It depends on age. From 1 April 2026, £10.85 an hour is legal for workers aged 18 to 20 and under 18, but below the minimum for anyone 21 or over.
Does £10.85 an hour meet the minimum wage?
Calculated using England & Wales statutory rules, checked against source on 21 September 2026.
| Who | Minimum from April 2026 | £10.85 is | An hour | A 37.5-hour week | A year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 or over | £12.71 | too low | −£1.86 | −£69.75 | −£3,627.00 |
| Aged 18 to 20 | £10.85 | legal | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Under 18 | £8.00 | legal | £2.85 | £106.88 | £5,557.50 |
| Apprentices under 19 or in their first year | £8.00 | legal | £2.85 | £106.88 | £5,557.50 |
£10.85 is exactly the minimum for 18 to 20 year olds.
Under last year's rates (£12.21, £10.00 and £7.55) the answer for each age group was the same.
A worker on £10.85 needs a rise of £1.86 an hour from the first pay period that starts after their 21st birthday.
Full time at 37.5 hours a week, £10.85 an hour is £21,158 a year, which takes home about £1,562.75 a month.
Pay at £10.85 an hour
| Hours a week | A week | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | £86.80 | £376.13 | £4,514 |
| 16 | £173.60 | £752.27 | £9,027 |
| 20 | £217.00 | £940.33 | £11,284 |
| 25 | £271.25 | £1,175.42 | £14,105 |
| 30 | £325.50 | £1,410.50 | £16,926 |
| 37.5 | £406.88 | £1,763.15 | £21,158 |
| 40 | £434.00 | £1,880.67 | £22,568 |
Nearby hourly rates
| Rate | 21 or over | Aged 18 to 20 | Under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £11.00 | £1.71 short | legal | legal |
| £11.50 | £1.21 short | legal | legal |
| £12.00 | £0.71 short | legal | legal |
Change these figures in the Minimum wage checker
Things that could change this figure
- The apprentice rate applies to apprentices under 19, or those aged 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship. Read the guide
- The minimum wage is measured on your average pay across the whole pay reference period, not on your contracted hourly rate. Read the guide
- Some deductions reduce your minimum wage pay, including accommodation above the offset and costs you are required to meet for the job. Read the guide
Sources
Please read
This compares your effective rate against the statutory minimum. It does not account for accommodation offsets, salary sacrifice, or the detailed rules on which deductions reduce minimum wage pay. Acas offers free advice on 0300 123 1100.
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Figures on this page are checked against primary sources and dated. They are not legal, tax or financial advice.
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