COST GUIDES
How much do tradespeople cost in the UK in 2026?
Updated 04/26
For all home improvement jobs, big or small, use our guide to typical tradesperson costs to help you budget for the work. Whether you're planning a major renovation or tackling smaller repairs around your home, understanding current labour costs can make it easier to plan ahead and avoid unexpected expenses. From plumbers to plasterers and builders to carpenters, we outline the average day rates and hourly rates for some of the most commonly hired trades in the UK, based on recent pricing data.
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How much should a tradesperson charge?
As a general guide, most tradespeople in the UK charge between £150–£480 per day, with the higher rates for specialist work or projects that require advanced skills. For smaller jobs, you’ll often be quoted an hourly rate instead. Typical hourly rates range from £15–£70, although emergency call-outs or work outside normal hours can cost more. The table below shows average day rates and hourly rates for some of the most commonly hired trades in the UK. These figures are ballpark averages to help you budget before requesting quotes.
| Trade | Average day rate | Average hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Bricklayer | £240–£320 | - |
| Builder | £300 | £38 |
| Carpenter | £240–£360 | £30–£45 |
| Electrician | £300–£500 | £40–£70 |
| Gardener | £150–£250 | £19–£31 |
| Kitchen fitter | £250–£350 | - |
| Labourer | £112–£280 | £14–£35 |
| Landscaper | £180–£280 | £25 |
| Painter and decorator | £250–£350 | £30–£40 |
| Plasterer | £300 | £37.50 |
| Plumber | £320–£480 | £40–£60 |
| Roofer | £280–£360 | £35–£45 |
| Scaffolder | £280–£320 | - |
| Tiler | £200–£350 | £40 |
| Window cleaner | - | £15–£40 |
| Window fitter | £200–£250 | £25–£35 |
| Last updated: April 2026 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | ||
It's typical to be quoted an hourly rate for labour costs on smaller jobs, and a day rate for larger projects.
Tradesperson rates can vary depending on where in the UK you live, the type of work involved, qualifications and experience, and the size of the business you hire (for example, a sole trader or a larger company).
What is the average tradesperson hourly rate (UK)?
You'll generally find a bit of variance in a tradesperson's hourly rate, due to the reasons outlined above, including location, experience, and the type of work.
For example, an electrician typically charges between £40–£70 per hour. However, for specialist work that requires greater experience or where there are challenges with access, you're likely to be charged more.
Likewise, the average tradesperson hourly rate for skim plastering a wall is around £24/m².
If you want the specialist skills of a plasterer trained in polished Venetian plaster, you're looking at around £120/m².
Labour costs have continued to shift gradually in recent years due to demand for skilled trades and regional differences across the UK.
How much does a tradesperson charge per day?
Tradesperson day rates once again vary based on a tradesperson's level of experience and qualifications and your location.
The average day rates for a tradesperson range from £112–£280 for a labourer up to between £300–£500 and £320–£480 for an electrician or plumber respectively.
As you might expect, the higher price reflects the training and qualifications undertaken to work with gas or electricity.
Similarly, experience counts for a lot too. A painter and decorator's day rate ranges from £250–£350.
At the higher end of the scale, you're paying for a highly experienced painter and decorator with several years of experience under their belt. You'll be amazed at how much they can get done in a day!
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What affects tradesperson rates?
As we've touched upon, a tradesperson's prices can vary due to several different factors:
Qualifications and experience: more experience or qualifications will generally increase your tradesperson's rates
Location: expect a tradesperson's prices in London to be higher than elsewhere in the UK
Type of business: a self-employed tradesperson is likely to charge slightly less than a tradesperson working for a larger company
Emergency call-outs: a tradesperson's rates will be higher than normal if they're responding to an emergency call-out
Scope of the work: if the job requires a specialist skill or is perhaps tricky to access, a tradesperson may charge a higher rate
We recommend always getting a selection of quotes from tradespeople in your area so you can be sure you're getting a fair and competitive price for the work.
Compare those quotes like-for-like and ensure you understand what's included. If you're at all unsure, ask your tradesperson for clarity before you hire.
On Checkatrade, you'll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass up to 12 checks.
How much should I pay a tradesperson upfront?
Unless you work within the industry, you'd have little reason to understand a tradesperson's payment terms.
Not having complete clarity on how much you should pay a tradesperson upfront can cause some people to feel a little anxious and uncomfortable, regardless of the size of the project.
Should you take a tradesperson's word for it if they ask for half the money upfront? What's the right thing to do?
Our hiring guide offers plenty of sage advice, but in summary...
Get it in writing: Before you hand over any money, ask for the deposit amount to be specified in the quote or contract
Initial deposit: Be extra cautious of paying anything over 10% of the overall project value
Material costs: Offer to buy the project materials yourself (and have them sent to your property) rather than as part of the deposit - you'll then own them if something goes wrong
What is the safest way to pay a tradesperson?
The golden rule when paying a deposit to a tradesperson is never to pay your deposit in cash.
Cash payments cannot be traced and you therefore have no evidence that the tradesperson has your money should things go wrong.
The safest way to pay a tradesperson is by card (if they have a card reader) or by bank transfer (make sure they write their sort code and account number down for you to avoid falling victim to a scam).
How to find and hire a good tradesperson
Hiring a tradesperson isn’t just about finding someone available — it’s about choosing someone with the right skills, experience, and approach for your job. Discover what to look for and the questions to ask to help ensure you hire right, first time.
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We’re so confident in the quality of the trades on Checkatrade that if you book through us, we guarantee their work up to £1,000 (T&Cs apply).
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