Knowing what to charge as a builder is one of the most important business decisions you will make. Charge too little and you work hard for not enough money. Charge too much and the phone stops ringing. The right day rate depends on your trade, your experience, your location, and your overheads — and getting it right is the difference between a sustainable business and a stressful one.
This guide covers what builders and tradespeople are charging across the UK in 2026, how to calculate your own day rate properly, when to use day rates versus fixed prices, and how to present your pricing to customers in a way that wins work.
Average Day Rates by Region
Labour rates in the UK vary significantly by location. London and the South East command the highest rates, driven by higher living costs and strong demand. The further you go from London, the lower rates tend to be — though rates in major cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh are catching up.
These figures represent what a skilled general builder charges per day in 2026. They cover labour only, not materials.
| Region | Day Rate Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| London | £250 – £350 | £300 |
| South East | £220 – £280 | £250 |
| South West | £180 – £250 | £220 |
| East Anglia | £180 – £240 | £210 |
| West Midlands | £180 – £240 | £210 |
| East Midlands | £170 – £230 | £200 |
| North West | £170 – £230 | £200 |
| Yorkshire | £160 – £220 | £190 |
| North East | £150 – £220 | £185 |
| Wales | £150 – £220 | £185 |
| Scotland | £160 – £230 | £195 |
| Northern Ireland | £140 – £200 | £170 |
Day Rates by Trade
Different trades command different rates, reflecting the level of skill, training, certification, and risk involved. Specialist trades with regulatory requirements — like gas engineers and electricians — typically charge more than general builders because of the cost of maintaining qualifications and the liability they carry.
| Trade | Day Rate (Outside London) | Day Rate (London) |
|---|---|---|
| General labourer | £80 – £130 | £120 – £160 |
| General builder | £180 – £250 | £250 – £350 |
| Bricklayer | £180 – £260 | £250 – £350 |
| Carpenter / joiner | £180 – £250 | £240 – £320 |
| Plasterer | £180 – £250 | £250 – £320 |
| Plumber | £200 – £280 | £280 – £380 |
| Electrician | £200 – £300 | £280 – £400 |
| Gas engineer | £220 – £320 | £300 – £420 |
| Roofer | £180 – £260 | £250 – £350 |
| Painter & decorator | £150 – £220 | £200 – £300 |
| Tiler | £180 – £260 | £240 – £340 |
| Kitchen fitter | £180 – £260 | £240 – £320 |
| Landscaper | £160 – £240 | £220 – £300 |
How to Calculate Your Day Rate
Many builders set their day rate by looking at what others charge and picking a similar number. This is a starting point, but it does not tell you whether that rate actually covers your costs and gives you a fair income. Here is how to calculate your day rate properly.
Step 1: Add Up Your Annual Overheads
List every business cost you incur in a year, regardless of whether you are working on a job or not. These are your fixed overheads.
- Vehicle costs (finance, insurance, tax, fuel, maintenance): four thousand to eight thousand pounds
- Tools and equipment (purchase, replacement, repair): one thousand to three thousand pounds
- Public liability insurance: three hundred to eight hundred pounds
- Employers' liability insurance (if you have employees): four hundred to one thousand pounds
- Professional memberships and accreditations: two hundred to six hundred pounds
- Accounting and bookkeeping: five hundred to one thousand two hundred pounds
- Phone, software, and office costs: six hundred to one thousand two hundred pounds
- Training and CPD: two hundred to eight hundred pounds
- Marketing and website: three hundred to one thousand pounds
- Workwear and PPE: two hundred to five hundred pounds
A typical sole trader builder's annual overheads come to eight thousand to eighteen thousand pounds. If you have a van on finance, premium tool insurance, and multiple accreditations, it could be higher.
Step 2: Set Your Target Income
Decide how much you want to take home after tax and National Insurance. Be realistic but also value your skills and experience properly. As a guide, the average UK salary is around thirty-five thousand pounds in 2026. A skilled tradesperson with five or more years of experience should be targeting forty thousand to sixty thousand pounds take-home.
To earn forty thousand pounds net as a sole trader, you need to earn approximately fifty-five thousand pounds gross (before tax and NI). To earn sixty thousand pounds net, you need approximately eighty-five thousand pounds gross. The exact figures depend on your tax code, expenses, and pension contributions — check with your accountant.
Step 3: Calculate Your Billable Days
You cannot work and charge for every day of the year. Deduct weekends, holidays, bank holidays, sick days, and time spent on admin, quoting, and travelling between jobs.
- Total working days in a year: two hundred and sixty
- Minus holidays (four weeks): minus twenty days
- Minus bank holidays: minus eight days
- Minus sickness and downtime: minus five to ten days
- Minus admin, quoting, and non-billable time: minus fifteen to twenty days
- Billable days: approximately two hundred to two hundred and fifteen days
Step 4: Do the Calculation
Add your annual overheads to your gross income target and divide by your billable days.
Example: Annual overheads of twelve thousand pounds plus gross income target of fifty-five thousand pounds equals sixty-seven thousand pounds. Divided by two hundred and ten billable days equals three hundred and nineteen pounds per day.
Round this to a clean number — three hundred and twenty pounds per day in this example. That is the minimum you need to charge to cover your costs and earn your target income. You can also use our free day rate calculator to run these numbers quickly.
Present Your Rates Professionally
QuoteSmith generates branded proposals that present your pricing clearly and professionally. Input your day rate or job costs and get a complete proposal in minutes.
Try QuoteSmith FreeDay Rate vs Fixed Price: When to Use Each
The day rate versus fixed price debate is one of the most common discussions among tradespeople. Both have their place, and knowing when to use each one is a key business skill.
When to Use a Day Rate
- Small maintenance and repair jobs where the scope is simple and the work takes one to three days
- Work where the scope is genuinely unclear — for example, diagnosing a problem where you do not know what you will find until you start
- Projects directed by the customer on site — renovation projects where the homeowner wants to make decisions as the work progresses
- Emergency or reactive work where there is no time to prepare a detailed quote
- Working for other builders as a subcontractor on a time-and-materials basis
When to Use a Fixed Price
- Defined projects like extensions, loft conversions, kitchen installations, and bathroom renovations where the specification is clear
- Competitive situations where you are quoting against other builders and the customer wants to compare prices
- New customers who want cost certainty before committing
- Any project where you can work efficiently — fixed prices reward speed and skill, while day rates penalise them
- Insurance work and commercial contracts that almost always require a fixed price
Most experienced builders use fixed prices for the majority of their work. The earning potential is higher because you keep the benefit of your efficiency and experience. If a job takes you three days that would take a less experienced builder five days, you earn the same fixed price in less time — effectively increasing your day rate. For guidance on fixed-price quoting, see our guide on how to price a job as a tradesperson.
Labourer vs Skilled vs Master: What Level Are You?
Your day rate should reflect your actual skill level and the value you bring to a project. Here is a rough guide to the three main levels.
Labourer / Improver
A labourer or improver is someone with limited trade experience who assists qualified tradespeople. They carry materials, mix, clear waste, and perform basic preparation work. An improver has some skills and can complete simple tasks independently. Day rates range from eighty to one hundred and thirty pounds outside London.
Skilled Tradesperson
A skilled tradesperson has completed an apprenticeship or equivalent training, has at least three to five years of experience, and can work independently on most tasks within their trade. They can survey, price, and complete standard projects without supervision. This is where most builders sit. Day rates range from one hundred and eighty to two hundred and fifty pounds outside London.
Master / Specialist
A master tradesperson has extensive experience — typically ten or more years — advanced qualifications, and specialist skills that are in high demand. Examples include heritage restoration specialists, complex structural work, high-end joinery, and specialist plastering like lime or Venetian work. Master tradespeople command premium rates because their skills are rare and difficult to replace. Day rates range from two hundred and fifty to four hundred pounds or more, regardless of location.
How to Present Your Day Rate to Customers
How you present your pricing matters almost as much as the number itself. Here are practical tips for communicating your day rate effectively.
Be upfront about what is included. Tell the customer clearly whether your day rate includes materials, consumables, and waste removal or whether these are charged separately. Most builders charge labour only and add materials at cost or with a markup — make sure the customer understands this.
Give a time estimate. A day rate on its own is meaningless without a time estimate. If you are charging two hundred and fifty pounds per day and the job will take four days, tell the customer the total will be approximately one thousand pounds plus materials. This gives them the cost certainty they need to make a decision.
Justify your rate if challenged. If a customer thinks your rate is too high, explain what is included — your experience, your insurance, your qualifications, your tools, and your van. Remind them that a qualified, insured tradesperson costs more than someone working cash in hand, but they get the peace of mind that the work is done properly, safely, and with recourse if something goes wrong.
Put it in writing. Even for day rate work, put the agreement in writing — including the estimated duration, what is included, payment terms, and any exclusions. QuoteSmith can generate a professional proposal for day rate work just as easily as for fixed-price jobs. Learn more about why professional proposals win more work.
Common Day Rate Mistakes
These are the errors tradespeople make most often when setting and using day rates.
Not accounting for overheads. Many builders set their day rate based on what they want to take home, forgetting to add their vehicle, insurance, tools, and other business costs on top. This means they are effectively earning less than they think. Always calculate your true costs first.
Charging the same rate for every type of work. A day spent hanging a door is not the same as a day spent on a complex structural repair. Consider charging different rates for different types of work, or better yet, use fixed prices for defined projects where your expertise justifies a higher effective rate.
Competing on price alone. Trying to be the cheapest builder in your area is a race to the bottom. Compete on quality, reliability, professionalism, and communication instead. Customers who choose purely on price are often the most difficult to work for. For tips on winning work without being the cheapest, see our guide on how to win more quotes.
Not reviewing your rate annually. Costs go up every year — fuel, insurance, materials, and living expenses all increase. If you do not review your day rate at least once a year, your real income is falling even if the number looks the same. Increase your rate each January in line with your costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average builder's day rate in the UK in 2026?
The average builder's day rate in the UK in 2026 is one hundred and eighty to two hundred and fifty pounds per day. In London, rates are typically two hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty pounds per day. In the South East, rates are two hundred and twenty to two hundred and eighty pounds. In the Midlands, rates are one hundred and eighty to two hundred and forty pounds. In the North, rates are one hundred and fifty to two hundred and twenty pounds. These figures cover labour only, not materials.
What is the difference between a day rate and a fixed price?
A day rate means the customer pays a set amount for each day you work on their project, with the total depending on how many days the job takes. A fixed price means you agree a total cost upfront for the complete job regardless of duration. Day rates suit smaller or unpredictable jobs. Fixed prices suit defined projects and reward efficiency.
Should I charge a day rate or a fixed price?
Use a day rate for small maintenance jobs, unclear scopes, customer-directed work, and emergency repairs. Use a fixed price for defined projects like extensions and renovations, competitive quotes, new customers wanting certainty, and any job where efficiency benefits you. Most experienced builders favour fixed prices for larger projects because the earning potential is higher.
How do I calculate my day rate as a builder?
Add your annual business overheads to your gross income target and divide by the number of billable days per year (typically two hundred to two hundred and fifteen). For example, twelve thousand pounds in overheads plus fifty-five thousand pounds gross income equals sixty-seven thousand pounds, divided by two hundred and ten days equals three hundred and nineteen pounds per day. Use our free day rate calculator to work this out quickly.
Do builder day rates include materials?
No, a builder's day rate covers labour only. Materials are charged separately, either at cost or with a markup of ten to twenty per cent. Some builders include small consumables in their day rate. Be clear with customers about what is and is not included to avoid disputes later.
What is the day rate for a labourer in 2026?
A general labourer in the UK charges eighty to one hundred and thirty pounds per day in 2026. In London, rates are one hundred and twenty to one hundred and sixty pounds per day. In the Midlands and the North, rates are eighty to one hundred and twenty pounds per day. These rates are for an unskilled or semi-skilled worker assisting qualified tradespeople.