What are Day-Rates?

Day-rates refer to the fixed cost of labour per day, used when work cannot be easily priced by the square metre or when the scope is variable, complex, or dependent on site conditions. Instead of tying cost to area, day-rates cover the contractor’s time, labour, and often basic tools for each day spent on the job. They are commonly used for remediation, defect rectification, investigation, small repairs, or work where productivity varies and cannot be standardised. Day-rates give flexibility for tasks that are unpredictable, whereas square metre rates suit repetitive, quantifiable work.