What is a good day rate for a tradesperson in the UK?

It varies by trade and location, but most UK tradespeople charge between £180 and £350 per day. Use a day rate calculator to work out what you specifically need to cover your costs and earn a fair income.

Should I charge per day or per job?

Both approaches work. Day rates are simpler for ongoing work or when the scope is unclear. Fixed quotes work better for well-defined jobs where the customer wants price certainty. Many tradespeople use day rates internally to calculate their fixed quotes.

How many billable days should I plan for?

Typically 200-220 days per year after accounting for weekends, holidays, sick days, and admin time. Being too optimistic about billable days is a common mistake that leads to undercharging.

day rateself-employedpricingbusiness tips

How to Calculate Your Day Rate as a Self-Employed Tradesperson

28 February 20262 min read

Why your day rate matters

Getting your day rate wrong is one of the most common mistakes self-employed tradespeople make. Charge too little and you will work long hours for less than you would earn as an employee. Charge too much and you will struggle to win work.

This guide walks you through how to calculate a day rate that covers your costs, accounts for non-billable time, and leaves you with a fair profit.

The day rate formula

The basic formula is:

Day Rate = (Target Annual Income + Overheads) / Billable Days Per Year

Use our day rate calculator to run the numbers instantly — just enter your target income, working pattern, and holiday days.

Step 1: Decide your target annual income

Start with what you want to take home after tax and expenses. For most UK tradespeople, this is somewhere between £30,000 and £60,000 depending on your trade, experience, and location.

Remember to account for your tax bill — use our self-assessment calculator to estimate what you will owe HMRC.

Step 2: Add your business overheads

On top of your personal income, your day rate needs to cover:

Van costs (insurance, fuel, maintenance, finance)
Tools and equipment
Public liability and professional indemnity insurance
Accountant fees
Software subscriptions (invoicing, accounting)
Marketing and website costs
Phone and broadband

Step 3: Calculate your billable days

You cannot bill for every working day. Account for:

Weekends (104 days)
Bank holidays (8 days)
Annual leave (20-25 days)
Sick days (5-10 days)
Admin, quoting, and unbillable time (15-25 days)

This typically leaves 200-220 billable days per year. Our day rate calculator handles all of this automatically.

Example calculation

Target income: £40,000. Overheads: £8,000. Billable days: 210.

Day rate = (£40,000 + £8,000) / 210 = £228.57 per day

You might round this to £230 or £240 to give yourself a margin.

Day rates by trade (2025/26 averages)

These are rough UK averages — rates vary significantly by region and experience:

Plumber: £200-£350/day
Electrician: £200-£350/day
Builder/bricklayer: £180-£300/day
Roofer: £200-£320/day
Plasterer: £180-£280/day
Carpenter/joiner: £180-£300/day
Painter & decorator: £150-£250/day

Invoice at your true rate

Once you know your day rate, make sure your invoices reflect it. Try InvoiceAdept free to create professional invoices that show your customers exactly what they are paying for.