UK National Minimum Wage 2026: What Is Changing in April?
Published: 14 March 2026
The UK National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates are increasing from 1 April 2026. The new National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over rises to £12.71 per hour, up from £12.21, while 18-20 year olds see the largest percentage increase at 8.5%. Whether you are a small business owner checking pay compliance, an employee verifying your hourly rate, or an HR manager preparing for the annual pay review, this guide covers every rate, every age bracket, and what you need to do before April.
National Minimum Wage and Living Wage Rates from April 2026
The table below shows the rates that will apply from 1 April 2026, alongside the current rates (from April 2025) for comparison:
| Age Bracket | April 2025 | April 2026 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 and over (NLW) | £12.21 | £12.71 | +£0.50 (4.1%) |
| 18-20 | £10.00 | £10.85 | +£0.85 (8.5%) |
| Under 18 | £7.55 | £8.00 | +£0.45 (6.0%) |
| Apprentice | £7.55 | £8.00 | +£0.45 (6.0%) |
The 18-20 rate sees the largest percentage increase at 8.5%, continuing the Government's stated aim of narrowing the gap between younger worker rates and the full NLW.
How Much Will a Full-Time Worker Earn on the 2026 Minimum Wage?
For a worker aged 21 or over working a standard 37.5-hour week, the increase from £12.21 to £12.71 per hour means:
- £18.75 more per week (£0.50 x 37.5 hours)
- £975 more per year (£18.75 x 52 weeks)
- A new annual gross salary of approximately £24,783 for full-time NLW workers (up from £23,809)
For an 18-20 year old on the same hours, the annual increase is even larger at £1,657.50 per year.
Free National Minimum Wage Checker Tool
We have built a free National Minimum Wage Checker that lets you:
- Check current compliance: Enter a worker's age bracket and hourly rate to see if they meet the April 2025 minimum, and whether their pay will still be compliant when the April 2026 rates take effect.
- Run a historical check: Select any year from April 2018 onwards to verify whether a rate that was paid in the past met the legal minimum at the time. This is especially useful if you suspect you were underpaid in a previous job.
- Compare all rates: View a full table of every NLW and NMW rate from 2018 to 2026, including the age threshold changes over the years.
The tool runs entirely in your browser, requires no sign-up, and does not store any data.
How to Check If You Were Underpaid in a Previous Year
One of the most common reasons people search for minimum wage information is to check whether they were paid correctly in a previous role. The legal minimum changes every April, and it is not always obvious which rate applied at the time, especially given that the age threshold for the top rate has changed twice in recent years:
- Before April 2021, the NLW only applied to workers aged 25 and over.
- From April 2021, the threshold dropped to 23 and over.
- From April 2024, it dropped again to 21 and over.
This means a 22-year-old in 2020 was entitled to the lower 21-24 rate, but a 22-year-old in 2024 is entitled to the full NLW. Our historical checker handles all of these threshold changes automatically.
What Should Employers Do Before April 2026?
If you employ staff, the April rate change is not optional. Here is a checklist to make sure your business is ready:
- Audit all hourly rates against the new April 2026 minimums before the end of March.
- Check age brackets carefully. A worker who turns 21 during the year becomes entitled to the full NLW from the start of the next pay reference period after their birthday.
- Review apprentice pay. Apprentices who are 19 or over and past their first year are entitled to the standard age rate, not the apprentice rate.
- Update payroll systems so the new rates take effect from 1 April 2026.
- Keep records. HMRC can investigate underpayment claims going back six years, so accurate payroll records are essential.
Related Tools
- Free Minimum Wage Checker - check current and historical rates
- Pro-Rata Calculator - calculate pro-rata salary and holiday entitlement
- Bradford Factor Calculator - measure absence impact
Frequently Asked Questions
The National Living Wage increases to £12.71 per hour from 1 April 2026. It applies to all workers aged 21 and over.
The National Living Wage (NLW) is the highest minimum rate and applies to workers aged 21 and over. The National Minimum Wage (NMW) refers to the lower rates that apply to workers aged 18-20, under 18, and apprentices. Both are legally enforceable.
From 1 April 2026, workers aged 18-20 are entitled to at least £10.85 per hour, up from £10.00.
You can use our historical minimum wage checker to verify the rate that applied during the period you were employed. If you were paid below the legal minimum, you can raise the issue with your employer or contact ACAS for advice. HMRC can investigate underpayment claims going back six years.
Apprentices aged under 19, or those aged 19 and over but in the first year of their apprenticeship, are entitled to the apprentice rate (£8.00 from April 2026). All other apprentices are entitled to the standard age-related rate.
The new rates take effect on 1 April 2026. Employers must ensure all pay from that date meets or exceeds the new minimums.