UK side hustle statistics 2026: how many people, what they earn and HMRC data
The key UK side hustle statistics for 2026 in one place: how many people have a side hustle, average earnings by age and region, second jobs, and HMRC's platform data on nearly 4 million online sellers. All sourced.
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This page brings together the most useful, up-to-date figures on side hustles in the UK, with a link to every source. I update it as new data comes out. If you use these figures, please link back to this page.
How many people in the UK have a side hustle?
Finder's January 2026 survey of 2,000 adults in Great Britain, carried out by Censuswide, found:
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Adults with a side hustle that earns money | 46% |
| A year earlier (2025) | 39% |
| Adults with a side hustle that earns nothing yet | 24% |
| Men with a paid side hustle | 53% |
| Women with a paid side hustle | 39% |
Source: Finder side hustle statistics, fieldwork 3 to 6 January 2026.
Surveys define "side hustle" broadly, including selling unwanted things online. Official figures for second jobs, below, are much lower because they only count a second paid job.
How much do side hustlers earn?
According to Finder's survey, people with a paid side hustle earn on average:
| Period | Average earnings |
|---|---|
| A week | £201 |
| A month | £872 |
| A year | £10,462 |
39% of side hustlers earn more than £20 a week on average, which over a year can take them past the £1,000 trading allowance.
Averages are pulled up by a small number of high earners, so most people earn less than this. For what you would keep after tax, see the tax on side income examples.
Earnings by age group
| Generation | Share earning from a side hustle | Average monthly earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | 61% | £1,110 |
| Millennials | 55% | £1,321 |
| Gen X | 35% | £649 |
| Baby boomers | 17% | £313 |
| Silent generation | 19% | £175 |
Earnings by region
| Region | Average monthly earnings |
|---|---|
| London | £1,331 |
| West Midlands | £1,269 |
| North West | £1,230 |
| North East | £1,099 |
| East Midlands | £940 |
| Northern Ireland | £862 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £685 |
| South East | £647 |
| South West | £633 |
| Scotland | £628 |
| Wales | £620 |
| East of England | £556 |
Age and regional figures are from Finder's published tables. Some figures in the article text differ slightly from its tables, so treat them as a guide rather than exact.
Why people start a side hustle
| Reason | Share of side hustlers |
|---|---|
| Need extra money for day-to-day living costs | 28% |
| Building wealth or saving for a goal like a house | 14% |
| A safety net or worried about job security | 7% |
Younger people are most likely to cite living costs: 30% of Gen Z and 26% of millennials.
The most popular side hustles
Finder reports the most popular side hustles as selling old clothes online, a part-time second job, and creating social media content. Broadly, they fall into five groups:
- Selling old or refurbished items
- Creating content
- Making and selling products
- A second part-time job
- Manual work
Compare them in our best side hustles UK guide.
Second jobs: the official figures
The Office for National Statistics counts people with a second paid job.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| People with a second job | 1.283 million |
| Share of people in work | 3.7% |
| Total people in work (16+) | 34.48 million |
Period: May to July 2026. Source: ONS Employment in the UK, September 2026.
HMRC and online sellers
Since 1 January 2024, online platforms such as Vinted, eBay, Etsy and Airbnb have had to report sellers to HMRC if they make 30 or more sales, or receive about £1,700, in a calendar year. A Freedom of Information request by the accountancy firm BDO revealed how much data HMRC now holds:
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Online sellers reported to HMRC | 1,466,171 | 3,988,892 |
| Total paid to those sellers | £25.5 billion | £54.8 billion |
| Reports filed by UK platforms | 806 | 811 |
As at February 2026, HMRC said it had not yet taken enforcement action using this data, as its matching systems were still being finished. Sources: BDO and Tax Adviser magazine.
Being reported does not mean you owe tax. Selling your own unwanted things is not taxable. Read what to do if HMRC writes to you.
Side hustle tax thresholds
| Rule | Figure |
|---|---|
| Trading allowance, 2026/27 | £1,000 |
| Trading allowance, from 6 April 2027 | £3,000 |
| Rent a Room tax-free limit | £7,500 |
| Making Tax Digital threshold, from April 2027 | Self-employed and property income over £30,000 |
| Making Tax Digital threshold, from April 2028 | Over £20,000 |
Common questions
What percentage of people in the UK have a side hustle?
46% of adults in Great Britain have a side hustle that earns money, according to Finder's January 2026 survey. Official ONS figures show 3.7% of workers have a second paid job, which is a much narrower measure.
What is the average side hustle income in the UK?
£872 a month, or about £10,460 a year, according to Finder's 2026 survey. Most people earn less than the average, which is lifted by a smaller group of high earners.
How many online sellers does HMRC know about?
HMRC received data on 3,988,892 online sellers for 2025, according to figures BDO obtained through a Freedom of Information request.
This is general information, not personal tax or financial advice. Tax rules change and depend on your circumstances, so check GOV.UK or speak to an accountant before acting.
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