National Living Wage Calculator 2026/27

Check whether you're being paid the correct National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage. Enter your details to get an instant answer.

✅
You are being paid correctly
Applicable rate: £12.21/hr (National Living Wage, 21 and over)
Applicable Min. Rate
£12.21
per hour
Your Hourly Rate
£12.21
—
Weekly Pay at Min.
£488.40
40 hrs/week
Your Weekly Pay
£488.40
Annual Pay at Min.
£25,396.80
Your Annual Pay
£25,396.80
Your pay meets the 2026/27 National Living Wage requirement.
Hourly Rate Comparison
2026/27 National Minimum & Living Wage Rates

Rates apply from April 2026. Your applicable rate is highlighted.

Worker Category Rate (per hour) Weekly (40 hrs) Annual
National Living Wage (21 and over) £12.21 £488.40 £25,396.80
National Minimum Wage (18–20) £10.18 £407.20 £21,174.40
National Minimum Wage (Under 18) £7.55 £302.00 £15,704.00
Apprentice Rate (under 19, or 19+ in first year) £7.55 £302.00 £15,704.00

* Apprentices aged 19+ who have completed their first year are entitled to the rate for their age group above.

National Minimum & Living Wage Rates · UK April 2026

Rates effective April 2026. Annual and monthly figures based on 37.5 hours/week.

Age Group Hourly Rate Weekly (37.5hr) Annual Gross Monthly Take-Home (approx)
21 and over (NLW) £12.21 £457.88 £23,811 £1,948
18–20 £10.00 £375.00 £19,500 £1,638
16–17 £7.55 £283.13 £14,723 £1,228
Apprentice £7.55 £283.13 £14,723 £1,228

The National Living Wage for workers aged 21+ increased to £12.21 in April 2026. Workers aged 21+ must receive at least £12.21 per hour · employers paying less face fines.

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National Living Wage FAQs

What is the National Living Wage in the UK for 2026?
The National Living Wage (NLW) for workers aged 21 and over is £12.21 per hour from April 2026. Working 37.5 hours/week this gives an annual gross salary of £23,811 and an estimated monthly take-home of around £1,948. Rates are set each April following recommendations from the Low Pay Commission.
What is the minimum wage by age in the UK for 2026?
From April 2026: workers aged 21 and over receive £12.21/hour (National Living Wage); workers aged 18–20 receive £10.00/hour; workers under 18 receive £7.55/hour; apprentices under 19 (or 19+ in their first year) receive £7.55/hour. Apprentices aged 19 or over who have completed their first year move onto the rate for their age group.
Is the National Living Wage the same as the National Minimum Wage?
No · they are different rates within the same legal framework. The National Living Wage (£12.21/hr for 2026/27) applies to workers aged 21 and over and is the higher rate. The National Minimum Wage applies to younger workers and apprentices at lower age-banded rates. Both are legally enforceable floors set by the government each April.
What is the Living Wage Foundation rate and how does it differ?
The Living Wage Foundation sets a separate voluntary "real Living Wage" based on the actual cost of living · for 2025/26 this is £12.60/hour (£13.85 in London). It is higher than the statutory National Living Wage and paid voluntarily by accredited employers. Unlike the NLW, it is not legally required · but over 14,000 UK employers have signed up to pay it.

For informational purposes only · Not legal or financial advice · Rates shown are for 2026/27 (from April 2026) · Always verify current rates at GOV.UK · This tool provides estimates only