Carpenter & joiner day rates in South East
South East England · 2026
£255–£435
per day, ex VAT
£32–£54
per hour
+15%
vs UK average
A carpenter working in South East typically charges £255–£435 a day (£32–£54 an hour), ex VAT — 15% above the UK average of £300 a day. The commuter belt carries a clear premium — strong renovation demand from Surrey, Kent, Sussex and the Home Counties keeps diaries full, and many trades here can pick and choose their jobs.
Second-fix and finishing carpentry is where reputations are made, and carpenters known for clean finishing charge accordingly. Bespoke items — fitted wardrobes, alcove units, staircases — are quoted per piece rather than per day.
What moves a carpenter's rate
- 01First fix (structural, studwork, joists) versus second fix (doors, skirting, finishing)
- 02Bespoke workshop joinery, which is priced per piece and carries a clear premium
- 03Site carpentry on new-builds versus one-off domestic work
- 04Own workshop and machinery overheads
South East vs everywhere else
| London | £295–£515 |
| South East | £255–£435 |
| East of England | £230–£400 |
| South West | £220–£380 |
| Scotland | £215–£370 |
| West Midlands | £210–£365 |
| North West | £205–£355 |
| East Midlands | £200–£350 |
| Yorkshire | £200–£340 |
| Wales | £195–£340 |
| North East | £185–£325 |
| Northern Ireland | £180–£310 |
Charging £345? Prove it's enough.
The market range is the market's number. Yours depends on your overheads, your tax pot and how many days you actually bill. Run it through the calculator, then send the quote while the number's fresh.
Other trades in South East
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Indicative ranges compiled from public cost guides, reviewed July 2026. Ex VAT. A guide, not a quote, and not financial advice.