National Minimum Wage Calculator
Check whether you’re being paid at least the legal minimum. Enter your age band, hours worked, and pay to see your effective hourly rate and whether it meets the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.
Check Your Effective Hourly Rate
Enter your age band, average hours worked, and what you’re actually paid. The calculator will show your effective hourly rate and whether it meets the legal minimum for your age.
Minimum Wage Solver
Check your pay against current UK statutory minimum rates
Minimum Wage Quick Facts
Essential insights into UK statutory pay rates
Understanding Minimum Wage Pay
Checking whether you’re paid correctly involves more than just your hourly rate on paper. Here is how the calculation works.
Identify Your Age Band
Your statutory minimum rate depends on your age at the start of the pay reference period, or your apprenticeship status if that applies.
Total Your Actual Hours
Include all time counted as working time, not just your scheduled shift — this can include travel between sites and mandatory training.
Deduct Excess Accommodation Charges
If your employer charges more than the daily accommodation offset, the excess is subtracted from your pay before checking it against the minimum wage.
Compare to the Legal Minimum
Divide your effective pay by your hours worked to get your true hourly rate, then compare it against the statutory minimum for your age band.
UK Minimum Wage Rates
Current statutory minimum hourly rates in the UK, effective from 1 April 2026.
| Category | Hourly Rate (from Apr 2026) | Previous Rate | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Living Wage (21+) | £12.71 | £12.21 | +4.1% |
| 18 to 20 Year Old Rate | £10.85 | £10.00 | +8.5% |
| 16 to 17 Year Old Rate | £8.00 | £7.55 | +6.0% |
| Apprentice Rate | £8.00 | £7.55 | +6.0% |
| Accommodation Offset (per day) | £11.10 | £10.66 | +4.1% |
Minimum Wage FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the UK National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage.
The National Living Wage (NLW) is the legal minimum hourly rate for workers aged 21 and over. The National Minimum Wage (NMW) covers younger workers, including those aged 18 to 20, under-18s, and apprentices, at lower hourly rates set by age band.
From 1 April 2026, workers aged 21 and over are entitled to at least £12.71 per hour, those aged 18 to 20 are entitled to £10.85 per hour, and under-18s and most apprentices are entitled to £8.00 per hour. Rates are reviewed and updated every April.
Employers can charge for accommodation, but only up to the daily accommodation offset, which is £11.10 per day from April 2026. Any amount charged above this offset counts as a deduction from pay for minimum wage purposes and can reduce your effective hourly rate.
If your effective hourly rate falls below the legal minimum, you can raise it with your employer first, then contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) or report it confidentially to HMRC, who can investigate and recover unpaid wages on your behalf.