Day rate calculator for UK trades.

Add what you want to earn in a year to your yearly business costs, then divide by the days you can actually charge for. Take off holidays, bank holidays and quiet weeks, and the time you spend quoting, buying materials and doing paperwork.

No. The income figure is before tax and NI. If you want a take-home figure, add what you expect to pay in tax and NI to the income, or ask your accountant.

Because you can't bill every day. Once holidays, bad weather, travel, quoting and admin come out, many sole traders bill far fewer days than they think. Every unpaid day has to be covered by the paid ones.

Use the day rate to check your job prices, not necessarily to quote with. Pricing per item, per m² or per job usually wins more work, as long as it adds up to your day rate on the time the job takes.