How Much Does Racket
Restringing Cost?
Restringing costs vary widely depending on where you go, what strings you choose, and which sport you play. Most players pay between £20 and £55 in the UK for a full restring including strings and labour. Here is exactly what you should expect to pay — and how to avoid overpaying.
What You Are Actually Paying For
Every restringing job has two separate costs: the string itself and the labour fee charged by the stringer. These are almost always quoted separately, though some shops bundle them together.
= Total you pay
Labour fees in the UK typically range from £8 to £20 depending on where you go. A leisure centre or club stringer usually charges less than a specialist pro shop.
String costs vary enormously — from around £5 for a basic synthetic gut to over £50 for premium natural gut. The string you choose has a bigger impact on total cost than anything else.
If you supply your own string (bought online at a lower price), many stringers will restring for labour only. This is a common way to reduce the total cost, especially if you buy strings in bulk.
Restringing Costs by Sport
The total cost of a restring varies by sport, largely because different sports use different string gauges, tensions, and string types.
Natural gut setups — used by many professional and advanced club players — can push the total cost to £60–£90 depending on the grade used.
High-frequency players (restringing monthly or more) often buy strings in 200m reels, bringing the per-restring string cost down to just £3–£6.
Some shops charge slightly less for squash than tennis because squash frames tend to have fewer cross strings, making them marginally quicker to string.
Quick Price Reference
| Sport | Budget Total | Mid-Range Total | Premium Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennis | £20–£28 | £28–£45 | £50–£80+ |
| Badminton | £15–£22 | £22–£32 | £30–£40 |
| Squash | £18–£25 | £25–£35 | £35–£50 |
String Costs by Type
The string you choose is the biggest variable in your total restringing cost. Here is what different string types cost per set in the UK, and what you get at each price point.
Synthetic Gut — £5–£12 per set
Synthetic gut is the most affordable option and the default string at most leisure centres and club shops. It offers a decent blend of durability and comfort for recreational players. Brands like Wilson Synthetic Gut Power and Babolat Synthetic Gut are reliable and widely available. Good choice if you play once or twice a week and are not focused on performance gains from your strings.
Multifilament — £12–£25 per set
Multifilament strings are significantly more comfortable than synthetic gut, with better power and a softer feel. They are the best choice for players with arm sensitivity or those who want natural gut-like performance at a lower price. Popular options include Wilson NXT, Tecnifibre NRG2, and Babolat Xcel. A solid mid-range choice for regular club players.
Polyester (Monofilament) — £8–£22 per set
Polyester strings offer exceptional spin potential and control, and are used by the majority of competitive and club players. They are stiffer than multifilament and go dead faster, meaning players using poly need to restring more frequently. Popular options include Luxilon ALU Power, Babolat RPM Blast, and Solinco Tour Bite. The extra restringing frequency means the annual cost can be higher than it first appears.
Natural Gut — £30–£55 per set
Natural gut is the most expensive string option and the highest-performing for tension maintenance, power, and arm comfort. It is predominantly used by professional players and serious club players who can justify the cost. Babolat VS Touch and Wilson Natural Gut are the main options. Prices vary significantly by gauge and quality grade.
| String Type | Cost Per Set (UK) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic Gut | £5–£12 | Budget recreational players |
| Multifilament | £12–£25 | Comfort seekers, arm-sensitive players |
| Polyester | £8–£22 | Spin & control players, club competitors |
| Natural Gut | £30–£55 | Advanced players, pro-level performance |
| Hybrid | £18–£55 | Competitive players seeking balance |
Where to Get Your Racket Restrung
Where you go for restringing affects both the price and the quality of the job. Here are your main options, from most to least expensive.
- Specialist Racket Pro Shops — £15–£20 labour The best quality but the highest price. Pro shops employ trained and often certified stringers, use professional electronic stringing machines, and carry a wide selection of strings. Worth it for competitive players where stringing consistency matters.
- Leisure Centres and Sports Clubs — £8–£14 labour The most common option for recreational players. String selection is usually limited to a handful of mid-range options. Quality varies — ask whether the stringer uses a crank or electronic machine, and whether they string regularly or occasionally.
- Independent Local Stringers — £6–£12 labour Many club environments have an independent stringer operating at lower overhead than a shop. Labour fees of £6–£12 are possible. Quality depends entirely on the individual — ask for recommendations from your club, or use StringMatch to find reviewed local stringers near you.
- Large Sports Retailers — £6–£10 labour Some large sports retailers offer in-store restringing at competitive prices. Good for budget players who need a functional restring, but string quality and stringer expertise are variable. Not ideal for competitive players.
Find a Local Stringer Near You
Use StringMatch to find experienced local stringers, compare prices, and get your racket restrung without overpaying.
Find a Stringer →Is It Worth Restringing Yourself?
If you restring frequently — particularly if you play several times a week or manage multiple rackets — buying your own stringing machine can save significant money over time.
Upfront Machine Costs
Entry-level drop-weight machines suitable for home use cost £150–£300. Mid-range crank machines with better consistency run £300–£600. Electronic machines (the type used in pro shops) start around £800–£1,200.
For most recreational players who restring 4–6 times per year, the break-even point on even a basic machine is several years. But for players who restring monthly, or who string for family members or teammates, the investment pays off much faster.
Ongoing Savings
Once you own a machine, your restringing cost drops to just the string itself. Buying strings in bulk reels reduces this further: a 200m reel of a mid-range polyester (enough for roughly 12 restrings) typically costs £30–£50, bringing cost-per-restring down to £3–£5.
- Good fit: You restring 6+ times per year, or manage 2–3 rackets. A basic machine pays for itself within 12–18 months.
- Great fit: You play competitive badminton and restring every 2–4 weeks. At that frequency, a basic machine breaks even in under a year.
- Less suited: You restring only once or twice a year. The machine investment does not make economic sense at that frequency.
- Learning curve: Your first few restrings will take 60–90 minutes. With practice, you can get a restring done in 30–45 minutes.
How to Save Money on Restringing
- Buy your own strings online and bring them to the stringer. Online retailers consistently undercut pro shop string prices. Most stringers are happy with this arrangement and will charge labour only.
- Buy strings in bulk reels. A 200m reel gives roughly 12 restrings for the price of 5–6 individual sets. Works especially well if you stick to one string.
- Find a club or independent stringer. Labour savings of £5–£10 per job vs a retail shop add up significantly over a season.
- Use a thicker gauge to extend string life. Choosing 16g instead of 17g (tennis) or 0.68mm instead of 0.62mm (badminton) adds meaningful durability, reducing how often you need to restring.
- String at the lower end of the tension range. Lower tension reduces stress on strings at the contact point, marginally extending their life. Better for arm health too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to restring a tennis racket?
In the UK, restringing a tennis racket typically costs £25–£45 for a mid-range string including labour. Budget synthetic gut restrings come in at £20–£28. Premium natural gut restrings at a specialist pro shop can cost £55–£80 or more.
Is labour included in the quoted restringing price?
Not always. Many shops and clubs quote labour only, with the string cost on top. Always confirm whether the price includes strings before committing. If you supply your own string, most stringers will charge labour only — typically £8–£18.
How much does badminton restringing cost?
Badminton restringing typically costs £15–£35 in the UK including strings and labour. Entry-level strings with labour come to around £15–£20. Performance strings like Yonex BG80 push the total to £22–£35. Competitive players who restring frequently usually buy strings in bulk reels to reduce ongoing costs.
Why is natural gut so much more expensive?
Natural gut is made from cow intestine and requires a highly labour-intensive manufacturing process that cannot be easily automated or scaled. The result is a string with unmatched tension maintenance and feel, but at a cost that reflects the production process. A premium natural gut set costs £30–£55 before labour.
Is it worth paying more for a better stringer?
Yes, especially if you use polyester or natural gut strings. A well-calibrated machine and an experienced stringer deliver more consistent tension across the entire string bed. For competitive players, consistent tension is worth paying a few extra pounds for.