National Living Wage (21+)
£12.71/hr · £508.40/wk · £26,437/yr FT
Workers aged 21 and over
Effective 1 April 2026
Updated 2026-08-24 · 2026 rates
Minimum Wage UK 2026
Current National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage age bands with GOV.UK sources, full-time pay examples, and the accommodation offset. Statutory rates are UK-wide — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland share the same floors.
Compare age bands side by side
See who has the higher floor — and why — for corridors like NLW vs 18–20.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
£12.71National Living Wage
£10.8518 to 20 year olds
£8.00Under 18 / apprentice
£11.10Accommodation offset/day
Spotlight rates — all four bands
Full-time (40 hrs/week) gross at each 2026 statutory band. Open a band page for eligibility and hour examples.
18 to 20 year olds
£10.85/hr · £434.00/wk · £22,568/yr FT
Workers aged 18, 19, or 20
Effective 1 April 2026
Under 18
£8.00/hr · £320.00/wk · £16,640/yr FT
Workers under 18 who are above school leaving age
Effective 1 April 2026
Apprentice
£8.00/hr · £320.00/wk · £16,640/yr FT
Apprentices under 19, or aged 19+ in the first year of their apprenticeship
Effective 1 April 2026
National Living Wage vs Living Wage Foundation
The National Living Wage is £12.71/hour for workers aged 21 and over (effective 1 April 2026). It is the highest statutory UK floor and is not the same as voluntary Living Wage Foundation rates that some employers choose to pay.
The National Living Wage is the highest statutory band. It is set by government and is not the same as the voluntary Living Wage Foundation rates.
Minimum wage by age band
All four statutory bands ranked by hourly rate. Full-time weekly and annual columns use 40 hours × 52 weeks. The accommodation offset is listed separately — it is a daily amount, not an hourly wage.
| # | Band | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Living Wage (21+)Workers aged 21 and over | £12.71 |
| 2 | 18 to 20 year oldsWorkers aged 18, 19, or 20 | £10.85 |
| 3 | Under 18Workers under 18 who are above school leaving age | £8.00 |
| 4 | ApprenticeApprentices under 19, or aged 19+ in the first year of their apprenticeship | £8.00 |
Browse by band
Eligibility, pay examples, and FAQs on each page.
How this tracker works
1. Browse rates
Use the ranking table for 2026 statutory floors — refreshed when GOV.UK publishes new NMW/NLW rates.
2. Open a band page
Eligibility, 20/30/40-hour pay examples, NLW context, and FAQs for that age band.
3. Model take-home
Convert hourly to annual with the hourly calculator, then estimate net with the UK tax calculator.
Statutory rates are UK-wide. Not legal advice — verify on GOV.UK before payroll changes.
Frequently asked questions
The National Living Wage (workers aged 21 and over) is £12.71/hour, effective 1 April 2026. At 40 hours/week, that equals £26,437/year gross before income tax and National Insurance. It is the highest statutory UK floor and is not the same as the voluntary Living Wage Foundation rates.
National Living Wage (21+) leads at £12.71/hour. At full-time (40 hrs/week), that is about £26,437/year before tax and NI.
No. Statutory National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates are UK-wide — the same age bands apply in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
18 to 20 year olds: £10.85/hr. Under 18: £8.00/hr. Apprentice: £8.00/hr. Open each band page for eligibility and weekly pay at 20/30/40 hours.
No. The National Living Wage is the statutory government floor for workers aged 21+. The Living Wage Foundation publishes voluntary higher rates that some employers choose to pay. This tracker covers statutory NMW/NLW only.
Employers who provide living accommodation can count a limited daily amount toward NMW/NLW. The current offset is £11.10/day (effective 1 April 2026). It is a daily figure, not an hourly wage band.
NMW and NLW rates usually update every 1 April. This tracker lists in-effect rates from GOV.UK. Always verify on GOV.UK before changing payroll.
Use our hourly salary calculator to estimate annual gross, then the UK tax calculator for income tax and National Insurance. Gross at the legal floor is not the same as net pay.
Open our Canada minimum wage tracker or US minimum wage by state tracker, then return here for UK age bands. Currency and tax systems differ — compare floors carefully.
More ways to use these rates
- Minimum Wage Comparisons (UK) — Age band vs age band — who has the higher floor and why.
- UK Tax Calculator — Estimate take-home from minimum wage after tax and NI.
- Hourly Salary Calculator — Convert £/hr to weekly, monthly, and annual pay.
- US Minimum Wage by State — Sibling tracker for US federal and state floors.
- Minimum Wage Canada — Provincial and territorial CAD floors.
- Highest Paying Jobs UK — ONS occupation medians ranked for the UK.
- Take-Home Pay by UK Nation — England, Scotland, Wales & NI take-home comparisons.
Related calculators
Minimum Wage UK Compare
Age band vs age band — who pays more
Minimum Wage by State
US federal & state floors
Minimum Wage Canada
Provincial & territorial rates
Minimum Wage Australia
NMW, casual & junior bands
Minimum Wage New Zealand
Adult, starting-out & training
Minimum Wage Ireland
Adult NMW & age-band rates
Hourly to Salary Calculator
Convert wage to annual pay
UK Tax Calculator
Take-home after tax & NI