UK Trade Labour Rates 2025: The Complete Pricing Guide for Sparkies, Plumbers, Handymen & More
UK Trade Labour Rates 2025: The Complete Pricing Guide for Sparkies, Plumbers, Handymen & More
If you're a UK tradesperson, you’ve probably wondered at some point:
“Am I charging enough?”
“What are other trades charging in 2025?”
“What should my call-out fee be now everything has gone up?”
You're not alone. Pricing is one of the hardest parts of running a trade business — and it’s also where most sparkies, plumbers, handymen, roofers and heating engineers undervalue themselves the most.
This guide breaks down the real 2025 UK labour rates based on industry averages, job data, and reports from trades across the country. No fluffy nonsense — just straight numbers and practical advice.
Why trade prices have changed again in 2025
Costs have gone up across the board:
- fuel
- materials
- van insurance
- tool replacements
- business expenses
- tax
- general cost of living
So if your rates are still what they were in 2023–24, you’re likely undercharging now.
Customers expect prices to rise — it’s normal.
Trades who don’t raise their rates are the ones losing money quietly.
The 2025 Call-Out Fee Guide (UK Averages)
A call-out fee isn’t optional anymore.
It covers:
- travel
- your time getting there
- lost time between jobs
- van wear
- admin
- diagnosis
Here’s what the average tradesperson is charging as of 2025:
Electrician Call-Out Fee (2025): £60–£100
- Emergency: £120–£170
- Weekend: £90–£140
Plumber Call-Out Fee (2025): £70–£120
- Emergency: £140–£200
- Weekend: £110–£160
Handyman Call-Out Fee (2025): £40–£70
- Emergency: £70–£110
- Weekend: £60–£90
Heating Engineer Call-Out Fee (2025): £90–£150
- Emergency: £160–£250
- Weekend: £140–£200
Roofer Call-Out Fee (2025): £60–£120
- Emergency: £100–£160
- Weekend: £80–£140
If you're below these numbers, you're working too cheap.
Hourly Rates for Trades (2025 Breakdown)
These are the average first-hour and additional-hour prices trades across the UK are charging.
Electrician Hourly Rates 2025
- First hour: £70–£120
- Additional hours: £45–£80
Plumber Hourly Rates 2025
- First hour: £80–£130
- Additional hours: £50–£95
Handyman Hourly Rates 2025
- First hour: £40–£70
- Additional hours: £30–£55
Heating Engineer Hourly Rates 2025
- First hour: £90–£150
- Additional hours: £60–£100
Roofer Hourly Rates 2025
- First hour: £60–£110
- Additional hours: £40–£80
Remember:
The first hour is never just the first hour.
It includes travel, setup, loading tools, customer conversation, and diagnosis.
This is why trades charge more for it.
Emergency, Evening & Weekend Rates (2025)
Customers expect these to be higher — don’t feel bad charging them.
- Evenings (after 6pm): +20%
- Weekends: +30–40%
- Bank Holidays: +50–100%
- Emergency within 1–2 hours: +50–120%
Your time outside normal hours is more valuable.
Charge accordingly.
How much should YOU charge?
Here’s a simple rule for 2025:
You should be charging in the top 25% of your trade’s range if:
- you’re skilled
- you’re reliable
- customers trust you
- you get repeat work
- you deliver high‑quality jobs
You can charge mid‑range if:
- you’re newer
- you’re still building reputation
- you want steady local work
Never charge bottom‑end unless:
- you’re desperate (and even then, don’t)
- you want cheap customers (you don’t)
Remember:
Cheap customers are always the most demanding.
Regional Differences (2025)
Here’s where rates typically rise/fall:
Higher Rates:
- London
- Surrey
- Oxford
- Bath
- Bristol
- Cambridge
- Edinburgh
Mid-range:
- Midlands
- Manchester
- Liverpool
- Cardiff
- Glasgow
Lower but rising:
- Rural Wales
- Rural Scotland
- North‑East England
If you’re in a high-demand area, raise your rates.
Plenty of trades do — and customers still pay.
Why you should review your prices every year
Trades who don’t increase their rates yearly fall behind because:
- running costs go up
- parts go up
- time becomes more valuable
- competition charges more
- customers expect increases
A 5–10% annual increase is normal.
Most businesses do this without thinking.
Trades should too.
How Clearwork helps you charge properly
Clearwork isn’t just for organising jobs — it helps you pricing‑wise too:
- track your real material costs
- see how long jobs actually take
- keep a history of pricing
- spot undercharging
- invoice consistently
- avoid “mate’s rates” mistakes
- build fixed‑price menus from real data
When your jobs are organised, you charge more accurately — and confidently.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Sell Yourself Short
2025 is the year trades finally started valuing themselves properly.
If you’re good at what you do, you should charge like it.
Customers pay for:
- your skill
- your experience
- your reliability
- your problem-solving
- your tools
- your time
And all of that has value.
Charge confidently.
Charge fairly.
Charge like a professional.
– Brandon