See local extension builder rates for 2024

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How much you pay for a builder will depend on the type of job you want them to do and your location. For small jobs they will usually charge an hourly rate, while larger, more complex jobs will be charged at a day rate. 

At HaMuch, our database of hourly and daily rates of extension builders in the UK helps you to get an idea of how much your building job will cost. Find out the average hour and day rates in our guide below. 

Builder hourly rate

Builder hourly rate

Builders will usually charge an hourly rate for a smaller job like installing an RSJ or a concrete foundation for a shed. The average hourly rate for a builder is £29, but it can range from £16 - £39.

You’ll usually pay more per hour for your builder if you live in the south of the UK or in major cities. Rates are lower in the north of England and Wales where the cost of living tends to be lower.

Builder day rate

For larger projects that will take at least a day, builders will usually give you a day rate. They may also decide to give you a fixed price for labour and materials. Jobs that are usually charged by the day include loft conversions, garage conversions and flat roof extensions. 

The average day rate for a builder is £208, but this will vary depending on where you live. The cheapest day rate we have on our database is £135 (Belfast), while the highest is £248 (Aberdeen).

Take a look at our UK builder rates table to get a more accurate idea of rates in your nearest town or city. HaMuch has members across the country who display their rates so you can see how much they charge before you make contact with them.

Rates for common building jobs

a two-storey house with scaffolding around it as an extension is built
Two storey extension

Average rate: £250 per day, at least 2 builders

Average time: 12 weeks (5 days per week)

Average material cost: £60,000 (including party wall surveys and other paperwork)

A two-storey extension is a big job, and many tradespeople, like plasterers and electricians, are involved. If you are managing the project yourself and hire builders separately from other trades, you’re likely to spend £250 per day, per builder. A two-storey extension will cost around £60,000 in materials and planning/documentation, bringing the total cost to at least £90,000.

a row of houses' rooflines with dormers protruding from the roofs
Dormer loft conversion

Average rate: £210 per builder per day

Average time: 6 weeks

Average material cost: £11,500

A dormer loft conversion is ideal if you need some extra headroom in your loft to make it useable. The builders will add a box-like structure to your roofline which will give you more space for a bedroom, office or playroom. Expect to pay at least £210 per day per builder for at least two builders, plus material costs of £11,500 for a single dormer, making the total cost £26,000.

a white electric car in a modern sleek garage with lights on
Build a garage

Average rate: £210 per builder per day

Average time: 3 weeks for a single garage

Average material cost: £12,000

Garages are still highly sought after, whether to house vehicles in or to use as extra storage space. If you don’t already have one, or you’ve converted your old garage into a living space, you can build another one for around £6,500 in labour costs and £12,000 in material costs, making the total £18,500.

Your checklist for finding and comparing builder rates

1. Define your project

Before you start looking for a builder, make sure you have a clear understanding of the work you want done. Whether you’re planning an extension, converting a loft or simply renovating a room, knowing exactly what you want will help you communicate effectively with builders and ensure you get accurate quotes. Create a list of tasks, include your desired materials, and think about any additional features you may want, such as underfloor heating, skylights or specific fixtures.

For larger projects, you may want to have architectural plans or designs drawn up in advance. Builders can then provide quotes based on these plans, making the process more transparent and straightforward.

2. Consider independent builders

Independent builders can offer significant benefits over larger firms. They often have lower overhead costs, which means they can charge more competitive rates while maintaining a high standard of workmanship. Independent building companies also tend to provide more personalised service, as you're likely to deal directly with the person managing your project.

Don’t be put off by lower rates - many independent builders have years of experience and are highly skilled. In fact, their flexibility and personal investment in the success of the project often make them a better choice for smaller or bespoke builds. However, it’s important to get the balance right between lower rates and good service. Extremely low rates could mean the building firm has less experience or cuts corners.

3. Get multiple quotes and read reviews

It’s always a good idea to obtain at least three quotes from different builders. This will give you a better understanding of the market rate and allow you to compare services. When comparing quotes, make sure they are itemised and include labour, materials and any subcontracted work. If one quote is significantly cheaper than the others, find out why - there may be hidden costs or compromises on quality.

Plus, take the time to research reviews online. Ask the builder for examples of previous projects, and if possible, contact previous clients to get feedback on their experience and the quality of the builder's work.

4. Verify insurance, qualifications, and experience

Hiring a skilled and experienced builder is essential, especially for large or complex projects. You should check that the builder has public liability insurance to cover any accidents or damage to your property. If your project involves structural work, such as knocking down walls or extending your home, the builder should also have employer’s liability insurance, and it's worth checking whether they are covered by the Federation of Master Builders or another recognised trade association.

In terms of qualifications, builders may hold NVQs or City & Guilds certifications in construction. Experienced builders should have a solid portfolio of past work to demonstrate their skills. Don’t hesitate to ask about their specific experience with the type of project you’re planning; someone with extensive experience in home extensions might not be the best choice for a listed building renovation, for instance.

5. Discuss payment terms

Before work begins, make sure you fully understand the payment terms. Large building projects often require staged payments, with a deposit paid upfront and the rest split into instalments, usually in line with key project milestones. This could include payments after the foundation is laid, once the roof is completed, and so on.

Be sure to clarify whether the builder is VAT registered and whether VAT is included in the quote. Always insist on a written contract that outlines payment terms, milestones and completion dates to protect both parties.

6. Compare timeframes and availability

When gathering quotes, also ask about the builder's availability and estimated timeframe for completing the project. Some builders might offer a lower rate but have a long waiting list, which could delay your project. Others might promise quick completion but could end up rushing the job. Look for a balance between quality, price and timeline. Be wary of builders who can start immediately - it could be a sign that they are not in high demand, or they may not have ongoing projects.

How to prepare for your builder’s visit

  • Organise parking and access: Make sure there is adequate parking for your builder’s vehicle or van. If your area requires a parking permit or if there are restrictions, arrange this in advance to avoid any delays on the day. For longer projects, discuss whether you need to allocate a consistent parking spot or permit throughout the duration of the work.

  • Clear the work area: Ensure the workspace is clear and accessible before the builder arrives. If they're working indoors, remove furniture, personal items and valuables from the areas where they’ll be working to protect them from dust, dirt and potential damage. Outdoors, clear garden furniture, plants, or toys if the project involves external work like extensions or landscaping.

  • Consider alternative living arrangements: If your project is extensive, you may also want to consider alternative living arrangements if the disruption becomes significant, particularly for kitchen or bathroom renovations.

  • Discuss power and water supply: If your project involves a lot of work, such as digging foundations or working with power tools, ensure the builder has access to electricity and water. You may need to make provisions for outdoor access to these utilities, especially if the work involves external areas of the house or garden.

  • Prepare for noise and disruption: Building work, especially in larger projects like extensions or renovations, can be disruptive. Prepare yourself and your household for periods of noise, dust and mess. Communicate with your builder about their daily working hours and how they plan to minimise disruption. If possible, schedule the work for a time when it will have the least impact on your daily life.

By following these steps, you’ll be well-prepared for your builder’s visit, ensuring the project goes smoothly and efficiently. 

Ready to find a builder for your project? Post your job on HaMuch now and connect with trusted local builders in your area.


Extension builder job costs in your home

Rates for other trades

Extension Builder hourly rate and daily rate
Extension Builder: Average Hourly and Daily Rates in the UK for 2024 (excluding VAT or callout charges)
Location in UKHourly RateDaily Rate
Extension Builder near Aberdeen£26£248
Extension Builder near Amber Valley£28£211
Extension Builder near Angus£28£216
Extension Builder near Arun£31£218
Extension Builder near Ashfield£28£213
Extension Builder near Aylesbury Vale£34£230
Extension Builder near Barnsley£28£222
Extension Builder near Basildon£35£224
Extension Builder near Basingstoke & Deane£35£230
Extension Builder near Bassetlaw£27£217
Extension Builder near Bath & North East Somerset£29£223
Extension Builder near Bedford£36£238
Extension Builder near Belfast£20£135
Extension Builder near Birmingham£25£198
Extension Builder near Blackburn£30£195
Extension Builder near Blackpool£25£185
Extension Builder near Bolton£27£197
Extension Builder near Bournemouth£33£224
Extension Builder near Bracknell Forest£36£237
Extension Builder near Bradford£26£201
Extension Builder near Braintree£32£218
Extension Builder near Breckland£24£189
Extension Builder near Bridgend£28£188
Extension Builder near Brighton£31£220
Extension Builder near Bristol£29£222
Extension Builder near Broadland£22£177
Extension Builder near Broxtowe£28£210
Extension Builder near Bury£28£198
Extension Builder near Caerphilly£30£188
Extension Builder near Calderdale£26£196
Extension Builder near Cambridge£33£233
Extension Builder near Canterbury£27£200
Extension Builder near Cardiff£30£189
Extension Builder near Carmarthenshire£24£190
Extension Builder near Charnwood£26£194
Extension Builder near Chelmsford£34£224
Extension Builder near Cheltenham£28£220
Extension Builder near Cherwell£32£227
Extension Builder near Chester£28£199
Extension Builder near Colchester£29£204
Extension Builder near Conway£23£178
Extension Builder near Coventry£25£193
Extension Builder near Crewe & Nantwich£26£198
Extension Builder near Dacorum£39£236
Extension Builder near Derby£28£209
Extension Builder near Doncaster£27£215
Extension Builder near Dover£26£196
Extension Builder near Dudley£25£197
Extension Builder near Dumfries & Galloway£18£145
Extension Builder near Dundee£30£223
Extension Builder near East Ayrshire£23£179
Extension Builder near East Devon£23£189
Extension Builder near East Dunbartonshire£29£214
Extension Builder near East Hampshire£33£225
Extension Builder near East Hertfordshire£37£239
Extension Builder near East Lindsey£25£184
Extension Builder near East Riding£26£198
Extension Builder near Eastleigh£30£214
Extension Builder near Edinburgh£33£236
Extension Builder near Elmbridge£38£237
Extension Builder near Epping Forest£38£235
Extension Builder near Erewash£28£209
Extension Builder near Exeter£23£187
Extension Builder near Falkirk£29£205
Extension Builder near Fife£34£240
Extension Builder near Flintshire£28£198
Extension Builder near Gateshead£30£209
Extension Builder near Gedling£28£211
Extension Builder near Glasgow£30£223
Extension Builder near Gloucester£27£211
Extension Builder near Guildford£37£240
Extension Builder near Gwynedd£19£153
Extension Builder near Halton£27£193
Extension Builder near Harrogate£26£196
Extension Builder near Havant & Waterloo£31£216
Extension Builder near Highland£19£190
Extension Builder near Horsham£33£228
Extension Builder near Huntingdonshire£36£239
Extension Builder near Ipswich£27£195
Extension Builder near Isle of Wight£30£214
Extension Builder near Kings Lynn & West Norfolk£26£204
Extension Builder near Kingston-upon-Hull£25£195
Extension Builder near Kirklees£26£201
Extension Builder near Knowsley£27£192
Extension Builder near Lancaster£23£189
Extension Builder near Leeds£26£200
Extension Builder near Leicester£25£188
Extension Builder near Lisburn£20£136
Extension Builder near Liverpool£27£192
Extension Builder near London£38£235
Extension Builder near Luton£36£233
Extension Builder near Macclesfield£28£201
Extension Builder near Maidstone£34£230
Extension Builder near Manchester£28£198
Extension Builder near Mid Bedfordshire£36£237
Extension Builder near Mid Sussex£32£224
Extension Builder near Middlesbrough£38£207
Extension Builder near Milton Keynes£35£230
Extension Builder near Neath Port Talbot£26£193
Extension Builder near New Forest£31£222
Extension Builder near Newbury£32£228
Extension Builder near Newcastle Upon Tyne£30£209
Extension Builder near Newcastle-under-Lyme£25£197
Extension Builder near Newport£30£193
Extension Builder near North Ayrshire£28£212
Extension Builder near North East Lincolnshire£26£202
Extension Builder near North Hertfordshire£37£238
Extension Builder near North Lanarkshire£28£210
Extension Builder near North Lincolnshire£24£190
Extension Builder near North Somerset£29£221
Extension Builder near North Tyneside£30£211
Extension Builder near North Wiltshire£28£215
Extension Builder near Northampton£34£217
Extension Builder near Norwich£22£178
Extension Builder near Nottingham£28£211
Extension Builder near Nuneaton & Bedworth£25£194
Extension Builder near Oldham£28£199
Extension Builder near Oxford£32£230
Extension Builder near Pembrokeshire£16£137
Extension Builder near Perth & Kinross£32£237
Extension Builder near Peterborough£34£232
Extension Builder near Plymouth£29£207
Extension Builder near Poole£34£225
Extension Builder near Portsmouth£30£215
Extension Builder near Powys£20£172
Extension Builder near Preston£30£192
Extension Builder near Reading£35£236
Extension Builder near Redcar & Cleveland£35£210
Extension Builder near Reigate & Banstead£38£236
Extension Builder near Renfrewshire£30£229
Extension Builder near Rhondda, Cynon, Taff£29£189
Extension Builder near Rochdale£28£198
Extension Builder near Rotherham£28£228
Extension Builder near Salford£28£197
Extension Builder near Salisbury£37£243
Extension Builder near Sandwell£25£197
Extension Builder near Scarborough£25£198
Extension Builder near Scottish Borders£31£245
Extension Builder near Sefton£27£191
Extension Builder near Sevenoaks£38£233
Extension Builder near Sheffield£29£231
Extension Builder near Slough£38£238
Extension Builder near Solihull£25£195
Extension Builder near South Ayrshire£27£205
Extension Builder near South Bedfordshire£36£238
Extension Builder near South Cambridgeshire£34£237
Extension Builder near South Gloucestershire£29£221
Extension Builder near South Kesteven£27£193
Extension Builder near South Lanarkshire£27£206
Extension Builder near South Oxfordshire£33£232
Extension Builder near South Somerset£29£223
Extension Builder near South Tyneside£30£210
Extension Builder near Southampton£30£214
Extension Builder near Southend-on-Sea£33£218
Extension Builder near St Albans£37£237
Extension Builder near St Helens£27£193
Extension Builder near Stafford£26£202
Extension Builder near Stockport£28£199
Extension Builder near Stockton-on-Tees£38£210
Extension Builder near Stoke-on-Trent£25£197
Extension Builder near Stratford-on-Avon£26£199
Extension Builder near Stroud£27£210
Extension Builder near Suffolk Coastal£26£195
Extension Builder near Sunderland£30£208
Extension Builder near Swale£32£216
Extension Builder near Swansea£25£197
Extension Builder near Tameside£28£199
Extension Builder near Teignbridge£24£196
Extension Builder near Tendring£27£198
Extension Builder near Test Valley£30£213
Extension Builder near Thamesdown£28£209
Extension Builder near Thanet£24£185
Extension Builder near The Wrekin£26£205
Extension Builder near Thurrock£36£230
Extension Builder near Torbay£24£201
Extension Builder near Trafford£28£198
Extension Builder near Vale of Glamorgan£29£192
Extension Builder near Vale of White Horse£30£222
Extension Builder near Vale Royal£28£200
Extension Builder near Wakefield£26£202
Extension Builder near Walsall£25£199
Extension Builder near Warrington£27£196
Extension Builder near Warwick£25£193
Extension Builder near Waveney£22£182
Extension Builder near Waverley£38£240
Extension Builder near Wealden£29£218
Extension Builder near West Lancashire£27£191
Extension Builder near West Lothian£31£224
Extension Builder near West Wiltshire£28£215
Extension Builder near Wigan£27£195
Extension Builder near Windsor & Maidenhead£38£238
Extension Builder near Wirral£28£192
Extension Builder near Wokingham£36£236
Extension Builder near Wolverhampton£25£198
Extension Builder near Wrexham Maelor£28£204
Extension Builder near Wychavon£26£201
Extension Builder near Wycombe£35£237
Extension Builder near York£25£192