Tools

Courier earnings calculator

Estimate net pay after fuel, standing costs, platform fees and a tax percentage you choose. Figures are estimates — not financial or tax advice.

Rates and workload

What a day should pay — and how many parcels to expect

Planning bands for reading a card, not a promise of take-home pay. Own-van work has to clear fuel and standing costs. A supplied van is a different deal: lower advertised pay can still be fair if the parcel load and fuel rules are clear.

You supply the van

Your own van

You carry the vehicle, hire-and-reward insurance, tyres and the day it sits in the workshop. The advertised rate has to clear that before it becomes a wage.

Same-day / ad-hoc

Planning pay band

£150–£190

advertised day-rate band, SWB

Parcels / stops to ask about

10–30

collections and drops, plus waiting

Multi-drop owner-driver

Planning pay band

£170–£220

advertised day-rate band

Parcels / stops to ask about

80–140

drops on a dense urban round

LWB / Luton / tramping

Planning pay band

£190–£250

advertised day-rate band

Parcels / stops to ask about

Fewer, heavier

miles and hours matter more than stop count

The rate should still cover

Fuel for the stated miles — and the empty ones
A daily slice of finance or rental, insurance and maintenance. Many drivers budget £40–£80 a day before they pay themselves
Your time. If the day runs 11 hours, divide what is left by those hours

Ask before you accept

Expected miles, not just the postcode
Waiting time and whether it is paid
Who pays congestion, parking and the second run

They supply the van

Van fully supplied

The operator provides the vehicle. Advertised pay is often lower — that can still be fair if fuel, downtime and the parcel load are honest. It is a different job to owning the van.

Employed multi-drop

Planning pay band

Hourly

must meet the current National Living Wage if you are employed

Parcels / stops to ask about

120–200+

drops are common on a supplied-van round

Self-employed, van provided

Planning pay band

£110–£160

advertised day-rate band, often lower than own-van cards

Parcels / stops to ask about

100–180

ask for the actual manifest size

Same-day supplied vehicle

Planning pay band

£120–£160

or hourly plus overtime rules

Parcels / stops to ask about

15–40

jobs, not Amazon-style multi-drop

The rate should still cover

Your time first — the van cost sits with the operator
Fuel only if the contract says you buy it. Get that in writing
What happens if you finish early, the van goes off the road, or you are sent a second wave

Ask before you accept

Who pays fuel, AdBlue, congestion and parking
How many parcels or stops on a normal day — and on a peak day
Employed or self-employed, and how you get paid if the round overruns

These figures are illustrative planning bands used when checking advertised UK courier work. They are not official rates, not typical earnings, and not financial, tax or employment advice. Regions, contracts, waiting time and peak days move the numbers. Employed roles must follow current UK wage rules. Self-employed cards are not a wage — put the miles and hours into the calculator before you say yes.

Run the numbers for a specific job

Use the planning bands above as a sense-check, then put the actual day rate, miles and hours in here.

Run a calculation to see estimated net pay, hourly earnings and a simple profitability read.

A rate can look fine and the contract still be a problem. Use the contract sense-check and the rights library.

They supply the van

Van fully supplied

The operator provides the vehicle. Advertised pay is often lower — that can still be fair if fuel, downtime and the parcel load are honest. It is a different job to owning the van.

Employed multi-drop

Planning pay band

Hourly

must meet the current National Living Wage if you are employed

Parcels / stops to ask about

120–200+

drops are common on a supplied-van round

Self-employed, van provided

Planning pay band

£110–£160

advertised day-rate band, often lower than own-van cards

Parcels / stops to ask about

100–180

ask for the actual manifest size

Same-day supplied vehicle

Planning pay band

£120–£160

or hourly plus overtime rules

Parcels / stops to ask about

15–40

jobs, not Amazon-style multi-drop

The rate should still cover

Your time first — the van cost sits with the operator
Fuel only if the contract says you buy it. Get that in writing
What happens if you finish early, the van goes off the road, or you are sent a second wave

Ask before you accept

Who pays fuel, AdBlue, congestion and parking
How many parcels or stops on a normal day — and on a peak day
Employed or self-employed, and how you get paid if the round overruns

Run the numbers for a specific job

Use the planning bands above as a sense-check, then put the actual day rate, miles and hours in here.

Run a calculation to see estimated net pay, hourly earnings and a simple profitability read.