UK Minimum Wage Calculator
Check the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates for 2026-27, work out weekly and annual pay at the minimum rate for your hours, and check whether you might be underpaid.
Applicable band: 21 and over (National Living Wage)
Minimum hourly rate
2026-27 · 21 and over (National Living Wage)
Weekly pay at minimum
37.5 hours/week
Annual pay at minimum
52 weeks/year
Key Facts — 2026-27
National Living Wage (21+)
£12.71/hour
18 to 20
£10.85/hour
Under 18
£8.00/hour
Apprentice
£8.00/hour
Effective from 2026-04-01. Source: gov.uk.
What Changed on 1 April 2026
The National Living Wage rose from £12.21 to £12.71 an hour on 1 April 2026 — an increase of £0.50 an hour for workers aged 21 and over. For someone working 37.5 hours a week, that's roughly £975 more a year before tax.
Minimum wage rates are reviewed every year by the Low Pay Commission and take effect on 1 April, independent of the tax year (which runs 6 April to 5 April). Always use the rate that applied on the date you were actually paid.
Wondering what £12.71 an hour leaves in your pocket? The Hourly Rate Calculator turns any hourly rate into an annual salary and take-home pay — including the after-tax value of each hour once income tax and National Insurance come out.
When a higher rate starts: two examples
A new rate applies from the first pay reference period that begins on or after the change. Both examples have monthly pay periods starting on the 16th.
- Turning 21 mid-period: a worker whose birthday is 20 September 2026 stays on £10.85 for the period 16 September 2026 to 15 October 2026, and moves to £12.71 from 16 October 2026.
- The April uprating: the 2026-27 rates took effect on 1 April 2026, but this worker’s period that began on 16 March 2026 stays on £12.21; £12.71 applies from 16 April 2026.
Use When does a pay rise to a higher rate start? in the calculator above for your own dates and pay periods, including apprenticeships.
National Living Wage vs National Minimum Wage
"National Minimum Wage" is the legal term covering every age band. The National Living Wage is simply the name for the top band — the rate that applies to workers aged 21 and over. The NLW age threshold has been 21 since 1 April 2024 (previously 23). For the rate that applied in an earlier year — including the old 21-22 and 21-24 bands and the accommodation offset — see the full minimum wage rates by age band and year.
| Age Band | Rate from 1 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.71 |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 |
| Under 18 | £8.00 |
| Apprentice | £8.00 |
The Apprentice Rate
The apprentice rate (£8.00/hour from 1 April 2026) applies to an apprentice if they are either:
- aged under 19, or
- aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship.
Once a 19-or-over apprentice completes their first year, they move onto the full minimum wage rate for their age band — not the apprentice rate. An apprentice aged under 19 stays on the apprentice rate until they turn 19; from then on they move up to their age band’s rate as soon as they have completed their first year.
What to Do If You Think You're Underpaid
- Work out your actual hourly rate. Take your total pay before tax and National Insurance, and divide it by the hours you actually worked (including some unpaid time, like certain training and travel — see gov.uk on different types of work).
- Compare it to your age band's rate for the date you were paid, using the table above or the calculator on this page.
- Raise it with your employer first, if you feel comfortable doing so — many underpayments are payroll errors rather than deliberate.
- Get free, confidential advice from Acas — see Acas: checking if you're getting the minimum wage.
- Report it to HMRC using the pay and work rights complaint form — you can report an employer even if you no longer work there, and you can tell HMRC on the form not to pass your details to the employer. HMRC can order your employer to pay any arrears.
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Living Wage from April 2026?
From 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage (NLW) for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour, up from £12.21 in the 2025-26 tax year.
What's the difference between the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage?
The National Living Wage (NLW) is the legal minimum hourly rate for workers aged 21 and over — £12.71 from 1 April 2026. "National Minimum Wage" (NMW) is the umbrella term that also covers the lower age-band rates: 18-20 (£10.85), under-18 (£8.00), and the apprentice rate (£8.00).
What are the minimum wage rates for 18-20 year olds and under-18s from April 2026?
From 1 April 2026: the 18-20 rate is £10.85 an hour and the under-18 rate is £8.00 an hour.
Who gets the apprentice rate, and when do they move to their age-band rate?
The apprentice rate (£8.00 an hour from 1 April 2026) applies to apprentices aged under 19, or aged 19 and over but still in the first year of their apprenticeship. A 19-or-over apprentice who has completed their first year moves onto the standard rate for their age band instead.
How often does the minimum wage change?
Minimum wage rates change every 1 April, following the Low Pay Commission's annual recommendation and government acceptance. Always check the rate that applied on the specific date you were paid, not just the current rate.
What should I do if I think I'm being paid below the minimum wage?
First, work out your actual hourly rate (total pay before tax and NI, divided by hours worked, excluding time that doesn't count as working time). If it's below the rate for your age band, raise it with your employer, or contact Acas for free confidential advice, or complain to HMRC — you can report an employer even if you no longer work there, you can ask HMRC not to tell the employer who made the complaint, and HMRC can order your employer to pay back the arrears.
Does the minimum wage apply to all types of work?
Almost all workers are entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage, including part-time, casual, and agency workers. Some groups are excluded — for example, the genuinely self-employed, company directors with no employment contract, and some voluntary workers. Apprentices are covered by the separate apprentice rate described above.
Sources
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Reflects 2026-27 tax year rates, effective from 2026-04-01.
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