Groundworker day rates, UK 2026
Typical UK range
£200–£340
per day, ex VAT
≈ £25–£43/hour · reviewed July 2026
What moves the rate
- 01Plant hire — digger and dumper days sit on top of labour
- 02Drainage work requiring build-over agreements or council sign-off
- 03Muck-away and aggregate haulage costs, which vary sharply by region
- 04Groundworks gangs pricing as a unit on larger jobs
Groundworks pricing is dominated by what sits around the labour: plant hire, muck-away and aggregates often cost more than the person in the trench. Day rates apply mainly to labour-only support on domestic jobs.
Groundworker rates by region
| Region | Day rate | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater London | £270–£460 | £34–£58 | Detail → |
| South East England | £230–£390 | £29–£49 | Detail → |
| East of England | £210–£355 | £26–£44 | Detail → |
| South West England | £200–£340 | £25–£43 | Detail → |
| Scotland | £195–£330 | £24–£41 | Detail → |
| West Midlands | £190–£325 | £24–£41 | Detail → |
| North West England | £190–£320 | £24–£40 | Detail → |
| East Midlands | £185–£315 | £23–£39 | Detail → |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £180–£305 | £23–£38 | Detail → |
| Wales | £180–£305 | £23–£38 | Detail → |
| North East England | £170–£290 | £21–£36 | Detail → |
| Northern Ireland | £165–£280 | £21–£35 | Detail → |
Is your rate right?
A benchmark tells you what the market pays. It doesn't tell you what you need — that depends on your overheads, your tax pot and how many days you really bill. Two minutes in the calculator settles it.
Groundworker day rates — FAQs
- How much does a groundworker charge per day in the UK?
- Typically £200–£340 a day, ex VAT, for standard domestic work. London runs roughly a third higher and the lowest-cost regions around 15% below — see the regional breakdown above.
- What affects what a groundworker charges?
- Experience and reputation, your region, how complex or specialist the work is, whether it's an emergency, and the overheads a groundworker carries (insurance, van, tools, certification). Groundworks pricing is dominated by what sits around the labour: plant hire, muck-away and aggregates often cost more than the person in the trench. Day rates apply mainly to labour-only support on domestic jobs.
- Do groundworkers charge VAT?
- Only if VAT-registered — mandatory once turnover passes £90,000 a year — in which case 20% is added on top. Plenty of sole traders are below the threshold and don't charge it, so check before you agree a price.
- Should I get more than one quote?
- Yes — two or three quotes give you a fair benchmark and make an outlier obvious. A written quote is legally binding in the UK, so a fair one shouldn't move unless you change the scope of the work.
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Indicative ranges compiled from public cost guides, reviewed July 2026. Ex VAT. A guide, not a quote.