Convert between hourly rate, day rate, weekly, monthly and annual income. See estimated tax, National Insurance and take-home pay for UK tradespeople.
Use QuoteSmith to create professional PDF proposals with your rate built in. AI generates scope of work, timelines, and terms automatically.
Try QuoteSmith Free for 7 DaysSetting the right hourly rate is one of the biggest decisions for any self-employed tradesperson. Charge too little and you will struggle to cover your costs; charge too much and you risk losing work to competitors. This calculator helps you see the bigger picture by converting your rate into annual income and showing what you will actually take home after tax.
Unlike employed workers, self-employed tradespeople need their hourly rate to cover far more than just their time on site. Your rate should account for:
As a rough guide for 2025, here are typical hourly rates across different trades:
London and South East rates are typically 25-35% higher than these national averages.
Once you know your ideal hourly rate, use it as the foundation for quoting jobs. Estimate hours, add materials, factor in your markup, and present it professionally. QuoteSmith makes this process effortless — simply describe the job and our AI generates a complete PDF proposal with your labour, materials, and terms built in.
Common questions about tradesperson hourly rates in the UK.
A good hourly rate varies by trade and region. As a general guide: electricians typically charge £40-£60 per hour, plumbers £40-£55, builders £35-£50, carpenters £30-£45, and painters £25-£40. London rates are usually 25-35% higher. Self-employed tradespeople need to factor in overheads like van costs, insurance, tools, and the fact that they do not get paid holidays.
To calculate your day rate, multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work per day. Most tradespeople work 8-hour days, so if your hourly rate is £35, your day rate would be £280. Some trades work longer days on site (9-10 hours), which would give a higher day rate. Remember to consider whether you charge for travel time as well.
Most self-employed tradespeople work around 47 weeks per year, accounting for 4 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and the occasional sick day. Some work more (48-50 weeks) while others prefer 44-46 weeks for a better work-life balance. Unlike employed workers, you do not receive paid holiday, so your hourly rate needs to cover those non-working weeks too.
QuoteSmith uses AI to generate branded PDF proposals with scope of work, timelines and T&Cs.
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