The average estate agent in Britain earns the equivalent of £30.93 per day in commission while progressing a property sale from instruction through to completion, with agents in London achieving almost double the national average, research suggests.
Self-employed estate agency brand eXp UK analysed average estate agency fees, average sold house prices, and estimated completion times across the UK property market.
Average estate agency fees were applied to regional average house prices to calculate the estimated fee earned per transaction, which was then divided by the average number of days taken to reach completion in each region and nation of the UK.
At a national level, estate agents charge an average fee of 1.42%. Based on the average UK house price of £270,080, this equates to an estimated commission fee of £3,835 per completed sale. With the average transaction taking 124 days to complete, agents earn the equivalent of £30.93 per day in commission revenue.
CAPITAL GAINS
London is home to the strongest commission day rate in Britain. While the capital’s average completion timeline of 130 days is broadly in line with the national picture, significantly higher property values mean agents earn an estimated fee of £7,848 per transaction, equivalent to £60.37 per day; almost double the national average.
The South East ranks second, with agents earning an estimated £40.54 per day based on an average fee of £5,351 per sale and an average completion period of 132 days. Northern Ireland also performs strongly, with agents generating £39.60 per day, helped by the fastest completion timeline of any area analysed at just 71 days.
Agents in the East of England earn an estimated £36.45 per day, while those in the South West generate £32.55. Scotland also sits above the UK average, with a commission day rate of £32.44, supported by an average completion timeline of just 84 days.
At the other end of the spectrum, estate agents in the North East earn the lowest commission day rate at £19.81. Although the region records the quickest sales process of any English region at 117 days, it is also home to the lowest average house price in the UK at £163,190, resulting in an estimated fee of £2,317 per transaction.
Wales ranks second lowest, with agents earning an estimated £22.35 per day. While average property values are higher than those seen in the North East, the nation records the longest completion timeline of any area analysed at 135 days, reducing the daily value of commission earned. Yorkshire and the Humber (£23.07), the North West (£24.55), and the West Midlands (£26.03) also sit below the national average.
RESULTS BUSINESS
Adam Day, head of eXp UK and Europe, says: “Estate agency is a results-driven business, but the reality is that agents often wait months before seeing any return for the work they put into securing and progressing a sale.
“What this research demonstrates is how regional market dynamics can have a significant influence on earning potential. Property values, transaction timelines, and local market conditions all play a role in determining the commercial environment in which agents operate.
“While higher-value markets naturally generate stronger fees, speed also matters. The ability to progress transactions efficiently remains one of the most important factors in maximising productivity and profitability.”
However, Day cautions that it’s not just about how much commission is generated, it’s about how much of that commission the agent actually retains.
He adds: “Traditional agency models often require agents to share a significant proportion of their revenue with their employer, regardless of the work involved in winning and progressing a sale.
“The growth of self-employed estate agency has given agents far greater control over their earnings. By retaining a larger share of the fees they generate and having the flexibility to build their own business, agents are able to benefit more directly from the value they create. That’s particularly important in a market where transactions can take four months or more to complete and where every completed sale represents a significant investment of time, effort and expertise.”
