In 2026 most UK general builders charge roughly £200 to £350 a day, labourers £100 to £180 and bricklayers £200 to £320, with London and the South East typically 20 to 40% higher. Published figures vary a lot depending on who's measuring — this guide shows the ranges, explains why they differ, and says which ones to trust.
Typical day rates by trade
Labourers generally charge £100 to £180 a day; CostEstimator's labour-market data puts the average around £150, and found rates flat between 2024 and 2025. General builders sit around £200 to £350 a day, though MyBuilder quotes a wider £112 to £400 depending on experience and location. Bricklayers are usually £200 to £320, with MyBuilder and Checkatrade both giving £240 to £320. A bricklayer working with a labourer is often priced as a pair — BookABuilderUK puts that at £250 to £400 a day.
Why the published numbers disagree
Sites that homeowners use to hire trades tend to show higher, wider ranges, because they reflect what customers are charged — which has to cover the builder's van, tools, insurance, travel, unpaid quoting time and profit. Labour-market and recruitment data shows lower, tighter figures closer to what someone earns on site. Both are real; for budgeting a job, use the homeowner-facing figures. Also check the date on anything you read: Checkatrade's often-quoted figure of around £400 a day appears on a page labelled 2026, but may be older than the label suggests.
Where you live changes the price
London and the South East command a premium of roughly 20 to 40% over national averages, according to CostEstimator — a builder charging £250 a day in the Midlands might charge £325 to £350 in London. MyBuilder's city averages show the same pattern: around £233 in London against £194 in Birmingham and £136 in Belfast. The closer you are to London, the more you should expect quotes to sit in the upper half of the national ranges.
Why a fixed price usually beats a day rate
Citizens Advice recommends getting a fixed total price rather than a daily rate, because a day rate gives the trader no incentive to finish quickly. Day rates make sense for small, open-ended or investigative work where nobody can know the scope upfront. If you do agree one, get in writing how many days the job should take, how many hours count as a day, and that they need your go-ahead before working extra days.
What a day rate usually doesn't include
A day rate normally covers labour only. Materials, skip hire, waste disposal, scaffolding and plant hire are usually on top, and if the builder is VAT-registered, 20% VAT is added as well — always ask whether a quoted figure includes VAT. That's why a full quote is almost always much more than the day rate multiplied by the number of days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a labourer cost per day in the UK?
Usually £100 to £180 a day in 2026, with around £150 a typical middle figure. Expect the higher end in London and the South East.
Is it cheaper to pay a builder by the day or a fixed price?
For a clearly defined job, a fixed price is usually safer and often cheaper, because the risk of overrunning sits with the builder. Day rates suit small or uncertain jobs where the scope can't be pinned down in advance.
Why is my builder's quote so much higher than their day rate?
Because a quote includes materials, waste removal, skips, equipment hire, overheads and often VAT, none of which are in a labour-only day rate. Ask for a breakdown if the gap looks unreasonable.
Where this information comes from
- MyBuilder — Builder day rates (updated August 2026)
- CostEstimator — UK builder day rates by trade and region
- BookABuilderUK — Builder day rates UK
- Checkatrade — Builder day rates
- Citizens Advice — What a quote should include
General information only, not legal or financial advice. Last checked 2026-09-30.
