Updated October 2026
Voluntary Foundation rates vs statutory NLW £12.71

Real Living Wage vs National Living Wage

Current pair (one set site-wide): UK Living Wage £14.10/hr · London Living Wage £15.45/hr. The legal National Living Wage remains £12.71/hr for workers aged 21+ from 1 April 2026.

Source: Living Wage Foundation — What is the real Living Wage?, 2026–27 rates announced 15 October 2026, implement by 1 May 2027. Figures checked 15 October 2026. This is not a legal minimum and is not HMRC-endorsed.

Annual gross earnings

£26,437

Hourly rate

£12.71/hr

Weekly gross

£508.40

Monthly gross

£2,203

Est. net/mo

£1,880

Statutory vs Living Wage (40 hrs/wk)

Standard Hourly Weekly gross Annual gross Est. take-home/mo
National Minimum Wage (18–20) £10.85 £434.00 £22,568 £1,647/mo
National Living Wage (21+) £12.71 £508.40 £26,437 £1,880/mo
UK Living Wage (Foundation) £14.10 £564.00 £29,328 £2,053/mo
London Living Wage (Foundation) £15.45 £618.00 £32,136 £2,221/mo

Net figures assume tax code 1257L, no pension, England/Wales/Northern Ireland, 2026/27 bands. Foundation rates are voluntary.

London Living Wage

The London rate covers workplaces in Greater London boroughs. It is £15.45 per hour for workers aged 18+ — £2.74/hr above the statutory National Living Wage. On a 40-hour week that is about £5,699 extra gross a year (about £2,221 take-home per month versus £1,880 on NLW). For dedicated London rates and take-home calculations, visit our London Living Wage Calculator.

Use the London button in the calculator above. Check whether a workplace postcode is in a London borough on GOV.UK find your local council.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Living Wage Foundation’s 2026–27 rates, announced on 15 October 2026, are £14.10 per hour across the UK and £15.45 per hour in London. Accredited employers are asked to implement them by 1 May 2027. They are voluntary, not the legal minimum.
The National Living Wage (£12.71/hr from 1 April 2026) is the statutory minimum for workers aged 21+. The real Living Wage is a higher, voluntary rate for workers aged 18+, independently calculated from living costs by the Living Wage Foundation.
At £14.10/hr for a 40-hour week you earn £29,328 gross per year. After income tax and National Insurance, take-home is about £2,053 per month (£24,636 a year).
No. Employers are only legally required to pay the National Living Wage (£12.71/hr for 21+). Paying the Foundation rate is voluntary, though accredited Living Wage employers commit to it for staff and regular contractors aged 18+.

About this guide

This calculator is maintained by UKMinimumWage.co.uk using published GOV.UK rates for 2026/27. Last updated October 2026. This site is not HMRC-endorsed.