Set Dec Rate Calculator 2025-26

Minimum refers to 1-2 years' experience at that grade. No one should accept less when taking on the responsibility that comes with that grade. These are the base rates, based on the minimum rates crew members have been paid in these roles over the last year, adjusted for inflation.

Recommended minimum refers to 3+ years' experience at that grade. These are guide rates for anyone with at least 3 years' experience in the role. Crew members should negotiate upwards of these rates according to skill level and experience.

This depends on which contract you're working under. For features over £30m, your contract is based on the PACT-BECTU MMP Agreement, where contracted hours are 11+1 (11 hours work, 1 hour lunch) for off-set crew.

For TV Drama productions following the PACT-BECTU TV Drama Agreement, hours are 10+1. You could also be scheduled on a Semi-Continuous Working Day (SCWD: 9.5+30) or a Continuous Working Day (CWD: 9) if agreed between your HoD and production.

Productions that don't follow either agreement are free to negotiate their own terms. Nevertheless, it's widely agreed that the Art Department is a self-scheduling department and traditionally works 9+1 for the rates on the rate card.

The BECTU Art Department committee provide a guide for minimum box rentals and allowances that crew should claim. This should depend on the value of your kit, and many members claim higher rates. Note that "computer allowance" is for a basic laptop or desktop — if you have computer equipment of high value, claim "Specialist Kit Rental" at a higher rate.

Each year, the BECTU Art Department Branch holds a rates survey and collects results. In lieu of survey data this year, the 2025/26 rate card changes are based on a 2.60% increase over the previous year, in line with the Construction Branch's annual inflation increase. Certain roles have seen an augmented increase of up to 5.5% in support of commitments to establish parity between select departments and roles.

Inflation was 3.8% in the last 12 months — crew should remind productions when negotiating that anything less than a 3.8% increase on your rate after a year is a real terms pay cut. See the parity chart on the rate card download, available on the Bectu Art Department website.

Art Department, Set Decoration and Graphics do not do "Prep and Wrap" (unpaid hours at the beginning and end of the day). The Art Department is not listed as a prep and wrap department on the MMP Agreement or the TV Drama Agreement.

Art Department rates can be found on the Bectu rate card download page or on the Filmbase Art Department rates page. Graphics rates are on the Bectu rate card download page, or listed on the Graphics Union website. The BECTU Art Department Committee also publish a low budget rates action plan.

The bands on the rate card are dictated by the Bectu-PACT TV and Film agreements. The film agreement, the Major Motion Picture (MMP) Agreement, is for films with budgets over £30 million. There are currently no agreements for films under £30 million, but the Bectu Art Department committee have identified 3 other commonly used bands: Motion Picture (£5M-30M), Feature Film (£1M-5M) and Low Budget (under £1M). The Bectu-PACT TV agreement specifies 4 budget bands, used to group rates for TV.

The rate cards are the work of the Bectu Art Department Branch Committee and can be downloaded from the Bectu Art Department website. If you have questions about these rates, contact the committee at info@bectuartdepartment.co.uk.

These rates are inclusive of holiday pay at 12.07%. PAYE and self-employed crew members are paid holiday pay at the end of the contract. Crew members who are LTD will not have holiday pay separated out. The Bectu Art Department is currently questioning the legality of holiday pay being paid at the end of a contract.