National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage 2026
From 1 April 2026 the National Living Wage (21+) is £12.71 an hour, the 18-20 rate is £10.85, and the 16-17 and Apprentice rates are both £8.00. April 2027 rates have not been announced: the Low Pay Commission had published no recommendations as at 21 October 2026, and the Autumn Budget is set for 28 October 2026.
Next year's wage rates are due at the October Budget
What happened
The rates that started on 1 April 2026 have not changed. The Chancellor confirmed on 31 July 2026 that the Budget will be on 28 October 2026. The Low Pay Commission has been asked to recommend the April 2027 rates by October 2026.
What it means for you
Nothing changes for your payroll today. Watch the Budget on 28 October 2026 for the rates that start on 1 April 2027, then plan your pay budget.
Dates to know
- 28 October 2026The Budget, where the April 2027 rates are usually announced.
- 1 April 2027Next yearly change to minimum wage rates.
Source: GOV.UK, HM Treasury. We check this page every week. Last checked .
The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates changed on 1 April 2026, as they do every April. The National Living Wage, which applies to workers aged 21 and over, rose to £12.71 an hour, up 4.1% from £12.21. The 18-20 Year Old Rate rose to £10.85, up 8.5%, a larger increase that reflects the government's stated aim of closing the gap with the adult rate. The 16-17 Year Old Rate and the Apprentice Rate both rose to £8.00 an hour. The daily accommodation offset, the maximum an employer can charge for provided accommodation before it affects minimum wage calculations, rose to £11.10. The Low Pay Commission has proposed a pathway toward a single adult rate: extending the National Living Wage to age 20 in 2027, then to ages 18 and 19 in 2028 or 2029, but this is a proposed pathway, not a fixed statutory commitment.
What are the current 2026 rates?
National Living Wage (21+): £12.71 an hour. 18-20 Year Old Rate: £10.85. 16-17 Year Old Rate and Apprentice Rate: both £8.00. The daily accommodation offset is £11.10.
Is the government moving toward a single adult rate?
It has stated an ambition to do so, and the Low Pay Commission has proposed extending the National Living Wage to age 20 from 2027 and to ages 18 and 19 from 2028 or 2029. Neither is a confirmed statutory date yet; both remain subject to economic conditions and government policy at the time.
When do rates next change?
Minimum wage rates change every 1 April. The next change will be 1 April 2027, alongside any further steps toward the single adult rate the government confirms in the meantime.
UK minimum wage, applied by Teamed
- Correct rate per age band
- April uprating applied on time
- Offsets and deductions checked
Key figures
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| National Living Wage (21+) | £12.71/hour, up from £12.21 (4.1% increase) (source) |
| 18-20 Year Old Rate | £10.85/hour, up from £10.00 (8.5% increase) (source) |
| 16-17 Year Old Rate | £8.00/hour, up from £7.55 (6.0% increase) (source) |
| Apprentice Rate | £8.00/hour, up from £7.55 (6.0% increase) (source) |
| Accommodation offset | £11.10 a day and £77.70 a week from April 2026. Accommodation is the only benefit in kind that counts towards minimum wage pay. (source) |
| Single adult rate alignment commitment | The government's 2026 remit to the Low Pay Commission restates its commitment to removing the adult age bands and aligning the 18-20 rate with the National Living Wage, but gives the Commission full flexibility on the ultimate timing and asks it to weigh young workers' employment prospects. No date is fixed. (source) |
| April 2027 rates: not yet announced | The Low Pay Commission's 2026 remit asks it to recommend the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates for April 2027 by October 2026. As at 21 October 2026 the Commission has not published those recommendations and the government has announced no April 2027 rates. The Autumn Budget is confirmed for 28 October 2026. (source) |
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Living Wage in 2026?
£12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over, effective from 1 April 2026.
Will the 18-20 rate be scrapped?
The government wants to move toward a single adult rate eventually, and the Low Pay Commission has proposed extending the National Living Wage down to age 20 in 2027 and ages 18-19 by 2028 or 2029, but no date is legally fixed yet.
How often do minimum wage rates change?
Annually, on 1 April, following the Low Pay Commission's recommendations to government each autumn.
UK employment law is moving fast, and commencement dates have slipped before. When Teamed is your legal employer, we track every change and update your contracts, policies and payroll as the law lands, so you never have to read a roadmap to stay compliant.
