Free tool · built by a tradesman
What should you actually charge?
Most tradesmen undercharge because they guess a rate and work forwards. Work backwardsfrom the pay you want — after tax, the van, the tools and the hours you can't bill. Five quick questions.
Step 1 of 3
Right — let's work out what you should charge.
First, the basics.
The mistakes that keep tradesmen poor
Quoting forwards, not backwards
Most tradesmen pick a day rate that 'feels about right' and work forwards. The pros work backwards from the take-home they need — after tax, the van and the hours they can't bill.
Counting all 8 hours as billable
A full day on the tools isn't 8 paid hours. Quoting, travel, parts runs and admin eat 1–2 hours every day. If you price for 8 and bill 6, you're 25% short before you start.
Forgetting overheads come out first
The van, fuel, tools, insurance, accountant and phone are paid before you've earned a penny for yourself. If your rate doesn't recover them, you're funding your own business out of your wages.
Dropping the rate under pressure
A customer pauses, and the rate quietly falls. A rate written down once — and used automatically on every quote — is a rate you actually hold.
Never writing the number down
You work it out once, then forget it by the next quote. The number is only worth anything if every future quote uses it.
More in our guides on why most tradesmen undercharge and what to charge per day.
Typical UK day rates by trade
Indicative national averages for a full day. Your true rate depends on your own costs and the pay you want — use the calculator above. Rates run roughly 25–35% higher in London and 10–15% lower in the North, Wales and Northern Ireland.
| Trade | Typical day rate | London (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Tiler | £280 | £364 |
| Plumber | £320 | £416 |
| Electrician | £340 | £442 |
| Builder | £300 | £390 |
| Carpenter / joiner | £280 | £364 |
| Painter & decorator | £240 | £312 |
| Plasterer | £260 | £338 |
| Bathroom fitter | £300 | £390 |
| Kitchen fitter | £320 | £416 |
| Roofer | £300 | £390 |
| Landscaper | £260 | £338 |
| Gas engineer | £360 | £468 |
Common questions
How do I work out what to charge as a tradesman?
Work backwards from the take-home pay you want. Add the tax and NI you'll owe, add your yearly business overheads (van, tools, insurance, accountant), then divide by the hours you can actually bill in a year — not the hours you work. That's your true minimum rate. The calculator above does this for you.
Why can't I just charge by my working hours?
Because you can't bill all of them. Quoting, travel, admin and parts runs typically take 1–2 hours of every working day. If you price for 8 billable hours but only bill 6, you're undercharging by about 25% before overheads.
Should I add VAT to my day rate?
Only if you're VAT registered (turnover over the threshold, or registered voluntarily). The calculator can show your rate inc. VAT. Your underlying rate — what you need to earn — doesn't change; VAT is added on top for the customer.
How much should I put aside for tax and NI?
As a rough guide, 25–30% of profit for tax and National Insurance as a sole trader. The calculator uses an estimate — confirm your exact position with an accountant.
Is this rate before or after materials?
This is your labour rate — what your time is worth. Materials are charged on top, ideally with a markup. In ProQuoter your labour rate and material prices both live in your Price Book so every quote is complete and consistent.
How do I actually hold this rate on every job?
Save it as your Price Book rate in ProQuoter. Every quote you build then charges it automatically, so you never quietly undercharge under pressure. Start a free trial and your calculated rate is preloaded.
Work it out once — then never undercharge again
In ProQuoter your rate becomes your Price Book, so every quote charges it automatically. Build your first quote free for 14 days — your rate preloaded.
Start your free trial →