Key facts
- National Living Wage (21+): £12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026
- 18 to 20: £10.85 an hour
- Under 18 and apprentices: £8.00 an hour
- Rates change on 1 April each year
Convert hourly pay to an annual salary with the hourly to annual salary calculator, see take home after tax with the salary calculator, and read how to calculate take home pay UK for the full deduction breakdown.
Minimum wage rates from April 2026
These are the legal minimum hourly rates from 1 April 2026. Your employer must pay at least this rate for every hour you work, before any deductions.
| Age band | Rate from 1 April 2026 | Previous rate (1 April 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.71 | £12.21 |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 | £10.00 |
| Under 18 | £8.00 | £7.55 |
| Apprentice | £8.00 | £7.55 |
The National Living Wage versus the National Minimum Wage
The National Living Wage is the highest minimum wage rate. It applies to workers aged 21 and over and is currently £12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026.
The term National Minimum Wage covers the lower age band rates for workers aged under 21, plus the apprentice rate. All of these are legal minimums set by government and enforced by HMRC.
Who gets which rate
Your rate depends on your age and whether you are an apprentice:
- 21 and over: National Living Wage at £12.71
- 18 to 20: £10.85 an hour
- Under 18: £8.00 an hour
- Apprentice: £8.00 an hour if you are under 19, or aged 19 or over and in the first year of your apprenticeship. After the first year, if you are 19 or over, you move to the rate for your age band.
The minimum wage applies to almost all workers, including part time and zero hours contracts. Tips, service charges, and most benefits in kind do not count towards minimum wage pay.
Work out your minimum pay
Use the checker below to see the minimum weekly and annual pay for your age band and hours. At the default 37.5 hour week on the 21 and over rate, minimum weekly pay is £476.63 and minimum annual pay is £24,784.50.
Minimum wage pay checker
Enter your age band and weekly hours to see the legal minimum weekly and annual pay.
Minimum hourly rate
£12.71
Minimum weekly pay
£476.63
Minimum annual pay
£24,784.50
Based on 37.5 hours per week at £12.71 per hour. Minimum wage is a legal floor before tax and National Insurance.
Hourly to Annual Salary Calculator
Convert any hourly rate to annual, monthly, and weekly pay.
When the rates change and what to do if you are underpaid
Minimum wage rates change on 1 April each year. Employers must apply the new rates from the first pay reference period that starts on or after that date.
If you think you are being underpaid, raise it with your employer first and check your payslip against your contract hours. See our payslip guide for how gross pay and deductions are shown.
If the issue is not resolved, contact Acas for advice or report underpayment to HMRC. You can also check paid holiday entitlement with the holiday entitlement calculator.
Check your effective hourly rate
If you are salaried, divide your gross pay by the hours you actually work. A pro-rata or part-time salary must still meet the minimum hourly rate for your age band.Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
From 1 April 2026 the National Living Wage for those 21 and over is £12.71 an hour.
It is the highest minimum wage rate, which applies to workers aged 21 and over, currently £12.71 an hour.
It is £10.85 an hour from 1 April 2026.
It is £8.00 an hour from 1 April 2026, the same as the apprentice rate.
It is £8.00 an hour from 1 April 2026, for apprentices under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship.
The rates change on 1 April each year.
From 1 April 2025 the rates were £12.21 for 21 and over, £10.00 for 18 to 20, and £7.55 for under 18s and apprentices.
Raise it with your employer, and if it is not fixed you can get help from Acas or report it to HMRC.
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James Hartley is a CIMA qualified financial analyst and Founder and Lead Financial Analyst at WhatsUK, with 8+ years in UK tax, payroll, and compliance. He builds every calculator on WhatsUK and authors all editorial content, ensuring every figure is verified against official HMRC sources before publication.
Sources & Official References
- GOV.UK National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates- Rates from 1 April 2026, verified June 2026
Last verified:
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates based on standard HMRC rates for 2026/27. Results may vary based on individual circumstances. This is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified accountant or CIMA-qualified financial adviser for personal tax matters.