# UK payment times by industry

Large UK companies take a median of 31 days to pay supplier invoices. Half take between 22 and 43 days. At the median company, 15% of invoices miss the agreed terms.

Based on 6,731 companies' payment practices filings for periods ending March 2025 to August 2026, 6,473 matched to Companies House SIC codes. Insolvencies: England and Wales, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026.

At the median company, 5% of invoices are paid after 60 days.

## How long does each UK sector take to pay?

### How long does manufacturing take to pay?

45 days, 14 days slower than the UK median. Manufacturing pays in a median of 45 days. Manufacture of other food products n.e.c. is the slowest trade at 54 days, manufacture of electronic components the fastest at 37 days.

### How long does water, sewerage and waste take to pay?

37 days, 6 days slower than the UK median. Water, sewerage and waste pays in a median of 37 days. Collection of non-hazardous waste is the slowest trade at 37.5 days, water collection, treatment and supply the fastest at 30 days.

### How long does wholesale and retail trade take to pay?

37 days, 6 days slower than the UK median. Wholesale and retail trade pays in a median of 37 days. Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages is the slowest trade at 48 days, wholesale of other fuels and related products the fastest at 20 days.

### How long does accommodation and food service take to pay?

36 days, 5 days slower than the UK median. Accommodation and food service pays in a median of 36 days. Licensed restaurants is the slowest trade at 45 days, unlicensed restaurants and cafes the fastest at 14 days.

### How long does transport and storage take to pay?

35 days, 4 days slower than the UK median. Transport and storage pays in a median of 35 days. Operation of warehousing and storage facilities for land transport activities is the slowest trade at 43 days, passenger rail transport, interurban the fastest at 35 days.

### How long does construction take to pay?

33 days, 2 days slower than the UK median. Construction pays in a median of 33 days. Other specialised construction activities n.e.c. is the slowest trade at 38 days, construction of roads and motorways the fastest at 29 days.

### How long does mining and quarrying take to pay?

32 days, 1 days slower than the UK median. Mining and quarrying pays in a median of 32 days. Support activities for petroleum and natural gas extraction is the slowest trade at 34.5 days, extraction of crude petroleum the fastest at 29 days.

### How long does agriculture, forestry and fishing take to pay?

31 days, the same as the UK median. Agriculture, forestry and fishing pays in a median of 31 days. No single trade in this sector has 20 or more filers, so none is shown separately.

### How long does other service activities take to pay?

31 days, the same as the UK median. Other service activities pays in a median of 31 days. Other service activities n.e.c. is the only trade with 20 or more filers, at 31 days.

### How long does professional, scientific and technical take to pay?

30 days, 1 days faster than the UK median. Professional, scientific and technical pays in a median of 30 days. Advertising agencies is the slowest trade at 44 days, management consultancy activities other than financial management the fastest at 25.5 days.

### How long does information and communication take to pay?

29 days, 2 days faster than the UK median. Information and communication pays in a median of 29 days. Other telecommunications activities is the slowest trade at 37 days, television programme production activities the fastest at 21 days.

### How long does arts, entertainment and recreation take to pay?

28 days, 3 days faster than the UK median. Arts, entertainment and recreation pays in a median of 28 days. No single trade in this sector has 20 or more filers, so none is shown separately.

### How long does administrative and support services take to pay?

27 days, 4 days faster than the UK median. Administrative and support services pays in a median of 27 days. Combined facilities support activities is the slowest trade at 34.5 days, other activities of employment placement agencies the fastest at 16 days.

### How long does real estate take to pay?

26.5 days, 4.5 days faster than the UK median. Real estate pays in a median of 26.5 days. Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis is the slowest trade at 30 days, other letting and operating of own or leased real estate the fastest at 26 days.

### How long does electricity and gas supply take to pay?

26 days, 5 days faster than the UK median. Electricity and gas supply pays in a median of 26 days. Production of electricity is the slowest trade at 29 days, trade of electricity the fastest at 18.5 days.

### How long does human health and social work take to pay?

26 days, 5 days faster than the UK median. Human health and social work pays in a median of 26 days. Other human health activities is the slowest trade at 28 days, hospital activities the fastest at 26.5 days.

### How long does education take to pay?

25 days, 6 days faster than the UK median. Education pays in a median of 25 days. First-degree level higher education is the slowest trade at 26 days, general secondary education the fastest at 23 days.

### How long does financial and insurance take to pay?

22 days, 9 days faster than the UK median. Financial and insurance pays in a median of 22 days. Activities of other holding companies n.e.c. is the slowest trade at 26.5 days, banks the fastest at 17 days.

## Sectors

| Rank | Sector | Median days to pay | Middle half (days) | Invoices paid late | Insolvencies (12m) | Firms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | 45 | 34 to 57 | 21% | 1,827 | 1018 |
| 2 | Water, sewerage and waste | 37 | 26.5 to 42.8 | 18.5% | 144 | 73 |
| 3 | Wholesale and retail trade | 37 | 28 to 47 | 15% | 3,395 | 855 |
| 4 | Accommodation and food service | 36 | 23 to 47 | 10% | 3,201 | 179 |
| 5 | Transport and storage | 35 | 26 to 43 | 14% | 693 | 274 |
| 6 | Construction | 33 | 27 to 41.2 | 12% | 3,866 | 411 |
| 7 | Mining and quarrying | 32 | 24 to 47 | 12% | 23 | 113 |
| 8 | Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 31 | 23.5 to 39.5 | 16% | 84 | 39 |
| 9 | Other service activities | 31 | 22 to 40 | 12% | 957 | 122 |
| 10 | Professional, scientific and technical | 30 | 22 to 43 | 16% | 1,913 | 595 |
| 11 | Information and communication | 29 | 22 to 36 | 16.5% | 1,373 | 501 |
| 12 | Arts, entertainment and recreation | 28 | 23 to 36 | 14% | 447 | 84 |
| 13 | Administrative and support services | 27 | 19 to 39 | 13% | 2,212 | 649 |
| 14 | Real estate | 26.5 | 19.8 to 38.2 | 18% | 965 | 83 |
| 15 | Electricity and gas supply | 26 | 21 to 34.8 | 12% | 58 | 169 |
| 16 | Human health and social work | 26 | 21.8 to 34 | 12% | 617 | 143 |
| 17 | Education | 25 | 19 to 30 | 15% | 252 | 313 |
| 18 | Financial and insurance | 22 | 15 to 29 | 14% | 503 | 830 |

## Trades (5-digit SIC, 20+ firms)

| SIC | Trade | Sector | Median days | Invoices paid late | Firms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10890 | Manufacture of other food products n.e.c. | Manufacturing | 54 | 17% | 27 |
| 22290 | Manufacture of other plastic products | Manufacturing | 46.5 | 21.5% | 28 |
| 32990 | Other manufacturing n.e.c. | Manufacturing | 44 | 18% | 57 |
| 21100 | Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products | Manufacturing | 44 | 29% | 44 |
| 32500 | Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies | Manufacturing | 43.5 | 26% | 25 |
| 11010 | Distilling, rectifying and blending of spirits | Manufacturing | 43.5 | 21.5% | 20 |
| 21200 | Manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations | Manufacturing | 38 | 29% | 21 |
| 26110 | Manufacture of electronic components | Manufacturing | 37 | 12% | 23 |
| 38110 | Collection of non-hazardous waste | Water, sewerage and waste | 37.5 | 18% | 30 |
| 36000 | Water collection, treatment and supply | Water, sewerage and waste | 30 | 14% | 22 |
| 46342 | Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages | Wholesale and retail trade | 48 | 30% | 23 |
| 46460 | Wholesale of pharmaceutical goods | Wholesale and retail trade | 44 | 21% | 50 |
| 46900 | Non-specialised wholesale trade | Wholesale and retail trade | 42.5 | 12% | 65 |
| 47710 | Retail sale of clothing in specialised stores | Wholesale and retail trade | 37 | 22% | 32 |
| 47910 | Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet | Wholesale and retail trade | 36 | 13.5% | 25 |
| 47190 | Other retail sale in non-specialised stores | Wholesale and retail trade | 36 | 14% | 33 |
| 47110 | Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating | Wholesale and retail trade | 35 | 9% | 28 |
| 45111 | Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles | Wholesale and retail trade | 31 | 11% | 127 |
| 46719 | Wholesale of other fuels and related products | Wholesale and retail trade | 20 | 6% | 21 |
| 56101 | Licensed restaurants | Accommodation and food service | 45 | 8.5% | 29 |
| 56302 | Public houses and bars | Accommodation and food service | 39 | 54% | 26 |
| 55100 | Hotels and similar accommodation | Accommodation and food service | 37 | 19% | 46 |
| 56102 | Unlicensed restaurants and cafes | Accommodation and food service | 14 | 6.5% | 30 |
| 52103 | Operation of warehousing and storage facilities for land transport activities | Transport and storage | 43 | 26.5% | 20 |
| 49410 | Freight transport by road | Transport and storage | 38 | 15% | 44 |
| 49319 | Other urban, suburban or metropolitan passenger land transport (not underground, metro or similar) | Transport and storage | 37 | 9% | 58 |
| 49100 | Passenger rail transport, interurban | Transport and storage | 35 | 16.5% | 22 |
| 43999 | Other specialised construction activities n.e.c. | Construction | 38 | 19% | 45 |
| 43210 | Electrical installation | Construction | 36 | 11% | 31 |
| 42990 | Construction of other civil engineering projects n.e.c. | Construction | 34 | 8% | 32 |
| 41202 | Construction of domestic buildings | Construction | 33 | 12.5% | 38 |
| 41201 | Construction of commercial buildings | Construction | 32 | 10% | 86 |
| 41100 | Development of building projects | Construction | 30 | 16% | 84 |
| 42110 | Construction of roads and motorways | Construction | 29 | 18% | 24 |
| 09100 | Support activities for petroleum and natural gas extraction | Mining and quarrying | 34.5 | 34% | 32 |
| 06100 | Extraction of crude petroleum | Mining and quarrying | 29 | 9% | 55 |
| 96090 | Other service activities n.e.c. | Other service activities | 31 | 13% | 97 |
| 73110 | Advertising agencies | Professional, scientific and technical | 44 | 14% | 59 |
| 72190 | Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering | Professional, scientific and technical | 37.5 | 15% | 32 |
| 70100 | Activities of head offices | Professional, scientific and technical | 32 | 16.5% | 252 |
| 74909 | Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c. | Professional, scientific and technical | 30 | 14% | 65 |
| 71129 | Other engineering activities | Professional, scientific and technical | 26 | 14% | 25 |
| 71122 | Engineering related scientific and technical consulting activities | Professional, scientific and technical | 26 | 16.5% | 23 |
| 70229 | Management consultancy activities other than financial management | Professional, scientific and technical | 25.5 | 10% | 38 |
| 61900 | Other telecommunications activities | Information and communication | 37 | 12% | 67 |
| 62020 | Information technology consultancy activities | Information and communication | 28 | 11% | 61 |
| 62090 | Other information technology service activities | Information and communication | 28 | 16% | 96 |
| 63110 | Data processing, hosting and related activities | Information and communication | 28 | 18% | 23 |
| 62012 | Business and domestic software development | Information and communication | 25 | 11.5% | 45 |
| 63990 | Other information service activities n.e.c. | Information and communication | 25 | 10% | 24 |
| 59113 | Television programme production activities | Information and communication | 21 | 26% | 33 |
| 81100 | Combined facilities support activities | Administrative and support services | 34.5 | 16.5% | 32 |
| 82990 | Other business support service activities n.e.c. | Administrative and support services | 27 | 12% | 389 |
| 77110 | Renting and leasing of cars and light motor vehicles | Administrative and support services | 25 | 4% | 22 |
| 78200 | Temporary employment agency activities | Administrative and support services | 18 | 5% | 42 |
| 78109 | Other activities of employment placement agencies | Administrative and support services | 16 | 6% | 27 |
| 68320 | Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis | Real estate | 30 | 10% | 25 |
| 68209 | Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate | Real estate | 26 | 19% | 23 |
| 35110 | Production of electricity | Electricity and gas supply | 29 | 14% | 82 |
| 35130 | Distribution of electricity | Electricity and gas supply | 21.5 | 7% | 25 |
| 35140 | Trade of electricity | Electricity and gas supply | 18.5 | 4.5% | 23 |
| 86900 | Other human health activities | Human health and social work | 28 | 10.5% | 51 |
| 86101 | Hospital activities | Human health and social work | 26.5 | 12.5% | 26 |
| 85421 | First-degree level higher education | Education | 26 | 22% | 21 |
| 85200 | Primary education | Education | 25 | 15% | 140 |
| 85100 | Pre-primary education | Education | 25 | 17% | 72 |
| 85590 | Other education n.e.c. | Education | 24 | 11% | 25 |
| 85310 | General secondary education | Education | 23 | 16% | 36 |
| 64209 | Activities of other holding companies n.e.c. | Financial and insurance | 26.5 | 16.5% | 123 |
| 66220 | Activities of insurance agents and brokers | Financial and insurance | 24 | 17% | 24 |
| 64999 | Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified | Financial and insurance | 22 | 14% | 204 |
| 64205 | Activities of financial services holding companies | Financial and insurance | 22 | 18.5% | 66 |
| 65120 | Non-life insurance | Financial and insurance | 21.5 | 14% | 80 |
| 66290 | Other activities auxiliary to insurance and pension funding | Financial and insurance | 20.5 | 11% | 21 |
| 66300 | Fund management activities | Financial and insurance | 19.5 | 16% | 51 |
| 64921 | Credit granting by non-deposit taking finance houses and other specialist consumer credit grantors | Financial and insurance | 19.5 | 14.5% | 20 |
| 66120 | Security and commodity contracts dealing activities | Financial and insurance | 19 | 13.5% | 37 |
| 64910 | Financial leasing | Financial and insurance | 19 | 14% | 21 |
| 65110 | Life insurance | Financial and insurance | 19 | 8.5% | 23 |
| 64191 | Banks | Financial and insurance | 17 | 8% | 78 |

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## Cite

Paidnice (2026). UK payment times by industry. https://www.paidnice.com/payment-times/uk. Source: UK payment practices filings (March 2025 to August 2026), Companies House, Insolvency Service.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.