Guides ›

Invoice payment terms in the UK: 30 days, 60 days and what's legal

Updated 16 October 2026 · Sources: GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk

Clear payment terms are the cheapest way to get paid on time. Here's what UK law says about invoice payment terms for business customers. This is general information, not legal advice.

The default: 30 days

If you didn't agree a payment date, the law treats a B2B invoice as due 30 days after the later of the customer receiving the invoice or receiving the goods or services. See the GOV.UK guidance on late commercial payments.

Can you agree longer terms?

Yes, but terms longer than 60 days must be fair to both parties. Public authorities must generally pay within 30 days. Large companies must report their payment practices publicly, so you can look up how quickly a big client really pays on the payment practices reporting service.

Shorter terms

There's nothing stopping you agreeing 7 or 14 days, or payment on receipt. Smaller agencies and trades often get paid faster with 14 days, a deposit up front and staged payments on bigger jobs.

Wording that works

• "Payment due within 14 days of the invoice date."
• "Late payments may incur interest and compensation under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998."
• Your bank details and the invoice number to use as a reference.

What happens if they're late?

From the day after the due date you can claim statutory interest and compensation. Use the calculator below to see how much an overdue invoice is worth.