Quick answer: in the UK, expect to pay roughly £15-£25 for labour alone, plus the cost of string itself — anywhere from around £8 for basic synthetic gut to £25+ for premium multifilament, natural gut or co-poly. All-in, a typical restring lands somewhere between £20 and £45, depending on string choice and where you get it done.
What makes up the total cost
A restring price has two parts: the stringing labour and the string itself. Labour tends to be fairly consistent between independent stringers and racket shops, while string cost varies a lot depending on the type and brand you choose.
String type affects price the most
- Synthetic gut: the budget option, usually the cheapest string on the wall, good for beginners or frequent stringers who go through sets quickly.
- Multifilament: mid-range, designed to mimic the comfort of natural gut at a lower cost, popular with players who want arm-friendly power.
- Polyester (co-poly): mid-to-premium, favoured by advanced and competitive players for control and spin, but stiffer and generally needs restringing more often since it loses tension faster.
- Natural gut: the most expensive option by a distance, prized for feel and comfort, typically chosen by players who prioritise touch over price.
Other factors that affect price
Where you get strung matters. Independent stringers and specialist racket shops often charge less for labour than a generic sports shop, and many offer faster turnaround. Racket string pattern and tension can also add time (and sometimes cost) — dense patterns and unusual tensions take a little longer to string accurately. Same-day or express turnaround is sometimes charged at a premium.
How often you'll need it
A simple rule of thumb: restring as many times a year as you play per week. A once-a-week player should restring roughly once a year; someone playing most days may need it every month or two, especially with polyester strings which lose tension fastest.
How to keep costs down
- Buy string sets or reels rather than paying premium per-string-job pricing if you restring often.
- Ask about bundle pricing if you're restringing multiple rackets at once.
- Consider a hybrid setup (a cheaper string in the crosses, premium in the mains) to get some of the feel benefits of pricier string at a lower overall cost.
Our recommendation
If you're unsure where to start, synthetic gut or a mid-range multifilament covers most recreational players well at a sensible price point. Save polyester and natural gut for once you know your game well enough to feel the difference — and always ask your stringer what tension they'd recommend for your racket and playing style.
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