Last updated on May 30th, 2023
Builder day rate
How much is the average builder day rate?
Due to the nature of construction work and regional variations in costs, the average builder day rate can vary quite a lot depending on the work you need doing and the individual builder you hire.
| Type of builder | Range - Day rate |
|---|---|
| Builder | £240 - £300 |
| Bricklayer | £240 - £320 |
| Labourer | £180 - £240 |
| Scaffolder | £200 - £280 |
| Roofer | £220 - £320 |
Our costs are ballpark averages – get a local tradesperson to quote now
As a guide, you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of £240 - £300 per day for a builder. The exact rate you pay will depend on the individual builder’s experience, the complexity of the project, and where you live in the country. For example, in London and the Southeast builder day rates tend to be higher.
Builder hourly rate
The average builder hourly rate in the UK can vary massively. In general, more experienced builders working on more demanding projects charge around £50 per hour.
Hourly rate for self-employed builder
You can expect to pay around £40 per hour for a self-employed builder. The difference between a self-employed builder and a builder working for a construction company is that they usually charge a lower hourly rate, as you’re paying them directly without having to cover the admin and overheads of a larger company. But again, this will vary depending on experience and where you are located in the UK.
Types of builder
When a lot of people talk about hiring ‘a builder’ they can often be referring to a number of different tradespeople within the construction industry.
Here are the average hourly and day rates for some of the most common tradespeople that often get lumped under the title ‘builder’:
- Bricklayer – £240 - £320 per day
- Labourer – £180 - £240 per day
- Scaffolder – £200 - £280 per day
- Roofer – £220 - £320 per day
Common project costs for a builder
If you want to find out more about prices for some of the most common projects that you’ll need a builder for, check out the following cost guides that we’ve put together for you:
Builder day rate quotes
As with all tradespeople, we always recommend obtaining at least three quotes from different builders in your area. You’ll want to shop around to make sure you’re paying a fair and competitive price for the work. And, thankfully, we’ve got a tool that makes finding multiple quotes super easy.
Our request a quote feature is perfect for getting quotes: you post details about the work you need doing and we’ll send it out to local tradespeople in your area. Try it out – it’s quick and easy!
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Working with professional estimators, we collate cost estimates for the common home improvement and repair jobs in the UK.
All the costs are estimates only. For accurate costs for your particular requirements, you are encouraged to reach out to professional tradespeople to receive a quote for your job.
Our estimators are Chartered Members (MRICS) of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Members of the Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB). See full disclaimer.
Linda osborn
I found this really useful. As an older person it is very difficult to deal with a tradesperson who just asks you for your budget and then wants you to negotiate what they will charge for a job.