Rate of record
18 to 20 minimum wage: £10.85 from 1 April 2026
The 18-20 band sits between the 16-17 rate and the NLW. From 1 April 2026 it is £10.85/hr, and it rises to £11.27 on 1 April 2027. The government is committed to aligning it with the 21+ NLW; the Low Pay Commission paused that for 2027.
18 to 20
18-20The rate, in numbers
- £10.85 per hour, effective 1 April 2026gov.uk
- £406.88 per 37.5-hour week
- £22,568 gross annual (40h)
- £10.85 vs NLW £12.71 - gap of £1.86/hr
Where the 18-20 band is heading
The government's remit commits to aligning the 18-20 rate with the NLW and gives the Low Pay Commission full flexibility over the pace and timing, with priority on younger workers' employment prospectsgov.uk. The 2025 uplift was 16.3% and the 2026 uplift 8.5%. For 1 April 2027 the LPC paused alignment: the rate rises 3.9% to £11.27, the same percentage as the NLW, so the hourly gap goes from £1.86 to £1.94gov.uk.
What happens on the 21st birthday
The worker becomes NLW-eligible in the first pay reference period starting on or after their 21st birthday. The employer must update the rate or risk a back-pay claim.