Day Rate Calculator
Convert your hourly rate to day, week and month rates instantly. Or reverse-calculate your hourly from a target day rate. Built for UK sole trader tradespeople.
Enter your hourly rate
46 weeks allows for 4 weeks holiday + bank holidays + sick days
Your Results
Day Rate
£280
per day
Week Rate
£1,400
per week
Month Rate
£5,367
per month
Year Rate
£64,400
per year
Based on: £35/hr × 8 hrs/day × 5 days/wk × 46 working weeks
UK Day Rate Benchmarks (2026)
- UK median day rate across all trades: £207/day outside London
- London median: £245–£290/day depending on trade and experience
- Electricians & plumbers typically command £220–£320/day
- General builders & labourers typically range £150–£220/day
- Remember: your day rate should cover tools, travel, van costs, insurance, and tax — not just your take-home pay
Want to check if your rate covers your overheads? Try the Overhead & Profit Calculator or Hourly Rate Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my day rate from my hourly rate?▼
Simply multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work per day. For example, if you charge £35/hr and work 8 hours a day, your day rate is £280. This calculator does that automatically — just enter your hourly rate and hours per day in the "Hourly → Day Rate" tab.
Why use 46 working weeks instead of 52?▼
52 working weeks assumes you never take a single day off — not realistic for sole traders. 46 weeks is a more practical figure that accounts for roughly 4 weeks of annual holiday, 8 bank holidays (spread across the year), and a few days of illness or unexpected downtime. Some tradespeople use 44 weeks to be even more conservative. The fewer weeks you use, the more cushion you build into your income estimates.
Should my day rate include VAT?▼
The figures this calculator shows are ex-VAT (net). If you are VAT-registered, you charge your day rate plus 20% VAT on top — for example, a £280/day rate would be invoiced as £336 (£280 + £56 VAT). You then pay the VAT portion to HMRC and keep the £280. If you are not VAT-registered (below the £90,000 threshold), your day rate is the total you receive.
What is a good day rate for a tradesperson in the UK?▼
It depends on your trade, experience, and location. The UK median sits around £200–£220/day outside London for general trades in 2026. Specialist tradespeople (Gas Safe engineers, NICEIC-registered electricians, structural steelwork) can command £300–£500+/day. London rates run roughly 15–40% higher. The best approach is to calculate your minimum viable rate — covering overheads, tax, pension, and target income — then compare to local market rates.
How is the monthly rate calculated?▼
The monthly rate is calculated as your annual earnings divided by 12 — not by multiplying your week rate by 4.33. This gives a more accurate figure because it accounts for the fact that some months have more working days than others. Formula: (weekly rate × working weeks per year) ÷ 12.