Updated for 2026/27 Tax Year

Know Exactly What to Charge as a UK Tradesperson

Free calculators built for self-employed tradespeople. Work out your real day rate, price jobs properly, and see exactly what you take home — all without signing up.

100% Free No sign-up UK-specific Works on mobile
207
Real billable days per year (not 260)
£90k
VAT registration threshold 2026/27
~20%
How much most tradespeople undercharge
Free
Always — no subscription, no sign-up

How it works

Three steps to knowing exactly what you need to charge.

1

Enter your numbers

Your target take-home pay, overhead costs, and how many days you actually work. Pre-filled with realistic defaults for your trade.

2

Get your exact rate

See your minimum day rate, tax and NI breakdown, and how you compare to typical rates in your region — all in seconds.

3

Charge with confidence

Know the minimum you need to charge to cover your costs, hit your income target, and build a profitable business.

All Calculators

Each tool is free, requires no sign-up, and works on any device.

Why most day rate calculators get it wrong

Most tools just ask "what salary do you want?" and divide by 260. That's not how it works.

❌ The naive calculation
£35,000 target÷ 260 days
= £134/day
Wrong — this ignores tax, overheads, and real billable days
✓ The real calculation
Gross needed (after tax)£48,380
+ Annual overheads£14,200
÷ Real billable days207
+ Profit margin (15%)
= £247/day minimum
🧮

Accounts for ALL your costs

Van, tools, insurance, non-billable days — most calculators miss these entirely.

📋

2026/27 UK tax rates built in

Income tax and Class 4 NI calculated automatically so you know your real take-home.

📍

Regional comparison

See how your calculated rate compares to typical rates in your area of the UK.

🎯

Trade-specific defaults

Pre-filled with realistic costs for your trade — just adjust to match yours.

📐
How to Set Your Day Rate
Step-by-step formula: target income, tax, overheads, billable days, and profit margin.
Read guide →
🧾
Tradesperson Overheads Guide
Every overhead category with typical figures by trade — van, tools, insurance, memberships.
Read guide →
📋
How to Price a Job
Labour, materials markup, travel, disposal, profit margin, and VAT — all explained with examples.
Read guide →
💷
Self-Employed Tax Guide
Income tax, NI, payments on account, CIS, VAT — what you actually pay in 2026/27.
Read guide →

Not a tradesperson? See what typical rates look like across the UK — by region, job type, and experience level.

Plumber£45–£75/hr Electrician£45–£80/hr Builder£35–£50/hr Roofer£35–£55/hr Gas Engineer£45–£65/hr Plasterer£35–£55/hr Carpenter£30–£50/hr Painter & Decorator£25–£45/hr Tiler£30–£50/hr Kitchen Fitter£35–£55/hr Bathroom Fitter£35–£55/hr Landscaper£25–£45/hr Groundworker£30–£50/hr Scaffolder£30–£50/hr HVAC Engineer£45–£70/hr
Browse all 15 trade rate guides ›

Not a tradesperson? Find out what rates look like in your city — plumbers, electricians, builders, and more, with job cost examples and comparisons to the national average.

London 15 trades › Manchester 15 trades › Birmingham 15 trades › Leeds 15 trades › Bristol 15 trades › Liverpool 15 trades › Edinburgh 15 trades › Glasgow 15 trades › Sheffield 15 trades › Nottingham 15 trades ›
View all cities and trades ›

Getting quotes for home improvement work? These guides tell you what you'll actually pay in 2026 — what's included, what drives the price up, and how to avoid being overcharged.

New Bathroom£2,500–£8,000 New Boiler£1,800–£3,500 Loft Conversion£20,000–£60,000 New Kitchen£5,000–£25,000 House Extension£1,500–£2,500/m² House Rewire£3,500–£9,000 New Roof£5,000–£14,000 Plastering£150–£350/room New Driveway£2,500–£8,000 Garden Landscaping£2,000–£15,000 Painting & Decorating£150–£450/room New Fence£80–£200/m
View all cost guides ›
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Disclaimer: These calculators are for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or tax advice. Tax rates are based on 2026/27 HMRC figures. Verify any Spring Budget 2026 changes with your accountant. Consult a qualified accountant for advice specific to your situation.