Answers · UK 2025/26
What is the National Living Wage per hour in 2026?
The National Living Wage is £12.71 per hour from 1 April 2026 for workers aged 21 and over, up from £12.21 the previous year.
Full answer
The National Living Wage (NLW) is the minimum hourly rate employers must pay workers aged 21 and over. From **1 April 2026**, the NLW rose to **£12.71/hour** (up from £12.21 in 2025/26 — a 4.1% increase). **2026/27 National Minimum Wage age bands:** | Age group | Hourly rate | |---|---| | 21 and over (NLW) | **£12.71** | | 18–20 | £10.00 | | Under 18 | £7.55 | | Apprentice (under 19 or first year) | £7.55 | **Annual earnings at NLW (21+):** - Full-time 37.5 hrs/week: **£24,784/year** gross - Full-time 40 hrs/week: **£26,437/year** gross - Weekly (40 hrs): **£508.40/week** - Monthly (approx): **£2,069/month** gross **Take-home pay at NLW (40 hrs, 2026/27):** With a £12,570 Personal Allowance, income tax of ~£2,773 and NI of ~£1,149 would apply, leaving roughly **£22,515 net (~£1,876/month)**. **Employer obligations:** - Employers must pay at least NLW; paying below it is a criminal offence. - HMRC enforces NMW compliance — underpayment triggers arrears repayment plus a 200% penalty (min £100, max £20,000 per worker). - Named employers are publicly shamed in HMRC's quarterly NMW non-compliance list. **Accommodation offset:** If you provide accommodation to workers, you can offset up to **£10.66/day** (2026/27) against the minimum wage — but only if this is genuinely provided accommodation, not other benefits. **History:** The NLW replaced the old adult National Minimum Wage for over-25s in 2016, then extended to 23+ in 2021, and 21+ in April 2024, with ambitions to align with two-thirds of median earnings.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.