UK Minimum Wage Checker2026/27
The National Living Wage rises to £12.71 per hour from 1 April 2026, covering all workers aged 21 and over. Check whether your pay rates are compliant — before HMRC does.
Enter age, salary, and hours. Our checker flags breaches, calculates the accommodation offset, and handles apprentice rate rules automatically.
All Minimum Wage Rates — 2026/27
All four NMW and NLW rates rise from 1 April 2026 following Low Pay Commission recommendations. The 18–20 age band sees the largest percentage increase at 18.4%, continuing the Government's drive to close the gap with the NLW. These rates apply to every pay reference period starting on or after 1 April 2026.
Age 21+ (National Living Wage)
£12.71/hr
Up from £12.21 — +5.0%
Age 18–20
£10.18/hr
Up from £8.60 — +18.4%
Under 18
£8.00/hr
Up from £6.40 — +17.9%
Apprentice Rate
£8.00/hr
Up from £6.40 — +17.9%
Accommodation Offset
£10.66/day
Maximum deductible from NMW pay
Applies from
1 Apr 2026
Tax year 2026/27
The Statutory Framework
The National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) are set annually by the Government following recommendations from the independent Low Pay Commission (LPC). All employers in the UK, regardless of size or sector, are legally required to pay at least the applicable rate.
The NLW — which applies to workers aged 21 and over — has a specific Government target: to reach two-thirds of median earnings. The 2026 increase to £12.71 keeps the NLW on track toward that goal. Younger workers and apprentices are covered by separate NMW rates, also set by the LPC.
HMRC enforces NMW compliance through targeted inspections and worker complaints. Common traps include salaried staff working unrecorded overtime, deductions for uniforms reducing effective pay below the minimum, and sleep-in shifts being excluded from working time calculations — all areas our checker specifically addresses.
Payroll cost impact — NLW rise April 2026
Based on NLW rate only. Excludes employer NI, pension, and other payroll costs. Rounded to nearest £1.
Six Checks in One Tool
A complete NMW compliance check goes beyond comparing a rate to £12.71. Our tool covers every dimension of the rules — so you can be confident before HMRC comes looking.
Age Band Rates
Enter worker age and our checker automatically selects the correct NMW or NLW rate for 2026/27, including the extended 21+ NLW coverage.
Salary Check
Input annual salary and contracted hours. We calculate the effective hourly rate and flag whether it meets the minimum wage threshold.
Apprentice Rates
Handles the apprentice rate rules — under 19, or 19+ in year 1 of their apprenticeship. Auto-upgrades to the standard age-band rate after year 1.
Accommodation Offset
If you provide accommodation to workers, the 2026/27 offset rate of £10.66 per day is applied correctly — offsetting NMW pay without causing a breach.
Overtime Check
Regular overtime lowers effective hourly pay. Input contracted and actual hours to detect whether salaried workers fall below minimum wage when overtime is included.
Compliance Alert
Get an instant green/amber/red compliance rating. Amber flags potential risk; red signals a confirmed NMW breach with the estimated underpayment amount.
HMRC Actively Targets Salaried Overtime Breaches
One of the most common and avoidable NMW breaches occurs when salaried workers regularly work more hours than their contract states. At £25,000 per year on a 37.5-hour contract, the effective hourly rate is £12.71 — exactly at the NLW. Any unrecorded overtime takes you below the legal minimum. HMRC's enforcement teams specifically look for this pattern in retail, hospitality, and care sectors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check Your Minimum Wage Compliance Now
Enter age, pay rate, and hours. Get an instant compliance verdict — including overtime, accommodation offset, and apprentice rules — all updated for the 1 April 2026 rate changes.