Data last verified: 5 November 2026. Figures re-checked against their primary sources under the Whito rolling re-verification programme.
Finding
The number of UK roofing businesses rose 82.1% between 2010 and 2026, from 7,080 to 12,895, and grew in every UK region; Northern Ireland grew least (170 to 195).
Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/roofers/research/uk-roofing-industry, 2026-11-05. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Last Updated on November 6, 2026
Short answer: the UK had 12,895 roofing businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 82.1% up on 2010 (7,080) and 28.8% up on 2021 (10,010). 94.8% employ fewer than ten people. South East has the most per head, 24.6 per 100,000 residents; Northern Ireland has the fewest, 10.1.
This page uses official counts you can rerun yourself, the rules that apply to the trade, and Whito’s published research. The regional and change figures are Whito’s calculations.
The key figures
| Figure | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Roofing businesses (UK, SIC 43910) | 12,895 | ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 (official statistic) |
| Change since 2010 | +82.1% (from 7,080) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Change since 2021 | +28.8% (from 10,010) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 12,230 (94.8%) | Same dataset |
| 250 or more employees | 0 | Same dataset |
| Most per head | South East, 24.6 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Fewest per head | Northern Ireland, 10.1 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
How big are roofers?
| Employees | Businesses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | 12,230 | 94.8% |
| 10 to 49 | 620 | 4.8% |
| 50 to 249 | 45 | 0.3% |
| 250 or more | 0 | 0.0% |
| Total | 12,895 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 43910 “Roofing activities”, 2026, via Nomis (dataset NM_142_1). Counts are rounded to the nearest 5, so bands may not add exactly to the total.
Where roofers are based
| Region or nation | 2010 | 2021 | 2026 | Per 100,000 residents | Change 2010 to 2026 | Change 2021 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East | 1,245 | 1,825 | 2,380 | 24.6 | +91.2% | +30.4% |
| East of England | 875 | 1,245 | 1,540 | 23.3 | +76.0% | +23.7% |
| South West | 765 | 1,035 | 1,360 | 23.0 | +77.8% | +31.4% |
| Scotland | 650 | 935 | 1,180 | 21.3 | +81.5% | +26.2% |
| North East | 285 | 410 | 525 | 19.0 | +84.2% | +28.0% |
| North West | 670 | 985 | 1,350 | 17.4 | +101.5% | +37.1% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 535 | 735 | 955 | 16.8 | +78.5% | +29.9% |
| East Midlands | 485 | 665 | 845 | 16.6 | +74.2% | +27.1% |
| West Midlands | 560 | 830 | 1,015 | 16.4 | +81.2% | +22.3% |
| Wales | 265 | 370 | 490 | 15.4 | +84.9% | +32.4% |
| London | 570 | 800 | 1,055 | 11.6 | +85.1% | +31.9% |
| Northern Ireland | 170 | 175 | 195 | 10.1 | +14.7% | +11.4% |
| United Kingdom | 7,080 | 10,010 | 12,895 | 18.6 | +82.1% | +28.8% |
Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates. Per-head and change figures are Whito calculations. A business is counted once, where it is registered, which is not always where it works.
What stands out
- South East has about 2.4 times as many per head as Northern Ireland (24.6 against 10.1 per 100,000 residents).
- Fastest growth since 2010: North West (+101.5%). Slowest: Northern Ireland (+14.7%).
- Every region has more businesses than in 2021.
- The data cannot say why counts rise or fall. New firms, firms crossing the VAT threshold, mergers, closures and businesses registering elsewhere all move the count.
Rules that apply
There is no licence or statutory register for roofers. Anyone can trade as a roofer.
Voluntary schemes include the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) and its CompetentRoofer scheme. The NFRC presented a new competent person scheme at UK Construction Week in September 2026.
Roofing draws more complaints than any other home maintenance work. Citizens Advice received 8,126 complaints about roofing between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, the most of any home maintenance and improvement type.
What Whito’s research adds
<strong>Many AI-named roofers cannot be matched to a company.</strong> Whito asked Google AI Mode for a trustworthy roofer in 20 UK towns on 22 August 2026. Of the 79 roofing businesses named, 36 (46%) could not be matched to a registered company at Companies House on a one-pass name check. Sole traders do not appear there, so this is not a count of fake firms. See AI-recommended roofers vs Companies House.
Whito-measured figures are collected in UK roofing statistics.
What we do not know yet
- How many people work in the trade. This page counts businesses, not workers.
- The smallest sole traders. Businesses that are neither VAT registered nor employers are not in the ONS count.
- Turnover. We only publish figures we can check at source.
Method and limits
- Business counts: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 43910, all legal statuses, March 2026 snapshot, with 2010 and 2021 for comparison, via the Nomis API (dataset NM_142_1), read 5 November 2026.
- Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates via Nomis (NM_2002_1).
- Counts are rounded to the nearest 5 by ONS. Business counts are March 2026; population is mid-2025.
Compare with other industries: see UK trade businesses in 2026: ten industries compared, one table with each count, its date and the change since 2010 and 2021.
Common questions
How many roofers are there in the UK?
12,895 registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the ONS (SIC 43910).
Is the number of roofers growing?
It rose 28.8% between 2021 and 2026 and rose 82.1% since 2010 (Whito calculation from ONS data).
Which part of the UK has the most roofers?
By number, South East (2,380). Per head, South East, with 24.6 per 100,000 residents.
Are most roofers small?
Yes. 12,230 of 12,895 (94.8%) employ fewer than ten people.
Sources (opened 5 November 2026)
- ONS UK Business Counts via Nomis, NM_142_1: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_142_1
- ONS mid-2025 population estimates via Nomis, NM_2002_1
- Citizens Advice press release (11 Aug 2025): https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/shoddy-tradeswork-is-sparking-more-than-700-complaints-a-week-says-citizens/
- UK Construction Week, NFRC competent person scheme session (Sept 2026): https://www.ukconstructionweek.com/ukcw-bham-26/the-new-nfrc-competent-person-scheme-what-it-means-for-roofing-under-the-building-safety-act
If your business is named here and you think we have a fact wrong, email hello@whito.co.uk and we will check it and correct it. If you want to respond, send us a statement and we will publish it alongside. Full detail: Corrections, right of reply and removals.
