Producer Day Rates UK

Producers in the UK who want a clear, simple way to price work. This guide will help you quote fairly and consistently. Here’s a practical way to build, explain, and improve your producer day rate.

What a producer day rate actually covers

A day rate is a fixed fee for a full working day, typically 10+1 in TV/film (10 hours worked plus a one-hour unpaid lunch under the current Pact/Bectu TV Drama Agreement). It pays for your time and the work wrapped around it: budgeting, scheduling, call sheets, supplier wrangling, risk and compliance, and the fact you’ve blocked the day for one client. Half-days (about 4–5 hours) are useful for smaller briefs, but they’re not 50% of a day; there’s still prep, calls and paperwork. Many producers pitch half-days at 60 to 70% of the full rate, and set overtime per hour (or per 30 minutes) once the booked window ends. For commercials, APA/Bectu guidance also frames the working day and increases to recommended rates.

What’s included in a producer day rate

A clean, client-friendly structure protects your time and margins:

• Half-day: up to 5 hours on site (or remote), single-unit coordination, basic call sheet, supplier holds.
• Full-day: up to 10 hours worked + 1 hour lunch; fully managed schedule, call sheets, risk notes, unit coordination, post-wrap admin.
• Prep/admin day: budgeting, schedules, permits, suppliers, insurances, POs; quoted as a labour day (no on-site).

Make clear what’s included (hours, deliverables, call-sheet scope, number of suppliers/locations) and what’s extra (overtime, additional travel, sixth day premiums, late call changes, studio/location hire, assistants/PM/PC support). For commercials, cite APA/Bectu terms on day length and overtime whenever you might need justification for your choices.

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