From 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 per hour. Workers aged 18–20 receive £10.85 per hour, workers under 18 receive £8.00 per hour, and the apprentice rate is also £8.00 per hour. These rates are set by the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and are enforced by the Fair Work Agency. These are the statutory minimums — your contract may provide more. Updated June 2026.
Source: National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026; gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates; acas.org.uk/national-minimum-wage.
What the law says
The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 requires every employer to pay at least the minimum wage set by regulation. The rates are reviewed annually by the Low Pay Commission, and new rates take effect from 1 April each year under the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations. From 1 April 2026, the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026 set the rates below.
Source: gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates.
The April 2026 rate table
| Category | Hourly rate from 1 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| National Living Wage (aged 21 and over) | £12.71 |
| Aged 18–20 | £10.85 |
| Aged under 18 (not an apprentice) | £8.00 |
| Apprentice | £8.00 |
All figures effective from 1 April 2026. Source: gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates.
How the rates changed from 2025/26
| Category | 2025/26 rate | 2026/27 rate | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Living Wage (21+) | £12.21 | £12.71 | +£0.50 (4.1%) |
| Aged 18–20 | £10.00 | £10.85 | +£0.85 (8.5%) |
| Aged under 18 | £7.55 | £8.00 | +£0.45 (6.0%) |
| Apprentice | £7.55 | £8.00 | +£0.45 (6.0%) |
Source: National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026; gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates.
Who is entitled to the National Living Wage
The National Living Wage is the top tier of the National Minimum Wage. It applies to all workers aged 21 and over — employees, workers, agency workers, home workers, and most casual workers. The age threshold was extended to 21 (from 23) in April 2024; it has remained at 21 since.
Workers under 21 are paid the age-appropriate band. The NLW is not a separate legal entitlement from the NMW — it is a rate band within the NMW framework established by the National Minimum Wage Act 1998.
The apprentice rate explained
The apprentice rate of £8.00 per hour from 1 April 2026 applies to:
- Apprentices of any age who are in the first year of their apprenticeship.
- Apprentices who are aged under 19 (regardless of which year of their apprenticeship they are in).
Once an apprentice turns 19 and has completed their first year, they are entitled to the age-appropriate NMW or NLW rate — at least £10.85 per hour if aged 19–20, or £12.71 if aged 21 or over.
Source: gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates.
What counts towards minimum wage
The NMW applies to gross pay per hour. Not all payments count towards compliance:
Count towards NMW:
- Basic wages and salary.
- Productivity bonuses and performance-related pay.
- Accommodation provided by the employer — up to the accommodation offset rate set by regulation.
Do not count towards NMW:
- Tips and service charges paid by customers (from 1 October 2024 onwards, following the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023).
- Premium pay for overtime or unsocial hours where this is above the standard rate.
- Employer pension contributions.
- Expense reimbursements.
- Loans.
Source: acas.org.uk/national-minimum-wage.
Enforcement from 7 April 2026: the Fair Work Agency
From 7 April 2026, enforcement of the national minimum wage moved to the newly established Fair Work Agency, which consolidated enforcement functions previously held by HMRC's National Minimum Wage team and other bodies. The Agency can investigate employers, require back-payment of underpaid wages, issue financial penalties, and refer serious cases for criminal prosecution. Workers can also bring claims in the employment tribunal.
Check compliance
Use the free NMW compliance calculator to check whether the pay you receive — or the pay you set — meets the current national minimum wage. Enter the hourly rate, age, and weekly hours for an instant compliance check.
Frequently asked questions
See the FAQ below. For specific NMW compliance queries, see ACAS or the GOV.UK guidance at gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates.
Back to NMW compliance.