You need to charge at least
£42/hr
or about £334/day
- Working weeks/yr
- 46
- Target turnover
- £57,600
- Weekly target
- £1,252
Excludes VAT. If VAT-registered, add 20% on top when quoting consumers.
Why most tradesmen under-charge
The classic mistake is dividing what you want to earn by 40 hours × 52 weeks. That gives you a per-hour wage, not a business rate. Two things are missing:
- Unbillable time — quoting, driving, ordering materials, chasing money, admin. Realistically 25–35 billable hours from a 45-hour week.
- Business costs — van, fuel, tools, phone, insurance, accountant, software, marketing. Easily £6k–£15k/yr before you've put a penny in your pocket.
Rules of thumb
- £35–£45/hr — most sole-trader trades undercharge here.
- £45–£60/hr — sustainable rate for an experienced trade with a van, tools and decent admin.
- £60–£85/hr — specialists (gas, MCS-certified, commercial electrical) and Greater London.
- £250–£450/day — typical day rate range across UK trades in 2026.
Knowing your number is step one. Quoting it properly is step two. And getting paid on time is what turns it into your take-home.