NMW Underpayment Calculator

Check if you're being paid the legal minimum (2026 rate: £12.71/hr)

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Include any money you had to spend on work-required items.

Include mandatory training or travel between job sites that wasn't paid.

Common Questions

What counts as "working time"?

Working time includes: training, travelling between work assignments, being "on call" at the workplace, and time spent cleaning or preparing equipment. It does not usually include your commute from home or rest breaks.

Does "living in" reduce my minimum wage?

If your employer provides accommodation, they can count some of its value towards the National Minimum Wage. This is called the "accommodation offset". For 2026, this offset is capped at a daily rate set by the government.

What should I do if I'm being underpaid?

First, speak to your employer—it might be an honest mistake. If they refuse to fix it, you can report them to HMRC (who can enforce payment and fine the company) or take them to an Employment Tribunal for "unauthorised deduction from wages".

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Enter your pay and hours to check if your employer is meeting the legal minimum wage.

2026 NMW Rates

  • Aged 21+: £12.71/hr
  • Aged 18-20: £10.50/hr*
  • Apprentice/Under 18: £7.80/hr*

*Estimates based on typical 2026 projections.

What's included in this calculator

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2026 NLW

Checked against the £12.71/hr rate for ages 21+.

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Apprentice Rates

Updated with the new 2026 apprentice minimum.

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Underpayment Check

Identifies exact arrears owed for past periods.

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Accommodation Offset

Applies the daily limit for employer-provided housing.

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Deductions Logic

Checks for uniform, tools, and travel-time violations.

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Age Banding

Automatically adjusts for 16-17 and 18-20 year old rates.

Am I Being Paid the UK Minimum Wage in 2026?

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) is the absolute floor for what you can be paid in the UK. In April 2026, the rate for adults aged 21 and over increased to £12.71 per hour. However, simply looking at your hourly rate on your payslip isn't always enough to ensure compliance.

Many "hidden" factors can pull your actual pay below the legal minimum. For example, if your employer requires you to pay for your own uniform or tools, that cost must be subtracted from your gross pay before the hourly rate is calculated. Similarly, if you are required to perform mandatory training or travel between work locations without being paid for that time, your average hourly rate drops.

Common NMW Compliance Traps

Low-paid workers in hospitality, retail, and care are particularly at risk of underpayment. Common traps include "trial shifts" that aren't paid, being asked to stay 15 minutes after your shift to "cashing up" for free, or deductions from your pay for till shortages. All of these practices can lead to an NMW breach if they push your hourly rate below £12.71.

HMRC takes NMW enforcement very seriously. Employers who fail to pay the minimum wage can be forced to pay back-dated wages to workers and face "naming and shaming" alongside significant financial penalties. If you believe you are being underpaid, use our calculator to gather the data you need to challenge your employer or report them to the relevant authorities.