How Much Does a Builder Charge Per Day in 2026? — UK Day Rates Explained

Whether you're a homeowner trying to budget for a project or a tradesperson working out what to charge, understanding builder day rates is essential. Rates vary significantly depending on where you're based, what type of work you do, and how experienced you are.

This guide covers the average UK builder day rates for 2026, breaks them down by region and skill level, and shows you how to calculate your own rate if you're a tradesperson looking to price your work fairly.

Average UK Builder Day Rates in 2026

As a broad guide, here are the typical day rates you can expect to see across the UK in 2026:

• General labourer: £100–£150 per day
• General builder: £180–£250 per day
• Skilled tradesperson (plumber, electrician, plasterer): £200–£300 per day
• Specialist trades (structural work, heritage restoration, gas engineer): £250–£400 per day

These figures assume a standard 8-hour working day. Some tradespeople quote based on a shorter day of 6–7 hours of productive work on site, so always clarify what a "day" means when agreeing rates.

Day Rates by Region

Location is one of the biggest factors affecting what builders charge. The cost of living, local demand, and competition all play a role. Here's a rough guide for a general builder's day rate by region:

• London and the South East: £220–£300 per day. London commands the highest rates in the country, driven by high demand and high living costs. Some specialist trades in central London can charge £350 or more.
• South West and East of England: £200–£260 per day. Still above the national average, particularly in desirable areas like Bath, Bristol, and Cambridge.
• Midlands: £180–£240 per day. Rates are fairly competitive here, with higher rates in Birmingham and lower rates in more rural areas.
• North West and Yorkshire: £170–£230 per day. Manchester and Leeds sit at the higher end, while smaller towns tend to be lower.
• North East: £160–£220 per day. Generally the most affordable region in England for building work.
• Scotland: £170–£240 per day. Edinburgh and Glasgow rates are comparable to northern English cities, while rural Scotland is lower.
• Wales: £160–£220 per day. Cardiff and Swansea are at the higher end, with rural Wales being more affordable.
• Northern Ireland: £150–£210 per day. Typically the lowest rates in the UK, though Belfast rates are rising.

These are averages. Your experience, reputation, and the quality of your work can justify rates well above the typical range — especially if you have strong Google reviews and a solid portfolio.

Labourer vs Skilled vs Specialist Rates

Not all builders charge the same, and for good reason. The level of skill, training, and responsibility involved varies enormously.

General Labourer (£100–£150/day)

Labourers carry out the physical work — shifting materials, mixing mortar, clearing sites, digging foundations. It's hard graft, but it doesn't require formal trade qualifications. Rates reflect this, though experienced labourers who are reliable and hardworking can push towards the top of this range.

General Builder (£180–£250/day)

A general builder can tackle a range of tasks: brickwork, blockwork, basic carpentry, groundworks, and general construction. They're the backbone of most residential building projects. Builders with an NVQ or years of proven experience command higher rates.

Skilled Tradesperson (£200–£300/day)

Plumbers, electricians, plasterers, joiners, and tilers fall into this category. These trades require specific qualifications, apprenticeships, or certifications. An electrician working to Part P regulations or a gas-safe registered plumber is offering specialist knowledge that justifies a higher rate.

Specialist Trades (£250–£400+/day)

Structural engineers, heritage restoration specialists, roofing specialists, and other niche trades can charge premium rates. The work is often more complex, carries more responsibility, and there are fewer people qualified to do it. Supply and demand works in their favour.

Factors That Affect What You Can Charge

Beyond location and skill level, several other factors influence builder day rates:

• Experience and reputation: A builder with 20 years' experience and a strong reputation can charge significantly more than someone just starting out. Investing in your marketing and online presence helps justify premium rates.
• Demand and season: Rates tend to rise in spring and summer when demand peaks. During quieter winter months, some builders lower their rates to keep busy. Our seasonal work tips cover how to manage this.
• Type of project: Commercial work often pays more than residential. New builds may pay differently to renovation work. Emergency or urgent call-outs can command a premium.
• VAT registration: If you're VAT registered, your day rate effectively needs to be 20% higher to cover the VAT you'll charge (though you can reclaim VAT on materials). Customers sometimes perceive VAT-registered tradespeople as more established.
• Insurance and qualifications: Holding proper trade insurance, CSCS cards, and relevant certifications adds cost but also adds value and justifies higher rates.
• Travel distance: If you're travelling more than 30 minutes to a job, it's reasonable to factor travel time and fuel into your rate or add a separate travel charge.

How to Calculate Your Own Day Rate

If you're a tradesperson trying to work out what you should be charging, don't just copy what others charge. Your day rate needs to cover your specific costs and give you a reasonable profit. Here's how to work it out:

Step 1: Work Out Your Annual Costs

Add up everything you spend to run your business in a year:

• Van costs (finance, insurance, fuel, maintenance)
• Tools and equipment
• Insurance (public liability, professional indemnity, van insurance)
• Accountancy fees
• Phone and broadband
• Workwear and PPE
• Software and subscriptions
• Marketing costs
• Training and certifications

Step 2: Decide Your Target Income

What do you want to take home after tax? Be realistic but don't sell yourself short. Factor in that you need to cover holidays, sick days, and pension contributions out of your own pocket.

Step 3: Calculate Your Available Working Days

There are roughly 260 weekdays in a year. Subtract holidays (say 25 days), bank holidays (8 days), sick days (say 5 days), and time spent on admin, quoting, and chasing payments (say 30 days). That leaves around 190–200 billable days.

Step 4: Do the Maths

Your minimum day rate = (Annual costs + Target income + Tax provision) / Billable days

For example, if your annual costs are £15,000, your target take-home is £40,000, and you set aside £10,000 for tax, that's £65,000 total. Divided by 195 billable days, your minimum day rate would be roughly £333 per day.

You can use our day rate calculator to run these numbers quickly and see how changes in your costs or working days affect your rate.

Day Rates vs Fixed-Price Quotes

Day rates work well for certain types of jobs — particularly ongoing work, smaller tasks, or projects where the scope isn't fully defined upfront. But for larger, well-defined projects, most customers prefer a fixed-price quote because it gives them certainty.

Even when you're quoting a fixed price, your day rate is the foundation. If you know a bathroom renovation will take you 8 days, and your day rate is £250, that's £2,000 in labour before you add materials and a profit margin. Pricing your jobs accurately starts with knowing your numbers.

When providing fixed-price quotes, using a professional proposal rather than a scribbled note gives customers confidence and helps you win more work. Tools like QuoteSmith can generate detailed, professional proposals in minutes.

Should You Raise Your Rates?

If you're consistently booked up weeks in advance, that's a strong signal that your rates are too low. Raising your day rate by even £20–£30 per day adds up to £4,000–£6,000 extra per year, and if you're genuinely good at what you do, you'll find that most customers won't bat an eyelid.

The tradespeople who charge the most tend to share a few things in common:

• They turn up when they say they will
• They communicate clearly throughout the job
• They leave the site clean and tidy
• They provide detailed, professional quotes
• They have strong reviews and a visible online presence

None of those things cost much money — they're about professionalism and consistency. If you're ticking those boxes, you deserve to be at the top end of the rate range for your area.

The Bottom Line

Builder day rates in 2026 range from around £100 for a labourer to £400+ for specialist trades, with huge variation depending on region, experience, and trade. The most important thing is to calculate your rate based on your actual costs and desired income, not just what everyone else charges.

Know your numbers, present yourself professionally, and don't be afraid to charge what your skills are worth. Customers who choose on price alone are rarely the best customers anyway.