How Much Does a Builder Charge Per Day in the UK? Day Rates and What They Cover

A quote that says £200 a day often leaves out the labourer, the skip and the van. So, how much does a builder charge per day in the UK? Most general builders ask £150 to £250 for a day’s work, and London and the South East sit at the top of that range.

That figure is a starting point, not a price for your job.

What a day rate usually looks like by trade

These are typical ranges that UK tradespeople quote. Treat them as a guide and not a promise.

• General builder: £150 to £250
• Bricklayer: £180 to £250
• Plasterer: £150 to £250
• Electrician or plumber: £200 to £300
• Labourer: £100 to £150

Take a bathroom refit as an example. A builder at £200 a day plus a labourer at £120 for five days comes to £1,600 in labour before a single tile or pipe is bought.

What moves the price around Kendal

Rates in Cumbria usually sit below London and the South East, but they are not fixed. Several things push a quote up or down.

Skilled work costs more than general labour. A day of stonework repair will cost more than a day of clearing out a room.

Travel matters too. A job in a village outside Kendal may add fuel and travel time, so ask whether that is built into the rate.

Weather matters on exterior jobs. Wet days can stop roofing, pointing or groundwork, and some builders charge for the lost day. Settle that before you sign.

Demand plays a part as well. Good builders in Kendal are often booked weeks ahead, and the best ones rarely discount.

Day rate or fixed price: which suits your job?

A day rate suits small, uncertain work, such as repairs where nobody knows what is behind the plaster. You pay for time, so you share the risk of surprises.

A fixed price suits clearly defined work, such as a new kitchen floor or a single-storey extension with drawings. The builder carries the risk, so the price usually includes a buffer.

Ask for a fixed price with a written list of exclusions. Ask for a day rate with an agreed cap on the number of days before you must approve more.

Costs that sit outside the day rate

Many owners meet these only when the invoice arrives.

• Materials, and who orders them. Some builders add a handling charge.
• Skip hire, which can cost £250 or more for a larger skip.
• Scaffolding for anything above ground floor height.
• Building control fees or planning costs, if your job needs them.
• VAT at 20%, if the builder is VAT registered. Check whether your quote includes it.

Questions owners ask

How many hours is one day?

Most builders mean about eight hours on site. Confirm whether lunch, travel and tidying up count inside that time.

Is a cheap day rate a good sign?

Not always. A low rate can mean slow work, no insurance or extras added later. Compare the total for the whole job, not the daily figure.

Should I pay a deposit?

Small deposits for materials are normal. Avoid paying large sums upfront, and tie later payments to finished stages of work.

Quote traps worth spotting

Watch for quotes with no start date, no estimate of working days and no mention of insurance. A rate with no day count tells you nothing.

Also watch for vague wording such as “allowance for materials”. Ask for the actual items, quantities and prices.

When you gather quotes from builders in Kendal, ask each one to state the day rate, the number of days they expect and what the price excludes. Multiply the first two together and add the extras.

Then you can answer for yourself how much a builder charges per day in the UK for your job, and compare like with like.