Prices for Tradesmen in the UK

Find average hourly and daily rates for trusted professionals across the country.

Car Mechanics: UK Rates Deep Dive

1. Current Averages & Range

According to HaMuch, the average UK car mechanic hourly rate is £46, with a low of £25/hr and high of £80/hr, plus respective daily rates from £80 to £300.
Checkatrade (as of 2024) offers broader context:
- Garage mechanic: £40–£80/hr, average £60/hr.
- Mobile mechanic: £25–£60/hr, average £45/hr, plus a call-out fee of £45–£85.

2. Regional & Dealer Variations

A Regit/What Car? analysis shows a UK average of £76/hr for independent garages (Cheapest in Huddersfield: £47/hr, Most expensive in SW London: £141/hr).
A 2025 overview shows main dealers average £99/hr, independent garages £67/hr, and fast-fit chains £55/hr.

3. Real-World Voices (Reddit)

“Just had a clutch cable replaced… mechanics hourly rate was £70. Never took any notice… That’s pretty reasonable tbh.”
“Main dealers will be around £150-£250 per hour. Standard independent £100… Fast-fit places £70 per hour.”

Takeaway: There’s a stark spread—£40/hr might be cheap, £70–100 is typical, and anything over £150–200/hr is premium dealer-level.

Carpenter & Joiner: Updated Benchmarks

1. National Averages (Yell & Checkatrade)

General carpentry rates are around £30–£45/hr, with day rates between £240–£360.
Fine woodworking commands a higher rate of £30–£40+/hr.

2. Regional Variations (PriceYourJob)

A London carpenter may charge £20–£25/hr (£160–£250/day).
In Manchester, rates are slightly lower at £15–£20/hr (£150–£280/day).

3. Task-Specific Pricing

Hanging a door: ~£37.50/hr or a flat fee of ~£120.
Bespoke wardrobes: £800–£3000 including installation.
Decking: ~£100/m²; flooring varying £45–£55/m².

Summary: Carpenter/joiner hourly rates span approximately £20–£45/hr, with daily rates between £160–£360 depending on region, complexity, and self-employed status.

Consolidated Snapshot

Car Mechanics (UK)

Type/Context	Hourly Rate	Notes
Mobile Mechanics	£25–£60	Lower overheads; call-out fees often apply
General Garage (avg)	£60	Average across multiple sources
Independent Garages (avg)	£67–£76	Ranges widely, from Huddersfield (£47) to SW London (£141)
Main Dealers	£99	National average
Specialist / High-End	£150–£250+	Dealer or luxury vehicles

Carpenters & Joiners (UK)

Type/Context	Hourly Rate	Daily Rate	Notes
General (national avg)	£30–£45	£240–£360	Checkatrade and Yell data
Fine woodworking	£35–£40	–	Bespoke craftsmanship
London-specific	£20–£25	£160–£250	London mark-up
Manchester/Regional	£20–£21	£160–£200	Regional lower-end rates
Self-employed day rate	–	~£300	Reflects costs of business

Devil’s Advocate: What to Question

Day rate vs scaled hours: Some “day rates” may include non-billable setup, travel, or admin time. Confirm what’s actually counted as a “work day.”
VAT confusion: Ensure whether listings include VAT—averages often omit VAT, while real bills might include it.
Job type matters significantly: Routine jobs cost less—specialist diagnostics or bespoke joinery push rates to the higher end.
Region warping your averages: London or specialized main dealers skew averages upward when UK-wide data gets pooled.
Self-employed overheads: Tools, materials, insurance, van costs—the real earnings are much lower than headline billable rates.

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