See local builders rates for 2023 and get quotes

Builder cost per hour

Building projects are usually very stressful times and getting a grip of what things will cost is one of those stresses. For small jobs the average hourly rate for hiring a builder in the UK is £29 but this can range from £16 to £46 depending on the builder and where you live. Choosing a builder for your budget is important, so using HaMuch can help you navigate through your project. Get quotes from our builders and compare rates and to make sure you get the best value for money.

Builder cost per day

For larger jobs a builders day rate will help you determine how much a project will cost and also allows you to compare builders in your area using HaMuch. Currently the average daily rate for a builder in the UK is £206 but, if it’s a large building business, you will probably have to add VAT. You can get cheaper and more expensive builders and they range from £133 to £275 per day, but this also depends on where you live. If you are looking to build an extension or loft conversion you will require multiple skills on site, so the quote will be more complicated and more likely based on previous jobs the builders have done. The builders will be more interested in the day rate of other trades if they are employing subcontractors for the job. Also materials post Brexit are going up in price so a quote might have to change if you need to wait a while to get the building done. A single storey house extension can cost from £25k and take 8 weeks + so your builder might not be readily available.

How to get the cheapest quotes when looking for a builder

Self-employed builders are just as qualified and experienced as those working for a big company.

By being a small business builder, overheads (e.g. administration staff, office rental etc) are less, but they work to the same level of quality.

Get quotes from self-employed builders and talk directly with the person who is going to do the job.

Choosing a builder

When choosing a builder, get a few written quotes so you have a better understanding about what level of building work is being offered at different prices. Insist on being given a ‘written quote’ to avoid disputes over payment and job expectations at the end of the project. As building work can involve scaffolding, so discuss with the builder if it has included any scaffolding hire charges and if this is something that will still need to be added on to the final bill. Another charge to consider is skip hire. If there will be demolition work taking place at your home, then hiring a skip is a good option to avoid a lot of small trips to the tip clearing away the building debris.

Before making a decision on which builder to choose, ask what their payment terms are and if a big building project like house extension and loft conversions, can be paid in instalments in line with sections of the building work being completed. Unless you have specified specific building materials that they don’t normally supply, you should not be asked to pay any money upfront.

If you are getting large scale building work completed, it would be wise to see a portfolio of similar work carried out. Try to drop in to do a site visit on a current building project so that you can see the level of organisation on site, quality of materials being used, number of builders on site. Check any associations the builder is part of e.g. The National Federation of Builders (NFB).

Lastly, check what insurances you need to have in place with your own personal building and contents insurance, check to see if you need to make your insurers aware of work being carried out. Ask the builder about their insurance and how much public liability insurance they have (there should be a certificate to show you).

Building costs

Traditional bricks and mortar are only part of the complicated task of completing a large building project to enhance your home. A lot of building companies today have their own team for the core work onsite and subcontract for the rest, acting like a project manager. Costing a job is usually based on size. The larger it is the more you pay but your choice of materials will also affect the cost. If you choose to project manage you can choose smaller companies that have smaller overheads and better day rates to build your garage or lounge extension. You can purchase your own materials and negotiate the best rate for expensive items like bifolding doors.

Loft conversion cost

A full loft conversion to create another living space can cost from £30,000 depending on your location and the quality of the finish. Prices are rising and builders are booked up for months so getting a builder who is available is not an easy task. Why not try posting a job with HaMuch and get free quotes from available builders in your area. Loft conversions add value to your home and don’t require planning permission if they are of a good size. So if it’s a roof light conversion or a dormer loft conversion talking to a qualified builder will help get you started and save money.

House extension cost

Unless you have a cellar to convert or you want to build upwards a home extension is the next best way to add value to your home and give you extra living space. A budget extension can cost £20,000 and the average price is over £35,000 but this depends on the quality of your materials and glazing. Also you don’t need planning permission if you are extending out from your building for 3 metres or less. It is difficult to give an exact value but an extension could add an extra 15% to the price of your home, so that is worth considering before you start.

Conservatory cost

To build a conservatory costs an average of £15,000 but you can pay a lot more or less. They start from around £7,000 and can go up to over £50,000 and you have a choice of wood or upvc finish. An orangery with bifolding doors and roof lanterns are a popular alternative to a traditional conservatory and cost around £25,000. Seems a lot but, if you want to maximise your property size and have enough garden space, a conservatory is a great way to achieve more indoor space.

Before talking to the builder regarding a conservatory or extension, have an idea of the size you would like, the shape it should be built, if there is an existing driveway or patio that needs to be demolished first, any outside drains or outside bathroom pipe that might need to become inside drains or pipes and consider a style that will suit your home e.g. Edwardian or Victorian.

For conservatories, extensions, rebuilding external walls, window repairs… any building job involving windows, you can choose from standard double glazing to upgrades like self-cleaning glass or toughened glass. When choosing windows uPVC work with traditional and contemporary homes while sash windows are better suited to Victorian style homes.

As building work can involve changing the layout of a house, check if your project would require any planning permission before it goes ahead. Loft conversion means you may need to purchase the loft from the freeholder if you in a leasehold and some building works may require an architect to design the space and calculate the costings or a structural engineer to ensure the safety of the project.

How much do extensions, loft-conversions and other building work cost


Job details Estimate
Cost to fit windows, doors and conservatories £150
Cost to build a side return extension £46000
Cost to repoint or repair brickwork £305
Cost to remove a chimney breast £700
New fitted kitchen cost £10500
Cost to lay a new driveway £2400
Cost to fit a new bathroom £5000
Cheap fixed rate mortgage £4 %
Cost of a loft conversion £40000
Cost of home insurance £20 per month
Cost of contents insurance £12 per month
Cost of building insurance £10 per month
Cost to build a retaining wall £280
Basement conversion cost £28000
Building a conservatory including foundation £2000
Structure repair £800
Damp protection for internal walls £280 per wall
Damp protection for external walls £300 per wall
Rising damp treatment £280 per wall
Demolition of a garage £1000
Demolition of a patio, driveway, shed, outside space £800
Creating a dropped kerb £500
One room extension £2000
Multi room extension £2000 per room
Removal of old floor and laying a new floor £150 per room
Repairing floors by filling gaps, sanding, staining, sealing and securing loose floorboards £100 per room
Converting a garage into a bedroom £4000

Rates for other trades

Builder hourly rate and daily rate
Builder: Average Hourly and Daily Rates in the UK for 2023 (excluding VAT or callout charges)
Location in UKHourly RateDaily Rate
Builder near Aberdeen£25£250
Builder near Amber Valley£27£204
Builder near Angus£24£195
Builder near Arun£32£217
Builder near Ashfield£28£208
Builder near Aylesbury Vale£33£215
Builder near Barnsley£28£233
Builder near Basildon£35£221
Builder near Basingstoke & Deane£36£225
Builder near Bassetlaw£25£206
Builder near Bath & North East Somerset£28£218
Builder near Bedford£41£242
Builder near Belfast£20£132
Builder near Birmingham£24£193
Builder near Blackburn£34£193
Builder near Blackpool£25£178
Builder near Bolton£26£193
Builder near Bournemouth£33£221
Builder near Bracknell Forest£37£238
Builder near Bradford£27£199
Builder near Braintree£31£213
Builder near Breckland£21£178
Builder near Bridgend£29£182
Builder near Brighton£29£215
Builder near Bristol£28£217
Builder near Broadland£21£171
Builder near Broxtowe£27£204
Builder near Bury£28£198
Builder near Caerphilly£28£186
Builder near Calderdale£25£188
Builder near Cambridge£31£229
Builder near Canterbury£25£189
Builder near Cardiff£29£186
Builder near Carmarthenshire£22£179
Builder near Charnwood£24£181
Builder near Chelmsford£33£217
Builder near Cheltenham£27£220
Builder near Cherwell£30£222
Builder near Chester£27£189
Builder near Colchester£30£208
Builder near Conway£23£179
Builder near Coventry£24£190
Builder near Crewe & Nantwich£27£212
Builder near Dacorum£45£232
Builder near Derby£27£204
Builder near Doncaster£26£205
Builder near Dover£24£189
Builder near Dudley£24£193
Builder near Dumfries & Galloway£20£160
Builder near Dundee£25£204
Builder near East Ayrshire£21£188
Builder near East Devon£19£164
Builder near East Dunbartonshire£29£214
Builder near East Hampshire£33£221
Builder near East Hertfordshire£37£238
Builder near East Lindsey£25£195
Builder near East Riding£26£206
Builder near Eastleigh£30£220
Builder near Edinburgh£32£232
Builder near Elmbridge£41£236
Builder near Epping Forest£37£230
Builder near Erewash£27£202
Builder near Exeter£19£163
Builder near Falkirk£29£201
Builder near Fife£32£220
Builder near Flintshire£26£193
Builder near Gateshead£30£214
Builder near Gedling£27£205
Builder near Glasgow£31£236
Builder near Gloucester£26£206
Builder near Guildford£40£246
Builder near Gwynedd£19£153
Builder near Halton£27£188
Builder near Harrogate£25£191
Builder near Havant & Waterloo£30£215
Builder near Highland£19£190
Builder near Horsham£32£222
Builder near Huntingdonshire£36£241
Builder near Ipswich£27£193
Builder near Isle of Wight£31£217
Builder near Kings Lynn & West Norfolk£22£181
Builder near Kingston-upon-Hull£24£196
Builder near Kirklees£27£202
Builder near Knowsley£26£179
Builder near Lancaster£22£194
Builder near Leeds£25£197
Builder near Leicester£23£175
Builder near Lisburn£19£133
Builder near Liverpool£27£183
Builder near London£39£232
Builder near Luton£35£226
Builder near Macclesfield£29£197
Builder near Maidstone£36£229
Builder near Manchester£28£196
Builder near Mid Bedfordshire£38£237
Builder near Mid Sussex£30£215
Builder near Middlesbrough£38£203
Builder near Milton Keynes£38£231
Builder near Neath Port Talbot£26£185
Builder near New Forest£31£225
Builder near Newbury£32£221
Builder near Newcastle-under-Lyme£24£193
Builder near Newcastle-upon-Tyne£30£216
Builder near Newport£29£196
Builder near North Ayrshire£25£208
Builder near North East Lincolnshire£26£206
Builder near North Hertfordshire£37£237
Builder near North Lanarkshire£27£207
Builder near North Lincolnshire£22£179
Builder near North Somerset£28£217
Builder near North Tyneside£31£221
Builder near North Wiltshire£27£207
Builder near Northampton£34£216
Builder near Norwich£21£174
Builder near Nottingham£27£206
Builder near Nuneaton & Bedworth£24£191
Builder near Oldham£29£199
Builder near Oxford£31£227
Builder near Pembrokeshire£16£140
Builder near Perth & Kinross£32£212
Builder near Peterborough£34£236
Builder near Plymouth£28£204
Builder near Poole£34£224
Builder near Portsmouth£30£214
Builder near Powys£20£190
Builder near Preston£37£193
Builder near Reading£37£237
Builder near Redcar & Cleveland£32£206
Builder near Reigate & Banstead£38£237
Builder near Renfrewshire£32£246
Builder near Rhondda, Cynon, Taff£30£185
Builder near Rochdale£29£197
Builder near Rotherham£28£230
Builder near Salford£28£193
Builder near Salisbury£42£273
Builder near Sandwell£24£192
Builder near Scarborough£24£193
Builder near Scottish Borders£31£252
Builder near Sefton£27£185
Builder near Sevenoaks£38£230
Builder near Sheffield£29£237
Builder near Slough£43£240
Builder near Solihull£24£190
Builder near South Ayrshire£23£193
Builder near South Bedfordshire£41£242
Builder near South Cambridgeshire£33£234
Builder near South Gloucestershire£28£216
Builder near South Kesteven£26£186
Builder near South Lanarkshire£24£181
Builder near South Oxfordshire£33£230
Builder near South Somerset£28£249
Builder near South Tyneside£30£218
Builder near Southampton£30£219
Builder near Southend-on-Sea£34£210
Builder near St Albans£36£234
Builder near St Helens£26£180
Builder near Stafford£24£202
Builder near Stockport£29£200
Builder near Stockton-on-Tees£38£205
Builder near Stoke-on-Trent£25£194
Builder near Stratford-on-Avon£25£194
Builder near Stroud£26£205
Builder near Suffolk Coastal£23£184
Builder near Sunderland£30£213
Builder near Swale£35£207
Builder near Swansea£25£199
Builder near Tameside£29£200
Builder near Teignbridge£23£187
Builder near Tendring£27£199
Builder near Test Valley£29£208
Builder near Thamesdown£28£207
Builder near Thanet£21£171
Builder near The Wrekin£26£219
Builder near Thurrock£36£224
Builder near Torbay£25£204
Builder near Trafford£28£199
Builder near Vale of Glamorgan£31£193
Builder near Vale of White Horse£29£220
Builder near Vale Royal£26£196
Builder near Wakefield£26£200
Builder near Walsall£24£193
Builder near Warrington£27£196
Builder near Warwick£24£192
Builder near Waveney£24£195
Builder near Waverley£43£247
Builder near Wealden£27£211
Builder near West Lancashire£26£183
Builder near West Lothian£31£224
Builder near West Wiltshire£27£207
Builder near Wigan£26£188
Builder near Windsor & Maidenhead£43£240
Builder near Wirral£27£184
Builder near Wokingham£36£236
Builder near Wolverhampton£24£193
Builder near Wrexham Maelor£26£204
Builder near Wychavon£24£196
Builder near Wycombe£34£234
Builder near York£25£186