How Much Should Tradespeople Charge in the UK? (2026 Pricing Guide)
Most UK tradespeople undercharge — usually by 10–20%. The reasons are familiar: comparison with what you charged five years ago, fear of losing the bid, an outdated view of 'a fair day's pay'. This guide gives you the real 2026 numbers and a method for setting your rate that's defensible to customers and profitable for you.
2026 UK rate benchmarks by trade
| Trade | Hourly rate | Day rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber (general) | £40 – £80 | £280 – £500 | Higher in London / SE |
| Gas Safe heating engineer | £50 – £90 | £320 – £560 | Premium for emergencies |
| Electrician (Part P) | £45 – £80 | £280 – £480 | NICEIC / NAPIT premium |
| NICEIC-approved contractor | £55 – £100 | £350 – £600 | Commercial-capable |
| Carpenter (1st fix) | £35 – £60 | £220 – £400 | |
| Carpenter (2nd fix / kitchens) | £40 – £75 | £260 – £480 | Skill premium |
| Plasterer | £35 – £55 | £220 – £400 | Day rate dominant |
| Painter / decorator | £30 – £50 | £200 – £350 | |
| Tiler | £40 – £65 | Per m² (£40–£70) | Often per-m² not day-rate |
| General builder | £35 – £70 | £240 – £450 | |
| Roofer | £40 – £70 | £260 – £480 | Day rate + materials |
| Domestic cleaner | £14 – £22 | — | Self-employed direct |
| Gardener (general) | £25 – £40 | £160 – £260 | |
| Tree surgeon (qualified) | £60 – £120 | £400 – £750 | Per team |
| Locksmith | £60 – £120 | — | Mostly per-call |
How to set your rate properly
Working backwards from take-home pay is the most reliable method. Here's the maths every UK self-employed tradesperson should run at least once a year.
- Decide your target take-home. £40,000 net is a reasonable benchmark for most experienced UK trades.
- Add tax and NI. That £40,000 net usually means £52,000–£55,000 gross profit (income above expenses).
- Add real business overhead. Van lease + fuel (£6,000–£10,000), insurance (£800–£2,000), tools and replacements (£1,500–£3,000), accountant (£500–£900), phone/internet (£500), professional memberships (£300–£1,200). Total: £10,000–£18,000+.
- Add materials markup or stay net. If you mark materials up, count that profit. Most pros don't mark up much and keep this neutral.
- Total revenue needed: £62,000–£75,000 per year for a £40,000 net.
- Divide by billable days. Realistic UK trade billable days: 200–220 a year (5 days/week × 50 weeks − 30 days lost to sickness, holidays, weather, admin, dead leads).
- Day rate target: £62,000 ÷ 210 = £295/day at the low end, £75,000 ÷ 200 = £375/day at the high end.
If your current day rate is below this, you're either undercharging or making up the difference by working more days than is sustainable.
The 5 most common UK trade pricing mistakes
- Charging the same rate as 5 years ago. UK trade input costs (vans, fuel, materials, insurance) have risen 25–40% since 2021. Your prices need to have moved too.
- Pricing by what you'd pay — homeowners' price sensitivity is much lower than tradespeople assume, especially for skilled, certified work.
- Forgetting unbillable time. Estimating, travelling, quoting, ordering parts — usually 25–35% of your week and not directly billed.
- No premium for premium work. Out-of-hours, awkward access, listed buildings, urgent emergencies — these are worth 30–100% more, not the same as standard.
- Race-to-the-bottom on lead-fee platforms. If your platform extracts £40 a lead, your win rate has to be high enough to recover it. Often the maths doesn't work.
Tiered pricing — the proven approach
Top-performing pros on AllSorted use 4-tier pricing rather than one rate:
| Tier | Rate vs headline | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet day | −10 to −15% | Empty diary tomorrow, want to fill |
| Standard | Headline rate | Normal daytime weekday work |
| Premium | +15 to +30% | Out of hours, weekend, awkward |
| Emergency / unsocial | +50 to +100% | Out of hours emergency, bank holiday |
On bidding platforms, you can see the number of competing pros before placing a bid — bid sharper when there are 4+ competitors, hold firm when there's just one.
How to explain your rate to a customer
Honest, specific, no apology. The script that works:
My day rate is £380. That covers a fully-insured Gas Safe engineer with a stocked van, all certifications and a 12-month workmanship warranty. The boiler swap is one full day — £380 labour plus the boiler at £950 plus the magnetic filter and flush at £170. Total £1,500 plus VAT.
What doesn't work: vague hourly numbers, dodging the VAT question, refusing to itemise. Confidence and clarity converts; hesitation and apology doesn't.
How to raise your rates without losing customers
- Set a date — most pros raise once a year (April is common, aligned with the tax year).
- Tell existing customers in advance — a short email 4–6 weeks before is plenty: 'Just a heads up, my rate is moving from £350 to £375 from 6 April. Same service, same warranty.'
- Don't apologise — present it as a normal business decision.
- Drop the worst-paying customers when you raise prices. Replace them with new ones at the new rate.
- Lead with new customers. Apply the increase to all new bookings immediately; legacy clients can be on a 30-day notice.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a self-employed tradesperson charge per hour in the UK?
In 2026, most self-employed UK tradespeople should charge £40–£90 per hour depending on trade, qualifications and region. Working backwards from a £40k take-home target with realistic overhead, billable days and tax, the typical day rate sits at £280–£600.
How do you calculate a fair day rate as a tradesperson?
Add desired take-home + tax + NI + business overhead (van, insurance, tools, accountant). Divide by realistic billable days (typically 200–220 per year). For a £40,000 net target, that's a day rate of around £300–£375 for most UK trades.
Why are most UK tradespeople undercharging?
Common reasons: comparison with rates from 3–5 years ago (when input costs were lower), pricing based on what they'd pay rather than market rates, ignoring unbillable time, and racing to the bottom on lead-fee platforms. UK trade input costs have risen 25–40% since 2021 — most rates haven't kept up.
Should I charge more for emergency work?
Yes — typically 50–100% more for out-of-hours emergencies, weekends and bank holidays. The premium covers the disruption to your life and the inelastic demand. Customers expect to pay more for genuine emergency callouts; charging the same as standard rates leaves money on the table.
How often should I raise my rates?
Once a year is standard. April aligns with the tax year. A simple email to existing customers 4–6 weeks before the change explains the new rate; new customers get the new rate immediately. A 5–10% annual increase is normal in current UK trade conditions.
Can I use bidding platforms to test new rates?
Yes — real-time bidding marketplaces like AllSorted give you immediate market feedback on whether a new rate is accepted in your area. Win rates at the new price level tell you fast whether you've gone too high or have headroom to push further.
About the author
AllSorted Editorial Team
Home services research & UK trades industry analysis
The AllSorted Editorial Team works with verified UK tradespeople, plumbers, electricians and home services professionals to publish accurate, up-to-date guidance for British homeowners. Editorial standards are reviewed against guidance from the Federation of Master Builders, NICEIC, Gas Safe Register and Trading Standards.