Business rates in Reading: is your bill too high?
5,541 business properties in Reading have a 2026 rateable value. The middle one is £14,750. See how yours compares with similar properties nearby, free.
Typical values by property type
Medians across Reading. Price per m² is rateable value divided by floor area, where the Valuation Office publishes a summary valuation.
| Type | Properties | Median RV | Median £/m² | Middle half £/m² | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| shops | 1,317 | £15,250 | £208 | £148–£289 | More |
| offices | 1,658 | £12,750 | £305 | £174–£399 | More |
| workshops | 309 | £15,250 | £102 | £88–£130 | More |
| warehouses | 356 | £57,500 | £112 | £92–£133 | More |
| factories | 48 | £78,750 | £98 | £81–£118 | More |
| restaurants | 110 | £49,750 | £213 | £149–£285 | More |
| cafés | 23 | £27,500 | £229 | £145–£326 | More |
| pubs | 89 | £34,000 | — | — | More |
| hair salons | 19 | £11,250 | £251 | £155–£299 | More |
| vehicle repair workshops | 16 | £50,500 | £131 | £117–£152 | More |
| business units | 7 | £12,500 | £121 | £115–£139 | More |
| day nurseries | 46 | £50,875 | £229 | £169–£242 | More |
Towns in Reading
Questions about business rates in Reading
How are business rates worked out in Reading?
Your council multiplies your rateable value (set by the Valuation Office) by a multiplier, then takes off any reliefs. For 2026/27 in England the multipliers run from 38.2p (small retail, hospitality and leisure) to 50.8p (rateable values of £500,000+).
Is my business rates bill too high in Reading?
The quickest way to tell is to compare the price per m² the Valuation Office applied to your property with similar properties nearby. Our free check does that in seconds using the published 2026 list.
Can I challenge it myself?
Yes. You claim your property in a GOV.UK business rates valuation account, raise a Check, then Challenge within 4 months of the decision. Our evidence pack (£99) gives you the comparables and statement to upload.
Many no-win-no-fee rating agents charge 25% to 50% of what you save, sometimes for every year of the list.
Illustration: if a challenge cut a bill by £2,000 a year for three years, a 35% fee would be £2,100. Our RV under £51,000 pack is £99. Your result could be higher, lower or nothing.
- RV under £51,000
- £99
- RV £51,000–£149,999
- £199
- RV £150,000–£499,999
- £349
One-off, VAT included. You keep 100% of any saving.
Fee terms published by UK rating agents, surveyors and a trade-body partner service, checked October 2026. Some agents charge less (from 10%, sometimes capped) and some add upfront fees. Agents do the work for you, and RICS-regulated surveyors can be worth it for complex or high-value properties. Full comparison.
Aggregate statistics computed from the Valuation Office’s Rating List Downloads (2026 list) for non-domestic rating purposes. Individual properties are shown only through the free check. Not affiliated with the Valuation Office. Data notice