Pricing a job comes down to two things: how long it will take, and what the materials cost. Most tradespeople are good at estimating both — the mistake is in how those estimates get converted into a quote price. This guide covers the mechanics of pricing labour and materials so you're not leaving money on the table and not losing jobs on price.
Most tradespeople in the UK quote by the day rather than by the hour. Day rates are cleaner, easier for customers to understand, and protect you against jobs that run slow for reasons outside your control. Here are current day rates for 2024/25 across the UK (outside London).
| Trade | Day rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | £250 – £350 | Higher for EICR, EV charger, or commercial work |
| Plumber | £200 – £320 | Gas Safe registered commands top of range |
| Bricklayer | £200 – £280 | May quote by the thousand bricks on large jobs |
| Carpenter / Joiner | £200 – £280 | First fix and second fix rates are similar |
| Plasterer | £200 – £280 | May quote per m² on large areas (£15–£25/m²) |
| Tiler | £175 – £280 | Often quotes per m² (£30–£100/m² depending on tile) |
| Painter / Decorator | £150 – £220 | May quote per room or per m² |
| General Labourer | £150 – £200 | |
| London uplift | +15 – 25% | Apply across all trades for London and South East |
The biggest pricing mistake tradespeople make is estimating the job as a whole rather than breaking it into tasks. Break every job into individual tasks, estimate each one, then add them up.
This is one of the most important pricing decisions you'll make, and the answer depends on the job.
Many tradespeople pass materials through at cost, thinking it makes them look honest. In reality, you're doing unpaid work every time you source, order, collect, or manage a material delivery. A 10–20% mark-up is standard and fair.
Your day rate needs to cover more than just your time on the tools. When you're working, you're also paying for your van, your fuel, your insurance, your tools, your accounting, your phone, and any time you spend quoting, invoicing, or chasing payment. A good way to think about it: for every day you're on the tools, there's probably half a day of business activity you're not getting paid for directly. That needs to be built into your rate.
If you want a quick check on whether your day rate is right: add up your annual costs (van, insurance, tools, marketing, accountant) and divide by the number of billable days you actually work in a year. That's the minimum you need to make on top of your personal income. Most tradespeople find they need to charge more than they thought.
Describe the job by voice and get a professional quote in seconds. Free to try.
Start free →