The UK’s new statutory minimum wage rates take effect on 1st April 2027.
Change at a glance
New National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates take effect from 1st April 2027
New legal minimum pay rates for workers across the UK from April 2027.
WHAT IS CHANGING?
All four hourly minimum wage rates will increase by 3.9%. The rate for eligible workers depends on age and, for apprentices, their apprenticeship status. See the breakdown below.
WHEN?
The new statutory rates take effect from 1st April 2027. The current rates apply until 31st March 2027. Employers must use the new rate from the first pay period that starts on or after 1st April. For example, if your monthly pay period runs from the 16th of one month to the 15th of the next, the new rate would apply from the period starting 16th April.
WHO IS AFFECTED?
Eligible workers across the UK, including employees, agency workers and apprentices. The rate that applies depends on age and, for apprentices, whether they are under 19 or aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you are a worker: Check your age band, apprenticeship status and hourly pay before April.
If you are an employer: Review payroll and pay-reference periods so eligible staff receive the correct rate when the new rates apply.
Last checked: 28 October 2026.
What is changing from 1st April 2027?
The Government announced in the Budget on 28th October 2026 that the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over will rise from £12.71 to £13.21 an hour from 1st April 2027. This is an increase of 50p an hour, or approximately 3.9%.
The Budget 2026 policy table confirms the April 2027 rates. The Low Pay Commission’s earlier £13.02 to £13.34 range and £13.18 central estimate were forecasts published before the Budget announcement. They have now been superseded by the confirmed statutory rates shown in the cards below. The Treasury says the rise will increase gross annual earnings by about £910 for a full-time worker on the National Living Wage, before deductions.
Minimum wage rates from 1st April 2027
The Government has confirmed the new statutory rates. The cards below show what each group will receive from 1st April 2027, alongside the 2026 rate and the increase.
National Living Wage
Workers aged 21 and over
£13.21
per hour from 1st April 2027
National Minimum Wage
Workers aged 18 to 20
£11.27
per hour from 1st April 2027
National Minimum Wage
Workers aged 16 to 17
£8.31
per hour from 1st April 2027
Apprentice rate
Eligible apprentices of any age
£8.31
per hour from 1st April 2027
Accommodation offset
Daily limit used when an employer provides accommodation
£11.53
per day from 1st April 2027
Apprentice rate eligibility: The apprentice rate applies to apprentices aged under 19, and to apprentices aged 19 or over during the first year of their apprenticeship. Apprentices aged 19 or over who have completed the first year are generally entitled to the minimum wage for their age group.
The 2026 rates came into force on 1st April 2026. The accommodation offset is the daily amount used in the minimum wage calculation when an employer provides accommodation. From 1st April 2027, the offset will rise from £11.10 to £11.53 per day. Official guidance is listed in the Sources section below.
Why do minimum wage rates differ by age?
The statutory minimum wage has different rates for different age groups. From 1st April 2027, eligible workers aged 21 and over will receive at least £13.21 an hour, while the confirmed rates for 18 to 20-year-olds and 16 to 17-year-olds will be £11.27 and £8.31 respectively. Eligible apprentices may qualify for the apprentice rate depending on their age and how long they have been in their apprenticeship.
These rates follow advice from the independent Low Pay Commission. Its earlier figures were pre-Budget forecasts, not final decisions. The confirmed rates are shown in the cards above. The Sources section provides further background on how minimum wage rates are reviewed.
What about 18 to 20-year-olds?
The legal minimum hourly pay for workers aged 18 to 20 will rise from £10.85 to £11.27 on 1st April 2027.
The Government has said it wants to move this age group’s rate towards the adult rate over time, but the confirmed rate for April 2027 remains £11.27. The Real Living Wage is a separate voluntary rate.
The Government accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations for the 2027 rates. The age bands remain different, so workers should check the rate that applies to their age and circumstances.
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. Part-time, casual and agency workers can be covered too.
Check the official guidance
Employment status
Being described as self-employed in a contract does not settle your status by itself.
Genuinely self-employed people running their own business are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage. If you are unsure about your status, check the official guidance.
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 paid a salary, hourly wages, output-based pay or other arrangements. Employers must use the calculation rules for the relevant type of work to check that minimum wage requirements are met. Further guidance is available in the Sources section.
Know your rights
Can you be paid below the minimum wage?
Your hourly pay can fall below the legal minimum even when your headline wage looks correct. These are common things to check:
These rules can be technical. If you are unsure whether you are being paid correctly, use the official guidance and pay-checking tools listed in the Sources section.
What to do next
What if you think you’re being underpaid?
Check the figures
Compare your payslips, hours worked and hourly rate. Keep copies of your contract, timesheets and rota if you have them.
Raise the issue
If you feel able to, speak to your manager or payroll team and explain what you think is wrong. Keep a written record of the discussion.
Get independent help
Contact Acas for confidential advice or report suspected underpayment to HMRC. HMRC complaints can be made anonymously.
Read Acas advice on minimum-wage underpayment · Find out how to report a problem to HMRC
Check your pay
Not sure whether you’re receiving the right rate?
Use the Government’s free Check Your Pay service to check the rate that applies to you and whether you may be owed arrears. You can also get confidential advice from Acas or report suspected underpayment to HMRC.
What employers need to know
Employer checklist for 1st April 2027
Not everyone will automatically get a pay rise. Employers must pay eligible workers at least the applicable statutory minimum for their age or apprenticeship status. The increased rates must be paid for the first pay reference period that begins on or after 1st April 2027. Employers can pay more than the minimum.
How much more could you earn?
The Budget 2026 confirmed the National Living Wage at £13.21 an hour for workers aged 21 and over from 1st April 2027, alongside new statutory rates for younger workers and eligible apprentices. The Treasury estimates the rise will add about £910 to gross annual earnings for a full-time worker using its standard hours assumption. The example below uses 37.5 hours a week for comparison. For current guidance, see the official GOV.UK link in the Sources section.
Illustrative gross pay increase (37.5 hours per week)
For someone working 37.5 hours a week for 52 weeks, the increase from £12.71 to £13.21 an hour would mean:
Illustration based on 37.5 paid hours per week for 52 weeks. Figures are gross, before Income Tax, National Insurance, pension contributions or other deductions. Actual annual pay depends on hours worked and paid leave arrangements. The Treasury’s estimate of about £910 uses its own standard full-time hours assumption.
What about the Real Living Wage?
The Real Living Wage is a separate, voluntary hourly rate calculated by the Living Wage Foundation to reflect living costs. It is not the Government’s National Living Wage. Employers choose whether to become accredited and pay it; statutory minimum wage rules still apply to all eligible workers.
Important: this is not the legal minimum wage
The Real Living Wage is voluntary. Eligible workers must still receive at least the statutory minimum wage. Check the Living Wage Foundation’s official guidance for the latest rates and implementation deadline.
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