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The National Living Wage rises from £12.71 to £13.21 an hour in April 2027. A full-time worker costs £1,121.25 more a year in pay and employer National Insurance.
Published 3 November 2026
All articlesThe government accepted the Low Pay Commission's recommendations in full on 28 October 2026. From April 2027 the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £13.21, up 3.9% from £12.71. The rate for 18 to 20-year-olds is £11.27, the rate for under-18s and apprentices is £8.31, and the accommodation offset is £11.53 a day.
Multiply £1,121.25 by the number of full-time-equivalent staff paid at the rate. A kitchen and floor team of twelve full-time equivalents adds £13,455 a year before pension contributions.
Tips, service charges and cover charges do not count towards minimum wage pay. The rise has to come from wages, so it shows up in labour cost as a share of sales unless prices or hours change.
We model the April 2027 wage bill from your payroll and rota, and set it against your sales in Business Pulse. Try the labour cost calculator.
£11.27 an hour.
No. Tips, service charges and cover charges do not count towards minimum wage pay.
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