Carpenter Prices UK 2026: Complete Carpentry & Joinery Pricing Guide
By Tom Ellis
Carpentry covers a colossal range of work. A carpenter's price depends entirely on whether the work is First Fix (structural rough framing) or Second Fix (precision aesthetic finishing), the timber grade, access, and location.
This definitive 2026 guide covers benchmark rates for everything from standard skirting boards to bespoke media walls, staircases, decking, and the commercial formulas required to quote profitably without working for free.
Contents
Carpenter Hourly & Day Rates (2026)
May 2026 data gives an average carpenter day rate of £300 and an hourly rate of £37.50. However, bespoke joinery commands much higher fees.
Hourly Rates per hour
Day Rates per day
Regional Carpenter Rates UK
London and the South East attract significant premiums due to commercial rent for workshops, ULEZ charges, and parking bay suspensions.
| Region | Hourly Rate | Day Rate |
|---|---|---|
| London | £40 – £65+ | £350 – £500+ |
| South East | £35 – £55 | £300 – £450 |
| South West | £30 – £50 | £250 – £375 |
| East of England | £30 – £50 | £250 – £375 |
| Midlands | £28 – £45 | £225 – £350 |
| North West | £28 – £45 | £225 – £350 |
| Yorkshire and North East | £28 – £45 | £220 – £350 |
| Wales | £28 – £45 | £220 – £350 |
| Scotland | £28 – £50 | £225 – £375 |
First Fix vs Second Fix Carpentry
Carpentry is split into two distinct stages separated by the plasterer. Rough (First Fix) focuses on structural integrity, while Finish (Second Fix) requires precise aesthetic accuracy.
First Fix (Rough Carpentry)
Structural and preparatory timberwork before plastering.
Second Fix (Finish Carpentry)
Takes place after plastering, requiring high precision and clean cuts.
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Doors, Skirting & Architrave Prices
One of the most common requests. The final price depends heavily on whether the carpenter has to modify the existing door lining or trim the door heavily to fit an out-of-square frame.
Hanging an Internal Door (Labour Only)
Skirting Boards (Supply & Fit)
Average is £22/m for standard 75mm MDF.
- MDF skirting:£8 – £40 / m
- Softwood skirting:£20 – £50 / m
- Hardwood / Premium:£30 – £60+ / m
- Difficult removal of old:+£5 – £15 / m
Skirting by Room
- Small room:£150 – £300
- Medium room:£250 – £450
- Large room:£350 – £700
- Whole house:£1,000 – £3,000+
Architrave & Panelling
- Architrave Labour:£20 – £40 / m
- Full door surround (MDF):£75 – £200+
- Timber panelling:£50 – £150 / m²
- Bespoke wainscoting:£100 – £250+ / m²
Wood Flooring & Floor Joist Prices
Hardwood flooring installation is precision work requiring acclimatisation, expansion gaps, and perfect substrate levelling.
Flooring Labour Rates Per m²
Why Herringbone is Expensive
The price rises sharply due to greater cutting, exact geometric layout alignment starting from the centre line, increased material waste (allow 15-20% extra), and complex doorway details/borders.
Replacing Floor Joists (First Fix)
Replacing rotten timber joists is serious structural carpentry. Costs increase dramatically where there is wet rot, restricted access, masonry repair required in the wall pockets, or plumbing/electrical services running through the joists.
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Staircases, Balustrades & Refurbishment Prices
Staircases are highly regulated structural elements governed by strict Building Regulations regarding rise, going, headroom, and spindle gaps (the 100mm sphere rule).
New Staircase Prices
Sept 2026 Benchmarks
- Straight staircase:£750 – £1,500
- Half landing:£1,500 – £1,950
- Double winding:£2,500 – £4,500
- Oak staircase:£1,450 – £1,950
- Bespoke / Custom staircase:£5,000 – £50,000
- Floating staircase:£20,000 – £80,000
Staircase Refurbishment
Replacing treads, risers, handrails, and spindles without removing the structural strings.
Components (Supply & Fit)
- Pine spindle:~£7 each
- White oak spindle:~£13.50 each
- Pine banister:~£35
- White oak banister:~£105
- Glass panel balustrade:~£145 / panel
- Replace stair tread:£75 – £200+ each
Fitted Wardrobes, Alcoves & Media Walls
Bespoke work involves design, measuring, workshop manufacture, installation, and finishing, making it considerably more expensive than fitting flat-pack furniture.
Fitted Wardrobes
MyJobQuote average is ~£2,600 (taking 1-9 days).
- Basic fitted wardrobe:£1,500 – £2,500
- Mid-range:£2,500 – £4,000
- Premium / Wall-to-wall:£4,000 – £10,000+
- Walk-in / Luxury bespoke:£15k – £30k+
Alcoves & Shelving
- Built-in cupboards:£500 – £2,000+
- Alcove cupboards (per pair):£500 – £1,500
- Premium bespoke alcoves:£1,500 – £3,000+
- Built-in shelving:£300 – £1,500+
- Full-wall bespoke shelving:£1,500 – £5,000+
Media Walls
Often requires coordination with electricians and plasterers.
- Carpentry component only:£800 – £3,000+
- Full bespoke media wall:£2,000 – £6,000+
Bespoke Pricing Factors
MDF vs Oak veneer vs Solid hardwood, painted vs natural finish, soft-close hardware, integrated LED lighting, and internal drawer configurations all radically alter the final price.
A bespoke cabinet cannot sensibly be priced solely by multiplying its dimensions by a standard m² rate. You are paying for workshop machinery, extraction, design time, and flawless finishing.
Roof Carpentry & Stud Walls
Heavy structural timberwork requiring absolute precision, building control compliance, and significant load-bearing knowledge.
Stud Partition Walls
Carpentry-only pricing (excludes plasterboarding/decorating). Takes approx 1 day for a basic partition.
- Basic stud partition:£400 – £700 / wall
- Partition with door lining:£600 – £1,200+
- Fire/Acoustic rated partition:£700 – £1,500+
- Full Timber framing (per m²):£50 – £120+ / m²
Roof Carpentry Repairs
- Rafter replacement:£200 – £600+ / rafter
- Multiple rafters / Structural repair:£1k – £5k+
- * Price depends heavily on scaffold access and rot extent.
Lofts & Dormer Carpentry
Structural dormer carpentry involves opening the roof, floor structures, dormer cheeks, roof rafters, and structural timber framing.
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Timber Decking & Outdoor Structures
Decking Installation
Current labour benchmark: ~£100/m² labour.
- Softwood deck (Installed):£80 – £150 / m²
- Composite deck (Installed):£120 – £200 / m²
- Hardwood deck (Installed):£140 – £250+ / m²
Includes ground prep, concrete pads, posts, joists, and decking boards. Raised decks cost more.
Decking Extras
- Timber Steps:£200 – £600+
- Large bespoke steps:£600 – £1,500+
- Timber Balustrades:£50 – £150+ / m
- Glass / Premium Balustrade:£150 – £400+ / m
Pergolas & Structures
- Standard Pergola:£1k – £5k+
- Bespoke Hardwood Pergola:£5k – £15k+
Carpenters also build gazebos, garden rooms, log stores, and summerhouses ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds.
Timber Types & Material Pricing
Structural timber is priced very differently from high-grade furniture timber. Species, grade, moisture content, and bespoke machining dictate the cost.
Sheet Materials (£/m²)
Material Mark-Up
A carpenter supplying materials will apply a margin to timber, sheet materials, ironmongery, adhesives, and hardware. Typical commercial pricing model:
Covers ordering, delivery, 10% cutting wastage, storage, and cashflow risk.
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Commercial Carpentry, Tools & Equipment
Carpentry Tool Investment
Professional carpenters carry thousands of pounds of highly calibrated equipment, requiring constant blade replacement and maintenance.
- ✓ Track saw & Mitre saw
- ✓ Table saw & Jigsaw
- ✓ Precision Routers
- ✓ Planer & Thicknesser
- ✓ Nail guns (1st & 2nd fix)
- ✓ Domino/Biscuit jointers
- ✓ Dust extraction systems
- ✓ Laser levels
- ✓ Workbenches & clamps
- ✓ High-capacity batteries
Commercial Carpentry
Shop fitting, office fit-outs, hotel interiors, restaurants, and retail units.
The Carpentry Quoting Formula & Overheads
Bespoke carpentry cannot sensibly be priced solely by multiplying its dimensions by a standard m² rate. Workshop time is invisible to the customer but highly expensive.
Site Visit / Measuring / Design Time
+ Materials (Timber + Hardware)
+ Material Wastage & Delivery
+ Workshop Prep & Manufacture Time
+ Sanding & Finishing (Paint/Stain)
+ Transport to Site
+ On-Site Installation Labour
+ Making Good & Waste Disposal
+ Business Overheads Allocation
+ Target Profit Margin
= FINAL CUSTOMER QUOTE
Calculating Your Minimum Day Rate
If annual business overheads (Van, Fuel, Insurance, Tools, Workshop rent, Accountant, Marketing) equal £30,000, and desired personal income is £45,000. Total required = £75,000.
Common Pricing Mistakes
- • Underestimating frame prep for new doors.
- • Ignoring 15%+ material wastage on herringbone floors.
- • Not charging for workshop manufacture time.
- • Forgetting sanding, priming, and finishing labour.
- • Not allowing for access (e.g. 3m timber up narrow stairs).
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Quick UK Carpentry Pricing Reference (2026)
Use this table for rapid job estimating and sanity-checking client quotes.
| Carpentry Work / Service | Typical 2026 UK Benchmark |
|---|---|
| General Carpenter Hourly Rate | £30 – £45 / hour |
| Bespoke / Fine Woodworking Hourly Rate | £45 – £80+ / hour |
| Experienced Carpenter Day Rate | £300 – £400 / day |
| Bespoke / Finish Carpenter Day Rate | £350 – £600+ / day |
| Two-Person Carpentry Team Day Rate | £500 – £800+ / day |
| Hang Internal Door (Standard, Labour Only) | £100 – £150 / door |
| Hang Fire Door (Certified Install, Labour Only) | £120 – £250+ / door |
| Skirting Boards (MDF, Supply & Fit) | £18 – £40 / m |
| Architrave Installation (Labour Only) | £20 – £40 / m |
| Timber Wall Panelling | £50 – £150 / m² |
| Laminate Flooring (Labour Only) | £40 – £50 / m² |
| Engineered Wood Flooring (Labour Only) | £45 – £55 / m² |
| Solid / Natural Wood Flooring (Labour Only) | £50 – £60+ / m² |
| Herringbone / Chevron Flooring (Labour Only) | £65 – £90+ / m² |
| Basic Stud Partition Wall (Carpentry Only) | £400 – £700 / wall |
| Replace Floor Joists (Per Joist) | £150 – £400+ |
| Rafter Replacement (Roof Repair) | £200 – £600+ / rafter |
| Dormer Timber Framing (Carpentry Only) | £5,000 – £15,000+ |
| Loft Boarding (Basic) | £500 – £1,500 |
| New Straight Staircase (Standard) | £750 – £1,500 |
| New Winding Staircase | £2,500 – £4,500 |
| Staircase Full Refurbishment | £1,500 – £5,000+ |
| Fitted Wardrobe (Basic MDF) | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Fitted Wardrobe (Mid-Range, Avg ~£2,600) | £2,500 – £4,000 |
| Fitted Wardrobe (Premium / Wall-to-Wall) | £4,000 – £10,000+ |
| Alcove Cupboards (Per Pair) | £500 – £1,500 |
| Full Bespoke Media Wall | £2,000 – £6,000+ |
| Timber Decking Installation (Labour Only) | £80 – £120 / m² |
| Composite Decking (Fully Installed) | £120 – £200 / m² |
| Standard Pergola (Timber) | £1,000 – £5,000+ |
| Material Markup Allowance | 10% – 30% |
| Small-Job Minimum Charge | £100 – £200 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average carpenter day rate in the UK?
A current 2026 benchmark is approximately £300/day, although actual rates vary according to location, experience, and the type of work (e.g. £350-£600+ for bespoke joinery).
How much does it cost to hang an internal door?
Approximately £100–£140 labour-only is a useful 2026 benchmark, although straightforward jobs can be lower, and difficult frames, fire doors, and bespoke work can cost substantially more.
How much does a fitted wardrobe cost?
Current UK data varies considerably. MyJobQuote's 2026 data gives an average around £2,600, with approximately £1,500–£7,000 typical depending on bespoke specification and finish.
What is the difference between first fix and second fix carpentry?
First fix is structural and preparatory timber work carried out before final finishes (joists, studwork, roof structures). Second fix covers the visible finishing timberwork installed afterwards (doors, skirting, architrave, mouldings).
How much does it cost to fit skirting boards?
Approximately £18–£26/m for standard supply and fitting according to current data, with wider specification ranges reaching approximately £40/m for complex hardwoods or large profiles.
Do carpenters charge for materials?
Usually, where they supply them. The price will include a material margin (typically 10-30%) to cover procurement, delivery, wastage, storage, and responsibility for the materials.
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