800+
£1,000-£2,000+
Typical installation
£0-£3,000+
£0-£5,000+
£0-£10,000+
Quote required
Best for
SMEs and cloud apps
Growing teams
Data-heavy offices
Enterprise sites
VoIP suitability
Good
Very good
Excellent
Enterprise-grade
Cloud software
Good
Very good
Excellent
Enterprise-grade
Large file uploads
Limited to moderate
Good
Very good
Excellent
Hosted desktops
Light use
Moderate use
Strong fit
Strong fit
SLA
Strong
Strong
Strong
Strong
Main risk
Outgrowing speed
Overpaying if usage is light
Higher cost
Overkill for most SMEs
The Largest Leased Line Providers in the UK
Contents:
Leased line price comparison by speed
Leased line provider comparison UK 2026
Leased line comparison by business type
Leased line vs business broadband comparison
Leased line vs FTTP Comparison
Leased line vs DIA Comparison
Managed leased line vs wires-only comparison
Leased line price comparison by speed
Speed Typical monthly price Best business fit
10Mbps
£100-£200+
Legacy or very light dedicated connectivity
You use modern cloud tools or video calls
100Mbps
£150-£300+
Small offices, VoIP and standard cloud tools
You upload large files daily
500Mbps
£250-£600+
Growing teams and heavier cloud usage
Your usage is still light
1Gbps
£300-£800+
Larger teams, agencies and high-upload users
You only need reliability, not capacity
10Gbps
£1,000-£2,000+
Enterprise and data-heavy sites
100Gbps
Quote required
Data centres and major enterprise networks
You do not have specialist requirements
Tip: The wrong speed can cause overpayment every month. Many SMEs compare 100Mbps and 500Mbps first before moving to 1Gbps.
Leased line provider comparison UK 2026
Provider Best for Not ideal for
BT Business / BTnet
Businesses wanting major-provider scale and strong SLA
Buyers focused only on cheapest price
SLA, router, installation and contract cost
Virgin Media Business Businesses in Virgin coverage areas needing DIA
Premises outside Virgin’s network
Availability, install route and price rises
TalkTalk Business SMEs comparing competitive DIA pricing
Buyers needing premium managed IT wraparound
Fix SLA, router management and installation
Zen Internet SMEs prioritising reliability and support
Businesses wanting the lowest headline cost
SLA, resilience options and support level
Daisy Communications
Managed connectivity and multi-site SMEs
Businesses wanting a simple direct-only circuit
Support model and contract scope
Colt Enterprise, city and pan-European networks
Small firms with simple connectivity needs
Coverage and managed network options
Vodafone Business
Fixed connectivity plus mobile resilience
Firms needing only a basic leased line
Backup, mobile integration and SLA
Spitfire
Technical SMEs and engineering-led support
Cheapest-price shoppers
Availability and support model
Local fibre providers
Businesses close to local fibre routes
Multi-site firms needing national coverage
Coverage, SLA and ECC risk
Leased line comparison by business type
Business type Likely best option Why
Small office
100Mbps leased line or full fibre business broadband
Enough for VoIP, SaaS and video calls
Legal or accountancy firm
100-500Mbps leased line
Reliable cloud access, secure systems and calls
Creative agency
500Mbps-1Gbps leased line
Large uploads, cloud storage and client files
Call centre
500Mbps-1Gbps leased line
VoIP quality and uptime matter
Hotel
1Gbps leased line or resilient setup
Guest Wi-Fi and operational systems need capacity
Warehouse
100-500Mbps leased line
Stock systems, CCTV and cloud tools
Healthcare site
100Mbps-1Gbps leased line
Reliability and secure systems matter
Multi-site business
Managed WAN, SD-WAN or leased lines
Connects locations securely
Enterprise
1Gbps–10Gbps+ leased line
High user numbers and critical workloads
Leased line vs business broadband comparison
Feature Business broadband Full fibre business broadband Leased line
Typical monthly cost
£20-£70+
£30-£100+
£150-£2,000+
Connection type
Shared
Shared full fibre
Dedicated
Upload speed
Often lower than download
Usually better than older broadband
Symmetrical
SLA
Basic to enhanced
Basic to enhanced
Stronger SLA
Fix time
Varies
Varies
Often 4-6 hours
Installation
Usually quicker
Usually quicker
Often 45-90+ days
Best for
Light SME use
Many SMEs
Critical or high-demand use
Main drawback
Less reliable
Still shared
Higher cost
Leased line vs FTTP Comparison
Feature FTTP business broadband Leased line
Typical cost
Lower
Higher
Connection
Shared full fibre broadband
Upload/download
Often asymmetric
Symmetrical
SLA
Weaker than leased line
Stronger
Performance at peak times
Can vary
More consistent
Installation
Usually faster if available
Best for
SMEs with standard internet use
Critical, cloud-heavy or upload-heavy businesses
Main advantage
Value
Reliability and guarantees
Our verdict: FTTP is enough for many small businesses. A leased line is worth comparing when uptime, upload speed, consistency and repair guarantees are more important than monthly price.
Leased line vs DIA comparison
Term Meaning
Leased line
Dedicated business connection
DIA
Dedicated Internet Access
Often used by providers for the same thing
Dedicated leased line
Dedicated fibre circuit
Another name for leased line
Ethernet leased line
Dedicated Ethernet connection
Often used for business circuits
Managed leased line vs wires-only comparison
Option Best for Pros Cons
Managed leased line
Businesses wanting provider support
Router, monitoring and fault support included
Wires-only leased line
Businesses with internal IT or MSP
More control and potentially lower cost
Requires technical skills
Managed firewall
Businesses wanting security included
Connectivity and firewall support together
Higher total cost
SD-WAN / managed WAN
Multi-site organisations
Better traffic routing and central management
More complex and usually more expensive
SLA and fix-time comparison
SLA feature Why it matters
Availability SLA
Shows the uptime target
99.9%, 99.99% or 100% target availability
Fix time
Shows how quickly faults should be repaired
4-hour, 5-hour or 6-hour target
Latency
Important for VoIP and real-time apps
Provider network guarantees
Packet loss
Important for voice, video and cloud tools
SLA wording and service credits
Monitoring
Helps detect faults earlier
24/7 monitoring vs reactive support
Service credits
Compensation if SLA is missed
What you get and how claims work
Resilience
Reduces single point of failure
Backup circuit, diverse routing or 4G/5G failover
Installation and ECC comparison Leased line installation is often where costs and delays appear.
Why it matters
Survey
Confirms route, cost and build complexity
Wayleave
Landlord or freeholder permission may be needed
Excess construction charges
Extra build work can cost thousands
Civils
Ducting, roadworks or fibre routing may be needed
Lead time
Standard installs often take weeks or months
Existing fibre
Nearby fibre can reduce cost and speed up delivery
Router setup
Internal IT or provider-managed setup may be needed
Temporary internet
You may need backup while waiting
Leased line comparison decision table
Your priority Best option
Lowest monthly cost
Compare 100Mbps leased line and FTTP alternatives
Best value for SMEs
100Mbps or 500Mbps leased line
Best for VoIP
SLA-backed leased line with low latency
Best for cloud software
100–500Mbps leased line
Best for large file uploads
500Mbps–1Gbps leased line
Best for hosted desktops
500Mbps–1Gbps leased line
Best for maximum uptime
Leased line with resilience
Best for multi-site businesses
SD-WAN, managed WAN or leased line comparison
Best for quick installation
Provider with nearby fibre route
Best for avoiding hidden costs
Quote with clear ECC and wayleave terms
Best overall route
Compare postcode-level leased line quotes
Why compare leased lines 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:
leased line prices
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 vs wires-only circuits
installation costs and ECC risks
SLA and fix-time options
FTTP and business broadband alternatives
SD-WAN and managed WAN options
Compare leased line quotes →
Why trust our leased line comparisons? 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 A leased line comparison should not be based on monthly price alone. The cheapest quote may not include the right SLA, router support, installation terms, resilience or ECC protection.
For many SMEs, a 100Mbps or 500Mbps leased line is enough if reliability is the main issue. For larger teams, hosted desktops, heavy cloud backups or large file transfers, a 1Gbps leased line could be better. For lighter usage, full fibre business broadband may be a cheaper alternative.
The safest approach is to compare leased line quotes by postcode, speed, SLA, fix time, installation route, ECC risk, contract length and total cost.
Compare leased line prices for your postcode and save up to 40% →
FAQs What is the best way to compare leased lines?
Compare leased lines by postcode, speed, monthly cost, installation cost, SLA, fix time, ECC risk, wayleave requirements, router management, resilience and total contract cost.
How much does a leased line cost in the UK?
A leased line in the UK usually costs around £150-£2,000+ per month, depending on speed, location, contract length, provider 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 Dedicated Internet Access packages start from £185 per month for 100Mbps upload and download.
How much does a 1Gbps leased line cost?
A 1Gbps leased line typically costs around £300-£800+ per month, but quotes vary by postcode, provider, installation route and contract length.
Which leased line provider is cheapest?
The cheapest leased line provider varies by location. TalkTalk Business, Daisy, local fibre providers and broker-led comparisons can be competitive, but the lowest price may not include the best SLA, router, resilience or installation terms.
Which leased line provider has the best SLA?
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 using resilience.
Is DIA the same as a leased line?
Yes, in most business connectivity contexts. DIA stands for Dedicated Internet Access and is often another name for a leased line or dedicated leased line.
Is a leased line better than full fibre broadband?
A leased line is better if you need dedicated bandwidth, symmetrical speeds, stronger SLA and faster fault repair. Full fibre broadband is cheaper and often enough for lighter SME use.
Is a leased line better than business broadband?
A leased line is better for critical, cloud-heavy or upload-heavy businesses. Business broadband is cheaper and usually enough for smaller businesses with standard internet usage.
What speed leased line do I need?
Many SMEs start with 100Mbps. Growing teams may need 500Mbps, while larger offices, hosted desktops, cloud backups and data-heavy teams may need 1Gbps or more.
How long does leased line installation take?
Leased line installation often takes 45-90+ days, depending on survey results, wayleaves, fibre availability, civil works and excess construction requirements.
What are ECCs?
ECCs are excess construction charges. They apply when extra work is needed to connect your premises, such as ducting, roadworks, fibre routing or complex building access.
Should I choose a managed leased line?
Choose a managed leased line if you want the provider to support the router, monitoring and fault management. Choose wires-only if you have internal IT or an MSP that can manage networking.
Can I get a leased line with backup?
Yes. Many providers offer resilience through a secondary circuit, diverse route, 4G/5G failover or managed WAN design. Backup usually increases the total cost.
Should small businesses compare leased lines?
Yes, if internet reliability affects revenue, calls, cloud systems, payments or productivity. But small businesses should also compare full fibre broadband to avoid overpaying for a dedicated circuit they may not need.
Compare leased line prices for your postcode
Our Leased Line Panel of Experts
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Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.