Updated October 2026
Not yet announced · expected around the 28 October 2026 Budget

UK Minimum Wage from April 2027

The April 2027 rates have not been announced yet. They are expected around the Autumn Budget on Wednesday 28 October 2026 and take effect on 1 April 2027. Until then the National Living Wage stays at £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over. This page will be updated with the confirmed figures.

April 2026 vs April 2027 rates

Rate From 1 Apr 2026 From 1 Apr 2027 Increase
National Living Wage (21 and over) £12.71 TBC —
18 to 20 rate £10.85 TBC —
Under 18 rate £8.00 TBC —
Apprentice rate £8.00 TBC —

Current rates: GOV.UK National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates (from 1 April 2026). 2027 column shows TBC until the Government confirms the rates.

When will the 2027 rates be announced?

In March 2026 the Government asked the Low Pay Commission to recommend rates for 1 April 2027 and to send its advice by the end of October 2026. Last year’s rates were announced alongside the Autumn Budget, and this year’s Budget is on Wednesday 28 October 2026. Employers then have until 1 April 2027 to update payroll.

Source: GOV.UK — Low Pay Commission remit 2026.

What the Low Pay Commission was asked to do

  • Keep two-thirds of median hourly earnings as the key reference point for the National Living Wage.
  • Weigh the labour market, the cost of living (including inflation forecasts for April 2027 to March 2028), the impact on business and the wider economy.
  • Consider how to bring the 18–20 rate closer to the National Living Wage, while protecting job prospects for young workers.

Age bands could change. When the 2026 rates were set, the Commission indicated that 20-year-olds may become entitled to the National Living Wage in 2027. If that happens, a 20-year-old on £10.85 today would move to the adult rate from 1 April 2027.

Check your pay now

The 2026/27 rates apply until 31 March 2027. Use the Minimum Wage Checker to see if you are paid enough today, the take-home calculator for pay after tax, or the minimum wage history for every rate since 1999.

Frequently Asked Questions

The April 2027 rates have not been confirmed yet. The Low Pay Commission was asked to send its recommendations to the Government by the end of October 2026, and the new rates are expected to be announced around the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026. Until then the current rates apply: £12.71 (21+), £10.85 (18–20) and £8.00 (under 18 and apprentices).
New National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates take effect on 1 April each year. The 2027 rates will apply from 1 April 2027, so pay for any work done from that date must meet the new rate.
The independent Low Pay Commission recommends the rates and the Government decides them. For 2027 the Government asked the Commission to treat two-thirds of median hourly earnings as the key reference point for the National Living Wage, while also weighing the labour market, the cost of living, the impact on business and wider economic conditions.
Possibly. The Government has said it wants to end age bands for adults, and when it set the 2026 rates the Low Pay Commission indicated that 20-year-olds could become entitled to the National Living Wage in 2027. This is only confirmed once the Government announces the 2027 rates.
No. The real Living Wage (£14.10 UK, £15.45 London, announced 15 October 2026) is a voluntary rate set by the Living Wage Foundation. The National Living Wage is the legal minimum set by the Government and changes on 1 April.

About this guide

This calculator is maintained by UKMinimumWage.co.uk using published GOV.UK rates for 2026/27. Last updated October 2026. This site is not HMRC-endorsed.