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).
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
Methodology & sources
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.
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.
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