UK National Minimum Wage Rates 2026: Pay Bands and Dates
The UK National Minimum Wage rates for 2026 apply from 1 April 2026. The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. The rate depends on age and, for some apprentices, whether the worker is in the first year of an apprenticeship. UK minimum wage rates from 1 April 2026…
The UK National Minimum Wage rates for 2026 apply from 1 April 2026. The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. The rate depends on age and, for some apprentices, whether the worker is in the first year of an apprenticeship.
UK minimum wage rates from 1 April 2026
| Category | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Workers aged 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.71 |
| Workers aged 18 to 20 | £10.85 |
| Workers under 18 | £8.00 |
| Apprentice rate | £8.00 |
These are the statutory hourly rates listed in the official GOV.UK guidance. They are the minimum amounts that apply from 1 April 2026; an employer can pay more.
Who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage?
Most employees and workers are covered, including people working part time, through an agency or on a casual basis. The correct rate is normally determined by the worker’s age on the relevant dates and, where applicable, their apprenticeship status.
The rules do not apply in exactly the same way to every working arrangement. Genuine self-employed people, volunteers, members of the armed forces and some people living in a religious community are among the categories with different rules or exclusions. Use the official GOV.UK guidance if a worker’s status is unclear.
How the apprentice rate works
The £8.00 apprentice rate applies to apprentices who are under 19, or who are 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship. Once an apprentice aged 19 or over has completed the first year, the age-based rate normally applies instead.
What counts towards minimum wage?
Minimum wage is checked against eligible pay and working time, so the figure on a payslip is not always a simple multiplication of the headline rate by contracted hours. Some deductions, expenses, accommodation arrangements and unpaid working time can affect the calculation. Tips and gratuities do not replace the employer’s minimum-wage obligation.
If you think your pay is below the legal minimum, keep your payslips, hours and contract information. You can use the GOV.UK minimum wage calculator and read ACAS guidance. Tax and National Insurance are separate calculations: the amount shown after PAYE deductions can be lower than gross pay, but deductions cannot be used to disguise an underpayment.
What employers and workers should check
- Apply the new rate from the first full pay reference period beginning on or after 1 April 2026, according to the employer’s pay arrangements.
- Check age and apprenticeship status when the rate changes.
- Review hours, deductions and payslips rather than looking only at the advertised hourly rate.
- Raise concerns with the employer first where appropriate, then use GOV.UK or ACAS for further help.
Official source and review date
This article was last reviewed on 2 September 2026. Rates and eligibility information were checked against the GOV.UK National Minimum Wage rates guidance, including its links to the minimum wage calculator and related advice.
