Payment Terms Statistics
Last updated: June 2026 · 7 sourced statistics
Payment terms set the clock on every invoice — and law increasingly constrains how long that clock can run. The EU caps B2B terms at 60 days by default, public authorities at 30, and grants automatic late-payment compensation. The UK's Prompt Payment Code holds large signatories to 30-day payment of small-supplier invoices. Below are the key benchmarks and rules with sources.
Key takeaways
- EU law caps standard B2B payment terms at 60 days unless both parties expressly agree otherwise.
- EU statutory late-payment interest is the ECB reference rate plus at least 8 percentage points.
- Despite net-30 norms, 40–53% of B2B invoice value is paid late depending on region (Atradius).
At a glance
Every figure on this page in one table, each linked to its named source. Scroll down for the full context behind each number.
| Figure | What it measures | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 days | EU Directive 2011/7/EU caps business-to-business payment terms at 60 calendar days unless expressly agreed otherwise and not grossly unfair to the creditor. | EU Late Payment Directive 2011/7/EU | 2011 |
| 30 days | Public authorities in the EU must pay suppliers within 30 days in most circumstances under the same directive. | EU Late Payment Directive 2011/7/EU | 2011 |
| ECB+8% | EU statutory interest for late commercial payment is the ECB reference rate plus a minimum of 8 percentage points, plus a flat €40 recovery fee per invoice. | EU Late Payment Directive 2011/7/EU | 2011 |
| 30-day cap | The European Commission has proposed replacing the directive with a stricter Late Payment Regulation featuring a harder 30-day cap — still under negotiation. | European Commission proposal | 2023 |
| 30 days | UK Prompt Payment Code signatories must pay 95% of small-supplier invoices within 30 days. | UK Small Business Commissioner / Prompt Payment Code | 2021 |
| 40–47% | Even with net-30 as the de facto standard, 40% of North American and 47% of Western European B2B invoice value runs past due (Atradius). | Atradius Payment Practices Barometer | 2025 |
| 1.5%/mo | In the US, late fees of about 1.5% per month (18% APR) are enforceable in most states when disclosed in the contract or invoice before work begins. | Common US state usury and contract law (varies by state) | 2024 |
The statistics
EU Directive 2011/7/EU caps business-to-business payment terms at 60 calendar days unless expressly agreed otherwise and not grossly unfair to the creditor.
Source:EU Late Payment Directive 2011/7/EU2011
Public authorities in the EU must pay suppliers within 30 days in most circumstances under the same directive.
Source:EU Late Payment Directive 2011/7/EU2011
EU statutory interest for late commercial payment is the ECB reference rate plus a minimum of 8 percentage points, plus a flat €40 recovery fee per invoice.
Source:EU Late Payment Directive 2011/7/EU2011
The European Commission has proposed replacing the directive with a stricter Late Payment Regulation featuring a harder 30-day cap — still under negotiation.
Source:European Commission proposal2023
UK Prompt Payment Code signatories must pay 95% of small-supplier invoices within 30 days.
Source:UK Small Business Commissioner / Prompt Payment Code2021
Even with net-30 as the de facto standard, 40% of North American and 47% of Western European B2B invoice value runs past due (Atradius).
Source:Atradius Payment Practices Barometer2025
In the US, late fees of about 1.5% per month (18% APR) are enforceable in most states when disclosed in the contract or invoice before work begins.
Source:Common US state usury and contract law (varies by state)2024
When these numbers don't apply
Aggregate statistics hide a lot. Read these caveats before quoting a figure as if it describes your specific situation.
- EU caps are defaults — parties can agree longer terms if 'not grossly unfair,' a clause interpreted differently across member states.
- US late-fee enforceability (commonly 1.5%/month) varies by state usury law and requires prior contractual disclosure.
- The proposed EU Late Payment Regulation with a harder 30-day cap is still under negotiation — do not treat it as current law.
How we compiled this data
Compiled June 2026 from EU legislation (Directive 2011/7/EU and the proposed Late Payment Regulation), UK Prompt Payment Code documentation, Atradius survey data, and general US small-business guidance. Legal provisions are summarized — consult counsel for jurisdiction-specific advice.
We hand-collected each figure from its original publisher rather than recycling secondary round-ups, cross-checked the headline numbers against the source documents in June 2026, and link every statistic to the report it came from so you can verify it yourself. Where a publisher issues annual updates, we cite the report edition and flag the year inline.
Frequently asked questions
What are standard payment terms in B2B?
Net 30 is the most common baseline in US and European B2B trade, with net 60 and net 90 appearing in enterprise and retail supply chains. EU law caps standard terms at 60 days.
Is there a legal maximum payment term?
In the EU, yes: 60 days B2B by default and 30 days for public authorities. The US has no federal cap for private contracts, though prompt-payment laws govern government work.
What late fee can I charge?
EU: statutory interest at ECB + 8 points plus €40 flat. US: commonly 1.5% per month where state law permits and the fee was disclosed in advance.
Related statistics
Stop becoming a late-payment statistic
Create professional invoices in seconds and track every payment — free to start.
Try InvoiceQuickly Free