Free tools for UK trades
Trade day rate calculator
Work out the minimum day rate you need to charge, once your van, tools, insurance and all the unpaid days are counted. Built for UK builders and trades.
Before income tax and National Insurance.
Van, fuel, tools, insurance, phone, NICEIC/Gas Safe, accountant.
Include the 8 bank holidays.
Allow a few — nobody pays you for them.
Quoting, admin, travel, bad weather, gaps between jobs.
Your minimum rate
Day rate, before VAT
£31.25 an hour
- Billable days a year
- 200 of 260
- Turnover needed
- £50,000
- Turnover needed per week
- £962
- Cash per labour day after 20% CIS
- £200
Estimate only. This is the minimum to hit your income target, not a market rate. CIS deductions are advance tax payments, not lost income. Not financial or tax advice.
Every unpaid day pushes your rate up.
Miss the call for one day’s work and that’s £250 gone. TradeRing answers when you can’t.
Hear the demoWhile you’re on the tools
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Day rate questions
How do I work out my day rate as a tradesperson?
Add the yearly income you want to your yearly business costs, then divide by the days you can actually bill. Most self-employed trades bill far fewer than 260 days once holidays, sick days, quoting, admin, travel and bad weather are taken off.
How many billable days does a tradesperson get a year?
A five-day week gives 260 working days. Take off around 28 days of holiday including bank holidays, a few sick days and time spent quoting, invoicing and travelling, and many trades end up nearer 180–200 billable days.
Should I charge a day rate or an hourly rate?
Day rates suit full days on one job and protect you from travel time eating into short visits. Hourly or call-out rates suit small jobs. This calculator shows both from the same figures.
Does CIS reduce my day rate?
CIS deductions are an advance payment towards your tax and National Insurance, not a cost. They do reduce the cash you receive on the day, which is why the calculator shows your labour day rate after a 20% deduction.
Does the day rate include VAT?
No. The rate is before VAT. If you are VAT registered, add VAT on top or apply the domestic reverse charge where it applies.