Rate of record
Minimum wage from 1 April 2027
The National Living Wage rises to £13.21 an hour for workers aged 21 and over on 1 April 2027. The 18 to 20 rate rises to £11.27 and the 16 to 17 and apprentice rates to £8.31. The government accepted the Low Pay Commission's advice in full on 28 October 2026.
Rates from 1 April 2027, per band
| Band | 2026/27 | 2027/28 | Δ £ | Δ % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21+ NLW | £12.71 | £13.21 | +£0.50 | +3.9% |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 | £11.27 | +£0.42 | +3.9% |
| 16 to 17 | £8.00 | £8.31 | +£0.31 | +3.9% |
| Apprentice | £8.00 | £8.31 | +£0.31 | +3.9% |
| Offset / day | £11.10 | £11.53 | +£0.43 | +3.9% |
Hourly rates except the accommodation offset, which is per day. Source: GOV.UK minimum wage rates page and the Low Pay Commission's 2027 advice, both checked 29 October 2026gov.ukgov.uk.
What the rise is worth in a year
Our arithmetic: the hourly rise multiplied by the hours shown and 52 weeks, before tax and National Insurance.
- NLW, 37.5 hours a week: £495.38 a week, £975 more a year than at £12.71.
- 18 to 20, 37.5 hours a week: £422.63 a week, £819 more a year.
- 16 to 17 or apprentice, 20 hours a week: £166.20 a week, £322 more a year.
For your own hours, use the take-home calculator (it runs on the rates in force today).
Why 3.9%
The government's remit asks the Low Pay Commission to treat two-thirds of median hourly earnings as the key reference point for the NLW. The LPC estimated that reaching it in April 2027 would need £13.44 (5.7%). It recommended £13.21 (3.9%) instead, citing weak labour demand, and said the rate still makes progress towards the reference pointgov.uk.
The 18-20 rate: alignment paused for a year
The 2026 remit restates the government's commitment to align the 18-20 rate with the NLW, and gives the LPC full flexibility over the pace, with priority on the employment prospects of younger workersgov.uk. For April 2027 the LPC recommended pausing alignment: the 18-20 rate rises by the same 3.9% as the NLW, so the gap widens slightly in cash terms, from £1.86 to £1.94 an hourgov.uk.
Accepted in full
Questions
What will the minimum wage be in April 2027?
From 1 April 2027 the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £13.21 an hour. The 18 to 20 rate is £11.27, and the 16 to 17 and apprentice rates are £8.31. Confirmed on 28 October 2026, when the government accepted the Low Pay Commission's advice in full.
How much is the National Living Wage going up in 2027?
By 50p, from £12.71 to £13.21, a rise of 3.9%. Every other band rises by the same 3.9%.
When do the 2027 rates start?
1 April 2027. Until then the 2026/27 rates apply (£12.71 for 21 and over). The new rate applies from the first pay reference period that starts on or after 1 April 2027.
Is the 18-20 rate being merged with the National Living Wage in 2027?
No, not in 2027. The Low Pay Commission recommended pausing alignment and raising the 18-20 rate by the same 3.9% as the NLW, to £11.27. The government's remit still commits to aligning the rates, with the pace left to the LPC.