Find out what you should charge per hour based on your trade, experience level, region, and overheads.
Covers van, tools, insurance, accountancy, materials wastage, and downtime.
Hourly Rate
£68
inc. overheads
Day Rate
£544
8 hrs/day
Weekly
£2,720
Monthly
£11,778
Annual
£130,560
| Trade | Hourly | Day Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | £40 – £70 | £280 – £500 |
| Plumber | £40 – £65 | £280 – £480 |
| Gas Engineer | £45 – £75 | £300 – £540 |
| Builder / General | £35 – £60 | £250 – £440 |
| Carpenter / Joiner | £35 – £55 | £250 – £400 |
| Roofer | £35 – £60 | £250 – £440 |
| Painter & Decorator | £30 – £50 | £220 – £360 |
| Plasterer | £35 – £55 | £250 – £400 |
| Tiler | £35 – £60 | £250 – £440 |
| Bricklayer | £35 – £55 | £250 – £400 |
| Landscaper | £30 – £50 | £220 – £360 |
| HVAC Technician | £40 – £65 | £280 – £480 |
National averages. Adjust using the calculator above for your region and experience.
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UK tradesman hourly rates typically range from £30 to £70 per hour depending on the trade. Electricians and gas engineers tend to command the highest rates (£40-£75/hr), while painters and landscapers sit at the lower end (£30-£50/hr). London rates are 20-30% higher than the national average.
Self-employed tradesmen should add 15-25% on top of the equivalent employed rate to cover overheads like van costs, tool replacement, public liability insurance, accountancy fees, and materials wastage. Use the calculator above to find your ideal rate with overheads factored in.
Day rates in the UK range from £220 to £540 for an 8-hour day. The rate varies significantly by trade, region, and experience. London day rates are the highest, while rates in Wales, Northern Ireland, and the North East tend to be lower.
Most experienced tradesmen prefer quoting per job rather than per hour, as it allows you to charge based on value rather than time. However, knowing your hourly rate is essential for calculating job quotes accurately. Tools like Sleepless Tradesman can help you create detailed per-job quotes in minutes.
Add up your monthly costs for: van (lease/fuel/insurance), tools and equipment replacement, public liability insurance, professional indemnity, accountancy, phone and software, workwear, and materials wastage. Divide the total by your monthly billable hours to get your overhead per hour. Most tradesmen find this is 15-25% of their base rate.
Know your numbers: Track every overhead cost monthly so you can set rates confidently.
Factor in non-billable time: Travel, quoting, invoicing, and admin eat into your earning hours. Aim for 6-7 billable hours in an 8-hour day.
Review annually: Material costs, insurance premiums, and living costs rise each year. Adjust your rates accordingly.
Quote per job, not per hour: Fixed job quotes protect your margins and give customers certainty. Use your hourly rate as a baseline for calculating job costs.
Reduce admin time: Every hour spent on quotes and invoices is an hour not earning. AI tools like Sleepless Tradesman can cut quoting time from hours to minutes.