Your Trade & Location
Income Target
This is the amount you want to actually take home after income tax and National Insurance.
Monthly Overhead Costs
Annual Overhead Costs
Work clothing, subscriptions, professional memberships, etc.
Non-Billable Days
Profit Target
Profit on top of all costs — lets you invest in the business and handle slow periods.
Enter what you currently charge to see if you're under- or over-charging.
What is a tradesperson day rate and why does it matter?
A day rate is the amount a self-employed tradesperson charges for a full day's work — typically 8 hours on site. It's the foundation of how most tradespeople price their work, especially for longer jobs where an hourly rate becomes impractical to track.
Getting your day rate right is one of the most important financial decisions you'll make as a sole trader. Charge too little and you're not covering your real costs. Charge too much and you risk losing work. This calculator helps you find the exact number that works for your situation.
Average tradesperson day rates in the UK (2025)
| Trade | Typical Day Rate | Typical Hourly Rate | London Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber | £200–£280 | £40–£55 | +25–35% |
| Electrician | £200–£300 | £40–£60 | +25–35% |
| Builder | £180–£260 | £35–£50 | +20–30% |
| Plasterer | £160–£220 | £30–£45 | +20–30% |
| Carpenter / Joiner | £160–£240 | £30–£45 | +20–30% |
| Painter & Decorator | £140–£200 | £25–£40 | +15–25% |
| Tiler | £150–£220 | £30–£45 | +20–30% |
| Roofer | £180–£280 | £35–£55 | +20–30% |
| Gas Engineer | £220–£320 | £45–£65 | +25–35% |
Source: Industry surveys and trade forums. Rates are for experienced sole traders and will vary by specialisation, qualifications, and local market conditions.
What overheads should a tradesperson include in their day rate?
Most tradespeople dramatically underestimate their annual costs. Here's what needs to go into your calculation:
- Van costs — finance or depreciation, insurance, fuel, road tax, MOT, servicing, tyres
- Tools & equipment — replacement tools, consumables, specialist equipment hire
- Insurance — public liability (essential), employer's liability if you have staff, tool insurance
- Phone & communication — business mobile, broadband, any business software
- Accountant — Self Assessment filing, bookkeeping (worth it to avoid tax mistakes)
- Professional memberships — NICEIC, Gas Safe, CIPHE, trade body memberships
- Work clothing & PPE — boots, workwear, safety equipment
- Marketing — Checkatrade / Rated People listing fees, business cards, website
Why you're probably undercharging
The most common mistake tradespeople make is forgetting about non-billable time. There are 260 working days in a year — but after 25 days holiday, 5 sick days, 3 training days, and 20 days spent on admin, quoting, and travelling between jobs, you're left with around 207 billable days. Yet most tradespeople base their rate on 260 days, meaning they're undercharging by about 20% before they even start.
This calculator does the maths properly, so you can see exactly what you need to charge to actually hit your income target.
How to use this calculator
- Select your trade and location
- Enter your target take-home pay (after tax)
- Fill in your monthly and annual overhead costs
- Enter your non-billable days honestly
- Set your profit margin target (15–20% is typical)
- Click Calculate — your minimum day rate appears instantly
Frequently asked questions
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What is a typical day rate for a tradesperson in the UK?Day rates vary significantly by trade and location. As a general guide: plumbers charge £200–£280/day, electricians £200–£300/day, builders £180–£260/day, and painters/decorators £140–£200/day. London and the South East command 20–30% premiums over national averages.
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How do I calculate my day rate as a self-employed tradesperson?Start with your target take-home pay, work backwards to find the gross income needed after tax and NI, then add all your annual overheads. Divide this total by your actual billable days (total working days minus holidays, sick days, training, and admin time). Finally, add your desired profit margin. That's the minimum you need to charge per billable day.
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Should I include profit margin on top of my costs?Yes, absolutely. Your costs + target income = break-even. Profit margin on top of that is what lets you invest in your business, buy new tools, handle unexpected slow periods, or build towards retirement. A 10–20% profit margin is typical for sole trader tradespeople.
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How many billable days does a tradesperson actually work per year?There are 260 working weekdays in a year. After removing 25 days holiday, 5 sick days, 3 training days, and around 20 days for admin, quoting, and travel between jobs, most sole traders have around 207 genuinely billable days per year — not 260. This is one of the biggest reasons tradespeople undercharge.
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Do I charge VAT on my day rate?Only if you are VAT registered. Sole traders must register for VAT when their taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in a 12-month period (2024/25 threshold). If you're VAT registered, your day rate is quoted ex-VAT and you add 20% on top. This calculator shows rates ex-VAT.