Carpenter day rate in 2026 (UK)
A carpenter typically charges £180–£320 per day across most of the UK in 2026, rising to £280–£450 per day in London and the South East. Specialist joinery, staircase work and heritage restoration sit above those ranges. Day rate is only half the story though — most carpentry is priced per job, and the materials can easily exceed the labour. Here are the real 2026 numbers.
- Day rate: £180–£320 regional, £280–£450 London
- Hang an internal door: £80–£160 labour
- Materials are usually separate — timber choice drives the total
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Carpenter rates in 2026
| Charge type | Regional UK | London & South East | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day rate, general carpenter | £180 – £320 | £280 – £450 | Roughly 8 hours on site |
| Day rate, specialist joiner | £250 – £400 | £350 – £550 | Bespoke, workshop-made items |
| Day rate, heritage or period work | £300 – £500 | £400 – £650 | Sash windows, listed buildings |
| Hourly rate | £30 – £50 | £40 – £65 | Rarely offered for anything substantial |
| Half day | £110 – £190 | £170 – £270 | Common minimum booking |
| Carpenter plus labourer | £300 – £480 | £430 – £650 | For heavy first fix work |
Day rate suits some jobs, not others
Day rate works for repairs, snagging and open-ended first fix on a live site where the scope keeps shifting. For anything defined — hanging six doors, fitting a run of skirting, building an alcove unit — ask for a fixed price. It gives you certainty and rewards a carpenter who is efficient.
Fixed prices for common carpentry jobs (2026)
Labour only unless stated. Add roughly 30–50% in London and the South East.
| Job | Typical 2026 labour | Materials guide | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hang an internal door | £80 – £160 | £40 – £250 per door | 1 – 3 hours |
| Hang an external door | £180 – £400 | £250 – £900 | Half to full day |
| Fit skirting and architrave (per room) | £180 – £400 | £60 – £200 | Half to full day |
| Build a stud wall (per wall) | £300 – £700 | £100 – £300 | 1 – 2 days |
| Lay laminate or engineered flooring (per m²) | £15 – £35 | £20 – £80 per m² | — |
| Fit a kitchen (units only, average size) | £900 – £2,200 | Units supplied separately | 3 – 6 days |
| Fitted alcove unit or bookcase | £600 – £1,800 | £200 – £700 | 2 – 5 days |
| Fitted wardrobe (bespoke, per linear metre) | £500 – £1,200 | Included in most quotes | — |
| Build a timber deck (per m²) | £60 – £140 | £40 – £120 per m² | — |
| Replace a staircase | £1,200 – £3,000 | £800 – £3,500 | 3 – 6 days |
| Loft hatch with folding ladder | £180 – £400 | £100 – £350 | Half to full day |
| Repair or replace a sash window | £350 – £1,200 | Varies widely | 1 – 3 days |
See also our UK carpentry cost guide and the carpentry cost calculator for whole-project estimates.
Timber choice is the biggest cost variable
On bespoke work, the material specification moves the price more than the labour does. A painted MDF alcove unit and the same unit in solid oak are the same days on site and wildly different invoices.
| Material | Relative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| MDF (paint grade) | Lowest | Painted units, alcoves, wardrobes, skirting |
| Softwood (pine, redwood) | Low | Structural work, painted joinery, framing |
| Hardwood veneered board | Medium | A wood look at a manageable price |
| Solid oak or hardwood | High | Feature pieces, worktops, staircases, doors |
| Accoya or specialist treated timber | Highest | External joinery with long service life |
What is not in the day rate
| Item | Usually included? | Typical extra |
|---|---|---|
| Timber and sheet materials | No | At cost plus 10–20% markup |
| Ironmongery (hinges, handles, catches) | Often not | £15 – £120 per door |
| Painting or staining the finished work | No | Decorator at £180–£280 per day |
| Fixings, glue, sandpaper, blades | Yes | Within the labour rate |
| Waste removal (old doors, offcuts) | Sometimes | £40 – £180 |
| Scaffolding or access for external work | No | £400 – £1,500 |
| Parking and congestion charges | No, in cities | Passed on at cost |
| VAT | Only if VAT-registered | 20% on the invoice |
Old houses cost more, and it is not padding
Period properties rarely have square corners, level floors or plumb walls. Scribing skirting to an undulating wall, or packing a door lining in an out-of-square opening, genuinely takes longer. If your house pre-dates the war, expect quotes at the upper end — and treat a suspiciously low one as a sign that allowance has not been made.
Regional variation
London and the South East run roughly 35–50% above the North of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge and the Home Counties fall in between. In rural areas the day rate can be modest but travel charges and limited availability push the effective cost up, so always ask whether travel is included and within what radius.
Getting the best value
- Batch the work. Six doors in one visit costs far less per door than six separate callouts
- Ask for a fixed price wherever the scope is defined
- Choose paint-grade MDF for anything that will be painted anyway
- Buy the ironmongery yourself and confirm what the quote allows for
- Sequence trades properly — carpenter before decorator, always
- Compare three quotes on the same written brief — see our guide to choosing a carpenter
FAQs: carpenter day rates in the UK (2026)
What is the average carpenter day rate in 2026?
Typically 180 to 320 pounds per day across most of the UK, and 280 to 450 pounds per day in London and the South East. Specialist joiners charge 250 to 400 pounds regionally, and heritage or period specialists more again.
How much does a carpenter charge to hang a door?
Usually 80 to 160 pounds in labour per internal door, or 120 to 220 pounds in London. The door itself costs anywhere from 40 pounds for a basic hollow-core to 250 pounds or more for solid hardwood, and ironmongery is often extra.
Do carpenters charge for materials on top of the day rate?
Yes. Timber, sheet materials and ironmongery are normally supplied at cost plus a markup of around 10 to 20 percent. Consumables such as fixings, glue and sandpaper are generally covered within the labour rate.
Is it cheaper to pay a carpenter by the day or per job?
Per job is usually better value where the scope is clear, because the carpenter carries the risk of it taking longer than expected. Day rates suit repairs, snagging and open-ended first fix work on a live site.
How much does a bespoke fitted wardrobe cost in 2026?
Roughly 500 to 1,200 pounds per linear metre for made-to-measure work in the UK, depending on materials, internal fit-out and complexity. Painted MDF sits at the lower end, solid hardwood at the top, and painting is usually a separate cost.
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