What is the UBR for 2026/27?

The Uniform Business Rate (UBR) for 2026/27 in England uses a new five-multiplier system effective from 1 April 2026. The small business multiplier is 43.2p, the standard multiplier is 48.0p, the small business RHL (Retail, Hospitality and Leisure) multiplier is 38.2p, the standard RHL multiplier is 43.0p, and a new high-value multiplier of 50.8p applies to properties with a rateable value of £500,000 or above. Source: GOV.UK Notification 2/2026.

What is the small business multiplier for 2026/27?

The small business multiplier for 2026/27 is 43.2p (0.432) in England. This applies to non-RHL properties with a rateable value below £51,000. It has decreased from 49.9p in 2025/26 as part of the 2026 business rates reform.

What is the standard business rates multiplier for 2026/27?

The standard business rates multiplier for 2026/27 is 48.0p (0.48) in England. This applies to non-RHL properties with a rateable value between £51,000 and £499,999. It has decreased from 55.5p in 2025/26.

What is the RHL multiplier for 2026/27?

The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) multiplier for 2026/27 is 38.2p for smaller properties (RV below £51,000) and 43.0p for mid-sized properties (RV £51,000–£499,999). These lower rates apply to qualifying shops, restaurants, cafés, pubs, hotels, gyms, and leisure facilities.

How do I calculate my business rates bill for 2026/27?

Multiply your property's rateable value by the applicable 2026/27 multiplier. For example: a non-RHL property with a rateable value of £40,000 would pay £40,000 × 0.432 (small business multiplier) = £17,280 per year before reliefs. Use the calculator on this page for an instant estimate.

How does UBR 2026/27 compare to 2025/26?

The 2026/27 multipliers are lower than 2025/26 for most businesses. The small business multiplier fell from 49.9p to 43.2p and the standard multiplier fell from 55.5p to 48.0p. However, the simultaneous 2026 revaluation updated rateable values to reflect April 2024 rental levels, so many businesses may still see higher overall bills if their property's rental value increased.

What changed in the 2026 business rates revaluation?

The 2026 revaluation, effective 1 April 2026, updated the rateable values of all commercial properties in England and Wales based on rental evidence from April 2024. At the same time, the government moved from a two-multiplier system to a five-multiplier system. Properties in high-demand areas such as logistics, data centres, and some retail locations saw significant rateable value increases.

UBR 2026/27 — Uniform Business Rate Multipliers Explained

What is the UBR (Uniform Business Rate)?

The UBR for 2026/27 in England ranges from 38.2p to 50.8p depending on your property type and rateable value, under a new five-multiplier system effective from 1 April 2026. This replaced the previous two-multiplier structure used in 2025/26.

The Uniform Business Rate (UBR), also called the business rates multiplier, is the pence-per-pound figure set by the government each year to calculate your business rates bill. Your annual bill is:

Rateable Value × Multiplier = Annual Business Rates Bill

For example, a non-RHL property with a rateable value of £50,000 using the small business multiplier of 43.2p would pay £50,000 × 0.432 = £21,600 per year before any reliefs.

Important: From 1 April 2026, the government has replaced the previous two-multiplier system with a new five-multiplier system as part of the 2026 business rates reform. This is the biggest change to the multiplier structure in decades.

UBR 2026/27 — The New Multipliers (from 1 April 2026)

The following multipliers apply from 1 April 2026 for properties in England:

Multiplier	Rate (pence per £1 RV)	Applies to
Small Business Multiplier	43.2p	Properties with a rateable value below £51,000 (non-RHL)
Standard Multiplier	48.0p	Properties with a rateable value of £51,000–£499,999 (non-RHL)
Small Business RHL Multiplier RHL	38.2p	Retail, Hospitality & Leisure properties with RV below £51,000
Standard RHL Multiplier RHL	43.0p	Retail, Hospitality & Leisure properties with RV £51,000–£499,999
High-Value Multiplier New	50.8p	All property types with a rateable value of £500,000 or above

Note on the transitional supplement: A 1p addition applies to all multipliers for properties that existed as at 31 March 2026 and do not qualify for the 2026 transitional relief scheme. Check with your local authority whether this applies to your property.

How Does UBR 26/27 Compare to 2025/26?

The previous system (2025/26) had just two multipliers:

2025/26 Multiplier	Rate	2026/27 Equivalent	Change
Small Business	49.9p	43.2p (small business) / 38.2p (RHL)	↓ Lower for most
Standard	55.5p	48.0p (standard) / 43.0p (RHL)	↓ Lower for most
n/a	—	50.8p (high-value, RV £500k+)	↑ New surcharge

While the headline multipliers are lower in 2026/27, many businesses will see their bills increase because the 2026 revaluation has also come into force on 1 April 2026 — meaning rateable values have been updated to reflect April 2024 property market values. For businesses in areas where rents have risen, the higher rateable value may outweigh the lower multiplier.

Business Rates Calculator — UBR 2026/27

Use our calculator to estimate your 2026/27 business rates bill before reliefs:

2026/27 Business Rates Estimate

Rateable Value (£)

Property Category

Estimated annual bill before reliefs

This is an estimate only. Your actual bill may differ based on reliefs, supplements, and transitional arrangements. Get a free professional check →

What is the 2026 Business Rates Revaluation?

Alongside the new UBR multipliers, the 2026 revaluation has updated the rateable values of all commercial properties in England. Rateable values now reflect the property market as of 1 April 2024 (the "antecedent valuation date").

This means that even if the multiplier has fallen, your actual bill could be higher, lower, or broadly similar depending on how your local property market moved between 2021 (the basis for the previous 2023 revaluation) and 2024.

Properties in areas that saw rental growth — particularly logistics, data centres, and some retail — may face significantly higher bills despite the reduced multiplier.

What Are Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Properties?

The new RHL multipliers are available to a specific range of property types. The government's definition of qualifying RHL properties includes:

Shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, and pubs
Cinemas, music venues, and theatres
Hotels, guest houses, and self-catering accommodation
Gyms, leisure centres, and sports facilities
Estate agents and travel agents

Offices, warehouses, industrial units, and professional services do not qualify for the RHL multiplier. If you are unsure whether your property qualifies, your local authority will confirm when they issue your rates bill.

Could Your Rateable Value Be Wrong?

The 2026 revaluation was conducted by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) based on rental evidence from April 2024. However, the VOA does not inspect every property individually — many rateable values are estimated using comparable evidence, which can lead to errors.

Common reasons a rateable value may be incorrect include:

Your property has physical features that reduce its value (poor access, structural issues, noise, etc.)
The comparables used by the VOA don't accurately reflect your property
Your property is used in a way that affects its rental value
The 2026 revaluation has significantly increased your rateable value relative to similar nearby properties

If your rateable value is incorrect, you have the right to challenge it through the government's Check, Challenge, Appeal (CCA) process. A successful challenge can reduce your rateable value — and therefore your business rates bill — both going forward and potentially backdated.

UBR 2027/28

The Uniform Business Rate multipliers for 2027/28 have not yet been announced. They will be confirmed as part of the government's Autumn Budget, typically in October or November 2026. We will update this page and publish a dedicated UBR 2027/28 guide as soon as the figures are confirmed.

Businesses in the RHL sector can expect the RHL multiplier to be frozen in real terms for 2027/28 and 2028/29, in line with the government's commitment made at the 2025 Budget.