Carpenter Day Rate UK 2026: £220-£480 [By Trade]

Carpentry covers a huge range of work — from hanging a door to building a bespoke staircase. That means rates vary widely depending on your specialism, experience, and location. Here's a complete guide to carpenter and joiner rates across the UK in 2026.

Carpenter Day Rate by Specialism — UK 2026

Different types of carpentry work command different rates:

Specialism	Day Rate (Outside London)	Day Rate (London)
General carpenter	£220-£320	£350-£450
First fix carpenter	£230-£340	£360-£460
Second fix carpenter	£240-£350	£360-£480
Kitchen fitter	£250-£400	£380-£500
Bench joiner	£220-£320	£340-£440
Shopfitter	£260-£380	£380-£500
Bespoke furniture maker	£280-£450	£400-£600

Carpenter Day Rate — Regional Breakdown

Region	Day Rate	Hourly Rate
London	£350-£480	£50-£70
South East	£300-£400	£42-£58
South West	£250-£350	£35-£50
Midlands	£230-£330	£32-£48
North West	£220-£320	£30-£45
North East	£200-£300	£28-£42
Scotland	£220-£330	£30-£48
Wales	£200-£300	£28-£42
Northern Ireland	£190-£280	£26-£40

Common Carpentry Job Prices

Job	Typical Price	Time
Hang an internal door	£80-£150	1-2 hours
Fit a new external door	£200-£400	2-4 hours
Fit skirting boards (per room)	£120-£250	2-4 hours
Build stud wall	£300-£600	1 day
Fit laminate flooring (per room)	£150-£350	Half-1 day
Kitchen fitting (labour only)	£1,500-£3,000	3-5 days
Built-in wardrobe	£800-£2,000	2-4 days
Loft boarding (per m²)	£30-£50	Varies
Decking (20m²)	£1,500-£3,500	2-4 days
Bespoke shelving unit	£300-£800	1-2 days

First Fix vs Second Fix Carpentry

If you work on new builds or major renovations, you'll need to know the difference:

	First Fix	Second Fix
What it covers	Roof timbers, floor joists, stud walls, door linings, window boards	Doors, skirting, architrave, kitchens, stairs, shelving
Day rate	£230-£460	£240-£480
Skill level	Structural knowledge, speed	Precision, finishing, attention to detail

Second fix generally pays slightly more because the finish quality is visible to the customer. Any imperfections in second fix work are immediately obvious.

What Affects Your Carpenter Day Rate?

• Specialism — Bespoke furniture makers and shopfitters earn more than general carpenters
• Experience — A carpenter with 15+ years and a strong portfolio can charge 30-40% more
• Quality of finish — If your second fix work is noticeably better than competitors, you can charge premium rates
• Own tools — Having a full set of quality power tools (not relying on site equipment) justifies higher rates
• Reputation — Google reviews and word-of-mouth referrals let you charge top-end rates. See our guide on getting more customers

Carpenter vs Joiner — What's the Difference?

People often use these terms interchangeably, but there is a difference:

• Carpenter — Works on site. Fits and installs timber structures: roofs, floors, stud walls, doors, stairs, kitchens
• Joiner — Works in a workshop. Makes bespoke items: windows, doors, staircases, furniture, cabinetry

In practice, many self-employed tradesmen do both. If you can offer workshop-made bespoke items AND install them on site, you can charge significantly more.

How to Calculate Your Day Rate

1. Target take-home: E.g., £35,000
2. Add tax & NI: ~25%. £35,000 + 25% = £43,750
3. Add business costs: Van, insurance, tools, materials, fuel. ~£8,000-£12,000/year. Total: £53,750
4. Divide by working days: 220 days. £53,750 / 220 = £244/day minimum
5. Add profit margin: 20%. £244 x 1.2 = £293/day

If you're working in London or doing specialist joinery, you should be charging £350-£450+. Don't undercharge — your skill is worth paying for.

Tools and Workshop Costs

Carpentry needs expensive kit — saws, routers, nail guns, dust extraction and, for bespoke work, often a workshop. These costs have to be recovered through your day rate or job prices. When calculating your rate, include tool replacement, blade and consumable costs, and a share of any workshop rent, not just your van and insurance.

What to Put on a Carpentry Quote

• A clear description of what is being built, fitted or repaired
• Timber species, sheet material and ironmongery
• Finish: painted, oiled, or left ready for decoration
• Labour and materials shown separately
• Exclusions such as decorating, plastering or electrics
• Timeline and payment terms

For a full example, see our carpenter quote template.

Raising Your Rates

If your diary is full weeks ahead and customers rarely question your price, it's usually a sign your rates are too low. Raise them for new customers first, and give existing customers notice. Specialist skills such as staircases and bespoke furniture justify rates at the top of the ranges above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average carpenter day rate in the UK in 2026?

The average carpenter day rate is £220-£350 outside London and £350-£480 in London. Kitchen fitters and shopfitters sit at the higher end, while general carpenters are typically in the £220-£320 range outside London.

How much do carpenters charge per hour in the UK?

UK carpenters charge £30-£50 per hour outside London and £50-£70 per hour in London. Most carpenters prefer day rates or fixed prices over hourly billing for anything beyond small repair jobs.

What is the difference between a carpenter and a joiner?

A carpenter works on site fitting timber structures (roofs, floors, stud walls, doors). A joiner works in a workshop making bespoke items (windows, staircases, furniture). Many self-employed tradesmen do both.

How much does a kitchen fitter charge per day?

Kitchen fitters charge £250-£400 per day outside London and £380-£500 in London. A full kitchen installation takes 3-5 days of labour, costing £1,500-£3,000 excluding materials and appliances.