National Minimum Wage 2027: What Will Change?
The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage are due to change from 1 April 2027. The date is confirmed, but the Government has not yet announced the actual 2027 rates. The Low Pay Commission is working on its recommendations now, so there is already useful information available about what could change and when the final figures should become clearer.
At a glance: changes
LAST CHECKED: 29 September 2026
Change takes effect: 1 April 2027
Where: UK
Who is affected: Eligible workers covered by the National Minimum Wage rules, including employees and some other types of worker.
What is changing: New National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates are due to come into force. The exact 2027 rates have not yet been confirmed.
What is changing from 1 April 2027?
New rates of the National Minimum Wage, including the National Living Wage, are due to apply from 1 April 2027. The Government has asked the Low Pay Commission to recommend the rates for the new minimum wage year.
The important point at this stage is that the date is confirmed but the amounts are not. The Low Pay Commission has not yet made its final recommendation and the Government has not yet announced the rates that workers will legally be entitled to from April 2027.
What are the current minimum wage rates?
The rates currently in force from 1 April 2026 are below. They are useful as a comparison, but they are not the rates for 2027.
| Rate | From 1 April 2026 | From 1 April 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| National Living Wage, age 21 and over | £12.71 an hour | Not yet confirmed |
| 18 to 20-year-old rate | £10.85 an hour | Not yet confirmed |
| 16 to 17-year-old rate | £8.00 an hour | Not yet confirmed |
| Apprentice rate | £8.00 an hour | Not yet confirmed |
| Accommodation offset | £11.10 a day | Not yet confirmed |
The 2026 rates were set in regulations that came into force on 1 April 2026. The accommodation offset is used when employer-provided accommodation is taken into account when checking minimum wage pay. GOV.UK: Minimum wage rates for 2026 GOV.UK: Accommodation rates
What could the National Living Wage be in 2027?
The Low Pay Commission has published an indicative range based on its current assessment of the hourly pay needed to keep the National Living Wage at two-thirds of median earnings for workers aged 21 and over.
Its current estimate is a range of £13.02 to £13.34 an hour, with a central estimate of £13.18.
Those figures are not the confirmed 2027 rates. The Low Pay Commission says they are indicative only and that the final recommendation will depend on its later deliberations, including evidence about the economy, labour market, living costs and the impact on businesses and competitiveness. The forecasts can also change before the final recommendation is made. GOV.UK: Low Pay Commission consultation 2026
What about 18 to 20-year-olds?
The Government has said it remains committed to eventually removing the adult age bands and aligning the National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds with the National Living Wage.
That does not mean the alignment is confirmed for 1 April 2027. The Government has given the Low Pay Commission flexibility over the pace and ultimate timing, with the employment prospects of younger workers to be given priority. GOV.UK: Low Pay Commission Remit 2026
Who is entitled to the minimum wage?
The National Minimum Wage applies to eligible workers who are at least school leaving age. The National Living Wage currently applies to eligible workers aged 21 and over.
It is not limited to people who are paid by the hour. The minimum wage rules also cover eligible workers who are paid an annual salary, by the hour, by the amount they produce or in other ways. Part-time, casual, agency and many other workers can be covered too. GOV.UK: Who gets the minimum wage GOV.UK: Minimum wage for different types of work
Genuinely self-employed people running their own business are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage. However, employment status is not determined simply by what a contract calls someone, so anyone unsure about their status should check the official guidance. GOV.UK: Eligibility for the minimum wage
When will the 2027 rates be announced?
The Government has asked the Low Pay Commission to provide its recommendations to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Business and Trade by the end of October 2026.
That recommendation is not itself the final legal rate. The Government will need to determine the rates that will apply from 1 April 2027. There is currently no confirmed date for the Government’s final announcement.
Once the figures are confirmed, this article will be updated with the final rates and a clear comparison with the 2026 figures.
What could the change mean for your pay?
If you are paid at or close to the current minimum wage, the 2027 rates could affect your hourly pay from April. But it is too early to say exactly how much your pay will increase because the final rates have not been set.
The current £13.02 to £13.34 range can be useful for understanding the discussion around the National Living Wage, but it should not be used to work out what your actual 2027 pay will be.
Once the Government announces the final rates, workers will be able to compare them with their current hourly rate and check whether their pay needs to change.
Does the minimum wage only apply to hourly pay?
No. The National Minimum Wage is expressed as an hourly rate, but eligible workers can be covered even when they are paid a salary or are paid according to the amount of work they complete. Employers have to work out the relevant hourly rate using the rules for the type of work involved. GOV.UK: Minimum wage for different types of work
This is particularly relevant to salaried workers because simply dividing an annual salary by 12 does not by itself establish whether the minimum wage has been met. The number of basic hours covered by the contract also matters. GOV.UK: Paid an annual salary
What employers need to know
Employers who pay workers at or close to the minimum wage will need to check the final 2027 rates once they are announced and make sure eligible workers receive at least the new legal minimum from 1 April 2027.
The change does not mean every employee will automatically receive a pay rise. The National Minimum Wage sets the legal floor for eligible workers. Employers can pay more than the minimum.
What happens next?
The immediate next milestone is the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation process. Its advice for the 2027 rates is due by the end of October 2026. The Government will then determine the final rates for the new minimum wage year.
For now, the position is straightforward: 1 April 2027 is confirmed as the date the new rates are due to take effect, but the rates themselves are still to be decided.
Information checked
This article was checked against current information from the Department for Business and Trade, the Low Pay Commission, GOV.UK guidance on minimum wage entitlement and the official 2026 minimum wage regulations.
Information note: This article is general information based on official information available when checked. Minimum wage rules and rates can change. If you need advice about your individual employment or pay circumstances, check the latest GOV.UK guidance or seek appropriate professional advice.
