Builder Day Rate 2026: UK Labour Rates By Region
Whether you are planning an extension, knocking through a wall or fixing a leaking roof, labour is usually the biggest single part of the bill. Knowing what builders and other trades charge per day helps you check quotes, plan a budget and spot a price that is too good to be true.
According to Checkatrade's latest guide, the average UK builder charges about £300 a day, or around £38 an hour. A general labourer averages about £200 a day. Specialist trades such as electricians and plumbers often charge more, while gardeners and labourers charge less.
This guide brings together day rates by trade, explains how rates change by region, looks at labourer costs, and explains how builders add markups on whole projects.
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Day rates by region
Region has a big influence on what you pay. Builders in London and the South East charge the most, reflecting higher living costs, parking and congestion charges, and strong demand. Rates in the North East, Wales, Northern Ireland and rural areas tend to be lowest.
We have not found a reliable published source of builder day rates broken down by region for 2026, so we will not invent one. Two published figures do show the size of the gap:
- Checkatrade puts a handyman at about £30 an hour nationally but about £50 an hour in London, with a London day rate of around £350.
- For plasterers, a closely related trade, published regional ranges run from about £180 to £280 a day in the North East up to about £380 to £550 in London. See our plasterer day rate guide for the full table.
Checked October 2026: Checkatrade handyman cost guide (updated June 2026); Digital Tradies 2026 plasterer rates guide.
As a rule of thumb, expect London builder rates to be well above the £300 national average, and rates in lower cost regions to sit below it. The only way to know your local rate is to get several quotes.
By trade
Here are average day and hourly rates for the main building trades.
| Trade | Day rate | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Builder | £300 | £38 |
| Bricklayer | £250 to £350 | £35 to £45 |
| Carpenter | £240 to £450 | £30 to £60 |
| Electrician | £300 to £500 | £40 to £70 |
| Plumber | £320 to £480 | £40 to £60 |
| Plasterer | £300 | £37.50 |
| Roofer | £280 to £360 | £35 to £45 |
| Scaffolder | £250 to £350 | £40 |
| Tiler | £250 to £350 | £40 |
| Painter and decorator | £250 to £350 | £35 to £45 |
| Kitchen fitter | £280 to £360 | £35 to £45 |
| Window fitter | £200 to £400 | £25 to £50 |
| Labourer | £120 to £280 | £15 to £35 |
Checked October 2026: Checkatrade, "How much do tradespeople cost", updated October 2026.
For a wider comparison across 25 trades, see our UK tradesmen day rates index.
Why specialist trades cost more
Electricians and gas engineers need formal qualifications, scheme memberships and certification. Their work must meet strict regulations and is often signed off with a certificate. That training and paperwork shows up in higher rates.
General builders cover a wide range of tasks, from groundworks and blockwork to carpentry and finishing. A good builder is often a project manager as much as a tradesperson, coordinating the specialists.
Labourer rates
Labourers do the heavy and repetitive work on site: digging, mixing, carrying materials, loading skips and cleaning up. Checkatrade puts labourers at about £120 to £280 a day, or £15 to £35 an hour, with an average of around £200 a day.
On most building jobs, labourers save money overall. A bricklayer paid £300 a day is far more productive if a labourer is keeping them supplied with blocks and mortar. Many builders quote for a "gang", such as a bricklayer and a labourer, or two bricklayers and a labourer.
Example gang costs
| Gang | Approximate daily cost |
|---|---|
| Builder and labourer | £500 (at £300 + £200) |
| Two bricklayers and a labourer | £700 to £900 |
| Plasterer and labourer | £420 to £580 |
These are worked examples from the averages above, not published gang rates.
Markups
On a whole project, a builder's quote is more than day rates times days. It usually includes:
Materials
Builders buy materials, often at trade prices, and may add a margin for the time spent ordering, collecting and managing them. Some pass on their trade discount, others keep it as part of their profit. Either is normal, but it helps to know which.
Subcontractors
On an extension, the main builder often subcontracts electricians, plumbers, plasterers and roofers. They may add a markup on subcontractor costs to cover coordination and the risk of fixing problems.
Overheads and profit
The quote must also cover the builder's van, tools, insurance, accountant, unpaid time spent quoting, and a profit margin. That is why a project price works out higher than simply adding up day rates.
Contingency
Many builders build in a contingency for problems they cannot see before work starts, such as poor ground or rotten timbers. Others list it separately. Either way, keep your own contingency of around 10 to 15% of the project budget for surprises.
VAT
Builders must charge VAT at 20% if they are VAT registered, which is required once taxable turnover passes £90,000. A sole trader below the threshold may not charge VAT, which can make their quotes look cheaper. Always compare quotes on the same basis, including or excluding VAT.
Day rate vs fixed price
Fixed price
A fixed price for a defined job gives you certainty. It is the usual way to price extensions, loft conversions and big renovations. The builder takes on the risk of the job taking longer.
Day rate
A day rate suits small or unpredictable jobs, like repairs where the full extent is not visible. You carry the risk of overruns, so agree an estimate of days and ask to be told early if it will change.
Schedule of works
For larger projects, a clear schedule of works or specification, ideally drawn up by an architect or surveyor, lets several builders quote against the same list. It is the best way to compare like with like.
Example project costs
Our existing guides break down full project prices:
What affects a builder's day rate?
- Region, as covered above
- Experience and reputation
- Demand, which is often highest in spring and summer
- Job size, since short jobs may carry a minimum charge
- Access and parking, especially in cities
- Specialist skills, such as heritage work or structural work
If you are a builder
Setting your own rate? Our day rate calculator works out the minimum day rate you need to cover your income target, tax and National Insurance, van, tools, insurance and holidays.
What a day rate actually covers
When a builder quotes £300 a day, it is easy to compare that with an employed wage and think it sounds high. But a self employed builder has costs an employee never sees. Out of the day rate, they must pay for:
- Their van, fuel, insurance and servicing
- Tools, and replacing them when they wear out or get stolen
- Public liability insurance and sometimes other cover
- Accountancy fees and software
- Phone, advertising and memberships
- Time spent quoting, ordering materials and travelling, which nobody pays for
- Holidays, sick days and bad weather days, which earn nothing
- Income tax and National Insurance
- A pension, since nobody else is paying into one
Once those are taken out, the take home pay from a day rate is much lower than the headline figure suggests. That is why very cheap rates can be a warning sign. A builder charging well below the going rate may be cutting corners, uninsured, or likely to disappear when a better paid job comes along.
How long is a builder's day?
There is no fixed rule, but most builders work roughly 8am to 4pm or 5pm on site, with a lunch break. In winter, short daylight hours can shorten the working day on outside jobs. Some councils set restrictions on noisy work hours, especially at weekends, so check if you live in a terrace or flat.
A "day" on a quote normally means a working day on site, not a 24 hour period. If a builder spends half a day collecting materials, they may still count it as part of the job.
Payment stages on bigger jobs
On projects lasting weeks or months, builders normally ask for staged payments rather than one final bill. A typical arrangement might link payments to clear milestones:
- Foundations complete
- Walls up to roof level
- Roof on and watertight
- First fix complete (wiring and pipes in the walls)
- Plastering complete
- Final completion, with a small retention held back for snagging
Agree the stages in writing before work starts. Only pay for work that is actually done.
Building Regulations and paperwork
Many building jobs need Building Regulations approval, even when they do not need planning permission. Structural changes, extensions, new windows, rewiring and new heating systems are common examples. Make sure your builder knows who is responsible for applying and arranging inspections, and that you get the completion certificate at the end. You will need it when you sell the house.
Finding a good builder
Cheap day rates are no use if the work has to be redone. When choosing a builder:
- Get at least three written quotes
- Check reviews and photos of recent work
- Confirm public liability insurance
- Agree a written contract and payment schedule
- Never pay large sums upfront
Our guide on how to choose a tradesman lists 12 checks to make before you hire anyone.
FAQs
How much does a builder charge per day in the UK?
About £300 a day on average, according to Checkatrade, or about £38 an hour. Expect more in London and the South East.
How much does a labourer cost per day?
About £120 to £280, with an average of around £200.
Do builders charge for quotes?
Most builders quote for free on standard jobs. For large or complex projects, some charge for detailed estimates or design work.
Should I pay a builder upfront?
Avoid large upfront payments. A small deposit for materials can be reasonable, with staged payments as work is completed.
Why do builders' quotes vary so much?
Quotes vary with overheads, how busy the builder is, the level of detail in the quote, and what is included or left out.
Is a builder's day rate including VAT?
Not always. Ask whether the builder is VAT registered and whether the price includes VAT.
How many days will my project take?
It depends on the job. Ask each builder for a written programme showing roughly how many days each stage will take. A programme makes it easier to compare day rate quotes and to plan around the work, such as when you will be without a kitchen or bathroom.
Can I hire trades directly instead of a main builder?
Yes. Hiring each trade yourself can save the main builder's markup, but you take on the job of scheduling, coordinating and dealing with problems between trades. On a big project, that is a lot of work and risk.
Get quotes
Write down what you want done, add photos and any drawings, and ask at least three builders to quote on the same basis.
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