Rate of record
National Living Wage: £12.71 from 1 April 2026
The National Living Wage is the statutory minimum hourly rate for workers aged 21 and over. From 1 April 2026 it is £12.71. The 23+ threshold was dropped to 21+ on 1 April 2024.
National Living Wage
21+The rate, in numbers
- £12.71 per hour, effective 1 April 2026gov.uk
- £476.63 per 37.5-hour week
- £508.40 per 40-hour week
- £24,785 gross annual (37.5h)
- £26,437 gross annual (40h)
Who it covers
All workers aged 21 and over. The threshold was 25 from 2016 to 2021, 23 from 2021 to 2024, and 21 from 1 April 2024. The 18-20 band still exists. The government's remit commits to aligning it with the NLW and leaves the pace to the Low Pay Commissiongov.uk.
Uplift versus 2025/26
The NLW rose from £12.21 to £12.71, an uplift of 4.1%. For a full-time NLW worker on a 37.5-hour week that is roughly £975 more per year gross.
The next rate: £13.21 from 1 April 2027
The NLW rises 50p (3.9%) to £13.21 on 1 April 2027. The Low Pay Commission's remit uses two-thirds of median hourly earnings for those aged 21 and over as the key reference point; the LPC estimated reaching it would need £13.44 and recommended £13.21, which the government accepted in full on 28 October 2026gov.uk. See minimum wage April 2027 for every band.