Data last verified: 5 November 2026. Figures re-checked against their primary sources under the Whito rolling re-verification programme.
Finding
Domestic building firms registered in London rose from 3,400 in 2010 to 13,215 in 2026, almost four times as many, while Northern Ireland's fell from 2,310 to 1,910.
Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/builders/research/uk-builders-industry, 2026-11-05. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Last Updated on November 6, 2026
Short answer: the UK had 59,685 domestic building firms registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is more than double the 2010 figure (29,810) and 14.0% up on 2021 (52,355). 95.9% employ fewer than ten people. London has the most per head, 144.9 per 100,000 residents; Scotland has the fewest, 39.0.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic building firms (UK, SIC 41202) | 59,685 | ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 (official statistic) |
| Change since 2010 | +100.2% (from 29,810) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Change since 2021 | +14.0% (from 52,355) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 57,210 (95.9%) | Same dataset |
| 250 or more employees | 60 | Same dataset |
| Most per head | London, 144.9 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Fewest per head | Scotland, 39.0 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
How big are domestic builders?
| Employees | Businesses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | 57,210 | 95.9% |
| 10 to 49 | 2,080 | 3.5% |
| 50 to 249 | 335 | 0.6% |
| 250 or more | 60 | 0.1% |
| Total | 59,685 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 41202 “Construction of domestic buildings”, 2026, via Nomis (dataset NM_142_1). Counts are rounded to the nearest 5, so bands may not add exactly to the total.
Where domestic builders are based
| Region or nation | 2010 | 2021 | 2026 | Per 100,000 residents | Change 2010 to 2026 | Change 2021 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 3,400 | 11,830 | 13,215 | 144.9 | +288.7% | +11.7% |
| East of England | 3,360 | 6,475 | 7,320 | 110.7 | +117.9% | +13.1% |
| South East | 4,900 | 8,695 | 10,020 | 103.4 | +104.5% | +15.2% |
| South West | 3,375 | 5,185 | 5,910 | 100.1 | +75.1% | +14.0% |
| Northern Ireland | 2,310 | 1,940 | 1,910 | 99.0 | -17.3% | -1.5% |
| East Midlands | 2,045 | 3,305 | 3,800 | 74.7 | +85.8% | +15.0% |
| West Midlands | 2,150 | 3,440 | 4,320 | 69.6 | +100.9% | +25.6% |
| Wales | 1,465 | 1,940 | 2,125 | 66.9 | +45.1% | +9.5% |
| North West | 2,450 | 3,790 | 4,475 | 57.6 | +82.7% | +18.1% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 1,975 | 2,865 | 3,265 | 57.6 | +65.3% | +14.0% |
| North East | 645 | 965 | 1,170 | 42.3 | +81.4% | +21.2% |
| Scotland | 1,740 | 1,925 | 2,160 | 39.0 | +24.1% | +12.2% |
| United Kingdom | 29,810 | 52,355 | 59,685 | 85.9 | +100.2% | +14.0% |
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
- London has about 3.7 times as many per head as Scotland (144.9 against 39.0 per 100,000 residents).
- Fastest growth since 2010: London (+288.7%). Slowest: Northern Ireland (-17.3%).
- Fewer businesses than in 2021: Northern Ireland (-1.5%).
- 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 to work as a builder in the UK. Building work must meet the Building Regulations, checked by building control or, for some types of work, self-certified by a member of a competent person scheme.
The Building Safety Regulator, which oversees higher-risk buildings, became a standalone body under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in 2026 (HSE bulletin, 2 February 2026).
The ONS also counts 18,240 firms in code 41201, construction of commercial buildings. This page covers domestic building firms (41202) only.
What Whito’s research adds
<strong>Few builders sell energy upgrades.</strong> On 4 November 2026, 3 of 32 builders on the first page of Google in eight UK cities offered any energy upgrade work on their website, and none named a government grant scheme or MCS. See Do builders offer energy upgrade work?
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 41202, 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 domestic builders are there in the UK?
59,685 registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the ONS (SIC 41202).
Is the number of domestic builders growing?
It rose 14.0% between 2021 and 2026 and rose 100.2% since 2010 (Whito calculation from ONS data).
Which part of the UK has the most domestic builders?
By number, London (13,215). Per head, London, with 144.9 per 100,000 residents.
Are most domestic builders small?
Yes. 57,210 of 59,685 (95.9%) 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
- HSE bulletin on the Building Safety Regulator (2 Feb 2026): https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKHSE/bulletins/406cd62
- GOV.UK, use a competent person scheme: https://www.gov.uk/building-regulations-approval/use-a-competent-person-scheme
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.
