Builder day rates in Scotland
Scotland · 2026
£235–£390
per day, ex VAT
£29–£49
per hour
-3%
vs UK average
A general builder working in Scotland typically charges £235–£390 a day (£29–£49 an hour), ex VAT — 3% below the UK average of £320 a day. The central belt sits close to the national average, while Highlands and islands work commands travel and accommodation premiums that can push effective rates well above it.
Bigger jobs are almost always priced per project rather than per day, so the day rate mostly applies to labour-only arrangements and smaller works. A builder acting as main contractor and managing subbies prices the responsibility, not just the hours.
What moves a general builder's rate
- 01Whether the job is priced per project (most extensions) or labour-only day rate
- 02Supervision of other trades — a builder running the job charges more than one supplying labour
- 03Structural work requiring building-control sign-off
- 04Plant and skip hire either passed through or absorbed
Scotland vs everywhere else
| London | £325–£540 |
| South East | £275–£460 |
| East of England | £250–£420 |
| South West | £240–£400 |
| Scotland | £235–£390 |
| West Midlands | £230–£385 |
| North West | £225–£375 |
| East Midlands | £220–£370 |
| Yorkshire | £215–£360 |
| Wales | £215–£355 |
| North East | £205–£340 |
| Northern Ireland | £195–£330 |
Charging £315? Prove it's enough.
The market range is the market's number. Yours depends on your overheads, your tax pot and how many days you actually bill. Run it through the calculator, then send the quote while the number's fresh.
Other trades in Scotland
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Indicative ranges compiled from public cost guides, reviewed July 2026. Ex VAT. A guide, not a quote, and not financial advice.