Check the legal minimum hourly pay for your age from 1 April 2026 and what it adds up to each week, month and year. A worker aged 21 or over is entitled to the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour. At 37.5 hours a week that is at least £476.63 a week, £2,065.38 a month or £24,784.50 a year before tax. A 19-year-old working 30 hours must get at least £10.85 an hour, or £325.50 a week.
Minimum Wage Calculator 2026
National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage from 1 April 2026 · Updated 13 October 2026
- Rate that applies
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- Minimum pay a week
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- Minimum pay a month
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- Minimum pay a year
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- Rate before 1 April 2026
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- Rise from April 2025
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- Your pay
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- Shortfall a week
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- Shortfall a year
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Gross pay before tax and National Insurance, based on 52 weeks a year. Rates apply from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 across the UK.
Minimum wage rates from 1 April 2026
| Age or status | From 1 April 2026 | April 2025 to March 2026 | Rise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.71 | £12.21 | 4.1% |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 | £10.00 | 8.5% |
| Under 18 (above school leaving age) | £8.00 | £7.55 | 6% |
| Apprentice rate | £8.00 | £7.55 | 6% |
The rates change every year on 1 April. The government normally announces the next year’s rates in the autumn, after recommendations from the Low Pay Commission, so check again before April 2027.
Who gets the apprentice rate
- Apprentices under 19 get the apprentice rate of £8.00 for the whole apprenticeship.
- Apprentices aged 19 or over get £8.00 only in the first year of the apprenticeship.
- Once you are 19 or over and have finished the first year, you are entitled to the normal rate for your age. A 22-year-old in their second year must get at least £12.71.
- Apprentices must be paid for their training time too. At least 20% of normal working hours must be spent on training.
What your hours add up to
| Example | Hourly | A week | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 25, 37.5 hours | £12.71 | £476.63 | £24,784.50 |
| Age 21, 16 hours | £12.71 | £203.36 | £10,574.72 |
| Age 20, 40 hours | £10.85 | £434.00 | £22,568.00 |
| Age 19, 30 hours | £10.85 | £325.50 | £16,926.00 |
| Age 17, 20 hours | £8.00 | £160.00 | £8,320.00 |
| Apprentice in first year, 37.5 hours | £8.00 | £300.00 | £15,600.00 |
If you are paid by the hour and your employer pays exactly £12.71, a 30-year-old working 40 hours earns £508.40 a week. If they are paid £12.00 instead, they are short by 71p an hour, or £28.40 a week and £1,476.80 over a year.
Who is covered and what counts
- Almost every worker over school leaving age is covered, including part-time, casual, agency and zero-hours workers, apprentices, trainees and workers paid per item.
- The self-employed, company directors, volunteers, higher or further education students on a work placement of up to one year and some others are not entitled.
- Your pay is checked against the time you work in each pay period. Tips, service charges and cover charges do not count towards minimum wage pay, and money you spend on things you must buy for the job, such as tools or a uniform, is taken off when your pay is checked.
- Accommodation is the only benefit in kind that can count, and only up to the accommodation offset of £11.10 a day (£77.70 a week) from April 2026.
- A contract that pays less than the minimum is not legally binding; you are still owed the full rate.
FAQs
What is the difference between the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage?
They are both legal minimums. The National Living Wage is the name for the rate for workers aged 21 and over (£12.71 from April 2026). The National Minimum Wage is the set of lower rates for younger workers and apprentices. The voluntary Real Living Wage set by the Living Wage Foundation is different and is not a legal requirement.
Do tips count towards the minimum wage?
No. Tips, service charges and cover charges paid by customers are on top of the minimum wage. Your employer must pay at least £12.71 an hour (if you are 21 or over) before any tips.
What can I do if I am paid less than the minimum wage?
Talk to your employer first. You can get free, confidential advice from Acas and complain to HMRC. If HMRC finds you were underpaid, your employer must pay the arrears straight away and can be fined and publicly named.
Related calculators
- Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026/27Your pay after tax and NI
- Holiday Entitlement CalculatorPaid holiday for your hours
- Hourly to Salary Calculator UKConvert an hourly rate to a salary
Sources
- GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates · April 2026 rates and previous rates
- GOV.UK: Who gets the minimum wage
- GOV.UK: Employers and the minimum wage · tips, deductions, arrears
- GOV.UK: Apprentice pay and conditions · 20% training time
- GOV.UK: Accommodation offset · £11.10 a day
- GOV.UK: Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027
Figures current as of 13 October 2026
Each formula is checked against a separate test sheet with at least three worked examples. Results are estimates based on the numbers you enter and the published rules; your actual figures may differ. This is general information, not financial or tax advice.
Spotted a mistake? Contact us and we will fix it and update the date above.