Hourly rate calculator UK
Convert an annual salary to an hourly wage, or work out what to charge per hour as a self-employed tradesperson or contractor. Results are instant and based on UK working hours.
UK average is 37.5 hours
52 minus 5.6 wks holiday
Gross figures before income tax and National Insurance. Based on the hours and weeks entered above.
Not all working hours are billable
Allow for holidays, illness
Materials, insurance, tools, van, software
This is the minimum rate to cover your costs and reach your target income. Add a margin for profit and business growth on top of this figure.
How to use this calculator
Salary to hourly rate
Enter your annual gross salary (before tax), the number of hours you work per week and the number of weeks you work per year. The calculator divides your annual salary by total working hours to give your gross hourly rate.
The default uses 37.5 hours per week and 46.4 working weeks per year (52 weeks minus the UK statutory minimum of 5.6 weeks holiday).
Self-employed hourly rate
If you are self-employed or a tradesperson setting your rates, this tab calculates the minimum hourly rate you need to charge to cover your costs and reach your target income.
Enter your target annual take-home income, your realistic billable hours per week (the hours you can actually bill a client, not total working hours), the number of weeks you will work, and your overhead as a percentage of income.
What to include in overhead
- Materials and consumables
- Van or vehicle costs
- Public liability and tools insurance
- Tools, equipment and PPE
- Fuel
- Accounting fees
- Phone and software subscriptions
Typical UK hourly rates by trade (2026)
| Trade | Average hourly rate | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | £50-£60/hr | £40-£80/hr |
| Electrician | £45-£65/hr | £35-£90/hr |
| Gas engineer | £60-£70/hr | £50-£100/hr |
| Builder | £35-£50/hr | £25-£70/hr |
| Carpenter | £30-£45/hr | £25-£60/hr |
| Roofer | £30-£50/hr | £25-£65/hr |
| Painter and decorator | £25-£40/hr | £20-£55/hr |
Rates vary significantly by region, experience and job type. London and South East rates are typically 20-30% higher.
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