Day rate calculator for UK tradesmen.
Your day rate has to cover more than one day on the tools.
A practical way to sense-check a trade day rate against overhead, non-billable time, profit, tools, van costs, insurance, and admin.
What this page helps you decide.
A practical way to sense-check a trade day rate against overhead, non-billable time, profit, tools, van costs, insurance, and admin. Quoting, collections, admin, travel, snagging, callbacks, and quiet days all need covering somewhere.
Source note: Prepared from QuoteBuild product workflows and UK trade quoting patterns. Use it as a practical structure, then confirm local labour, supplier prices, VAT treatment, measurements, and site-specific risk before sending a client quote.
Work out the day rate
Your rate needs to cover pay, overhead, quiet days, admin, and business profit.
Inputs
Example: target income, annual overhead, realistic billable days, and profit allowance.
Instant result
Yearly business target
£73,150
£14,500 overhead included
Required day rate
£357
Equivalent week
£1,784
Equivalent hour
£48
Based on 7.5 billable hours
Want the working file?
Enter your email, then download the CSV. The result stays visible above.
Include non-billable time
Quoting, collections, admin, travel, snagging, callbacks, and quiet days all need covering somewhere.
Add real overhead
Van, fuel, insurance, tools, software, accountancy, phones, and training should not quietly come out of profit.
Use it inside quotes
Once the rate is sensible, QuoteBuild helps apply it consistently across labour lines and job sections.
What to do before you send the price.
Step 1
Add yearly overhead and the number of billable days you realistically work.
Step 2
Set your target pay and profit allowance.
Step 3
Use the resulting day rate when pricing labour lines.
Free download
Send me the builder quote template.
You will get the spreadsheet template and calculator. If you want the quote-to-profit workflow, start the trial after.
Quick answers.
Why is my day rate different from my take-home pay?
Because the business has to cover overhead, unpaid time, tax, tools, admin, and profit before take-home pay is safe.
Should every trade use the same day rate?
No. Risk, skill, location, demand, team size, and overhead all affect the rate.
Who is this calculator for?
It is for UK builders and trade businesses checking a real job before they create a saved estimate or client quote.
What should I check before relying on the result?
Check the live scope, measurements, supplier prices, labour allowance, VAT position, access, waste, exclusions, payment terms, and any likely client changes before sending the quote.
How does QuoteBuild help after this page?
QuoteBuild turns the same pricing structure into a saved job with quote packs, client links, staged payments, variations, invoices, photos, live costs, and margin tracking.