Checkatrade's cited 2026 guide publishes carpenter labour at £240-£360 per day or £30-£45 per hour. Use those ranges as a broad reference, then price the actual specification.
Carpentry and joinery are not one uniform product
First-fix carcassing, hanging doors, fitted storage, repairing period joinery and manufacturing a bespoke item place different demands on time, tools and skill. Some work happens on site. Some needs workshop preparation that is easy to overlook if a quote counts only installation hours.
A sound comparison states the material, dimensions, finish, tolerances, hardware and responsibility for design or measurement. Without that detail, two quotes may describe different outcomes.
Choosing a charging basis
| Basis | Published figure | Can suit | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | £30-£45 | Small repairs and a defined fitting task. | Minimum booking and whether preparation time is included. |
| Day | £240-£360 | Site carpentry or a clear installation programme. | Day length, tools, consumables and changes to scope. |
| Fixed price | Quote required | Fitted furniture, doors or a measured package. | Materials, ironmongery, finishing, design and workshop time. |
| Workshop plus fit | Quote required | Bespoke joinery made off site and installed later. | Drawings, approvals, delivery, installation and finish. |
Illustrative calculation
3 days × £240-£360 = £720-£1,080
This example covers labour arithmetic only. Timber, sheet goods, ironmongery, finishing, design, workshop costs, delivery, waste and VAT where applicable may be additional.
Regional considerations without numeric claims
No independently sourced regional carpenter table is used here. Property type, travel, workshop location and local demand can affect pricing, but this page does not manufacture a regional premium.
| Area | Potential pressure | Comparison check |
|---|---|---|
| London | Parking, delivery, access and limited workspace may add time. | Clarify delivery, parking and on-site storage. |
| South East | Travel between workshop and site can be significant. | Ask where manufacture takes place and how delivery is charged. |
| Midlands | Site location and access to workshop facilities vary. | Compare the same material and finish specification. |
| North | Local availability and travel can vary between cities and rural areas. | Confirm service radius and lead time. |
| Wales | Longer delivery or travel routes can affect bespoke work. | Agree transport and installation responsibility. |
| Scotland | Distance and material delivery can vary widely. | Request a site-specific written quote. |
What moves a carpenter or joiner quote
- First fix, second fix, repair, fitting or bespoke manufacture.
- Timber species, grade, sheet material and moisture requirements.
- Finish quality, decoration and tolerance expectations.
- Hardware, hinges, locks, runners and other ironmongery.
- Workshop drawings, templates and approval stages.
- Access, delivery, protection, waste and making good.
Labour rate is not take-home income
A self-employed rate can need to fund machinery, tool replacement, workshop rent, vehicles, insurance, estimating, design time, administration, holidays and non-billable gaps. The published labour figure is not a direct statement of personal earnings.
Source and methodology
The headline ranges are taken from Checkatrade's 2026 tradespeople cost guide, which labels the trade as carpenter. This page uses carpenter and joiner in its title because users commonly search both terms, but it does not claim one rate precisely represents all specialist joinery.
The worked example is illustrative. The regional table is explanatory and includes no regional price data.