One of the most common questions we receive is straightforward: which humanoid robots can a UK business actually access today? Not which ones are announced, not which ones are exciting on YouTube, but which ones a UK organisation can realistically deploy, trial, or procure a demonstration of in 2026.
The honest answer is that the market is still early. The number of platforms a UK buyer can access today is smaller than the number of platforms that exist globally, and smaller again than the number that will be available in two or three years. This guide sets out what we know, distinguishes clearly between different levels of availability, and is honest about what remains unverified.
Entries in this guide are being sourced and verified for the full searchable database. Each platform listed here will have a dedicated directory entry with sourced specifications, pricing notes, and UK provider details once that work is complete. This guide describes the current landscape qualitatively and honestly.
Understanding availability
What "available in the UK" actually means
Availability for humanoid robots is not binary. A platform may be commercially deployed elsewhere in the world but not yet represented by a UK distributor. It may be available for purchase from a manufacturer but require a UK buyer to handle import, certification, and support themselves. It may be available only on a managed Robot as a Service contract where the provider retains ownership and handles maintenance. Or it may be genuinely available to purchase through an established UK channel.
This guide uses four categories to describe availability status. Understanding these before evaluating any platform will save you time.
In deployment: The platform is deployed in real operational settings, either in the UK specifically or in comparable commercial environments internationally. Real-world performance data exists, even if it is limited.
Available on RaaS: The platform can be accessed via a Robot as a Service contract, where the manufacturer or a provider retains ownership and charges an operational fee. The buyer does not purchase the robot outright. This is the most common commercial model for high-capability platforms at present.
Available for UK pilot or trial: A UK buyer can arrange a managed pilot or demonstration through the manufacturer or a UK representative. This typically involves a formal engagement process and may involve cost. It is not the same as a product being freely available to purchase.
Available to purchase: The platform can be purchased outright through a UK channel, with local support and warranty arrangements in place. This category remains small for humanoid robots in 2026.
Platforms in or near commercial deployment
Platforms with real UK or European relevance in 2026
Agility Robotics Digit
Digit is among the most commercially deployed humanoid robots in existence. Agility Robotics, which is owned by Amazon's industrial robotics arm, has been running Digit in Amazon fulfilment centres in the United States in a structured operational pilot. Digit is bipedal, designed specifically for warehouse pick-and-place operations, and optimised for the repetitive, structured tasks that characterise large fulfilment operations.
UK availability: Agility Robotics operates primarily from the United States. UK deployment would require either a direct engagement with the manufacturer or a formal partnership with a UK logistics provider that has an established relationship with Agility or Amazon. There is no publicly confirmed UK distributor as of this writing. A UK business interested in Digit should contact Agility Robotics directly. Entry in the full directory: being sourced. Verification date: this entry will be updated when direct contact is made with Agility's commercial team.
Figure robots (Figure AI)
Figure AI has been running a commercial deployment of its Figure platform at a BMW manufacturing facility in the United States under a Robot as a Service model. This is a significant milestone: it represents one of the first examples of a humanoid robot performing real production tasks in a well-documented industrial setting. Figure's RaaS pricing is the subject of trade press reporting but has not been independently verified by this directory.
UK availability: Figure AI is a US company and has not announced a UK distributor or UK deployment partner as of September 2026. A UK buyer at scale, particularly in manufacturing, could engage Figure's commercial team directly. The RaaS model means the question is not whether you can afford the robot but whether Figure will enter a contract with you and whether they have UK service capacity. Entry in the full directory: being sourced. The platform will have a full profile once specifications and UK contacts are verified.
Unitree G1 and H1
Unitree Robotics, based in China, makes some of the most accessible humanoid platforms currently available anywhere in the world. The G1 has been offered at a list price that is significantly lower than most comparable platforms, making it the most discussed entry-level option in the market. The H1 is a more capable platform aimed at research and commercial evaluation use cases.
UK availability: Unitree robots can in principle be imported by a UK buyer, and a small number of UK-based technology companies and researchers have done so. However, there is no dedicated UK distributor with established warranty and support infrastructure as of this writing. A buyer who imports a Unitree robot directly takes on the support and maintenance burden themselves, and should factor in import duty and VAT when assessing the real cost. This directory is actively seeking to verify current UK import routes and pricing. Entry in the full directory: being sourced. The G1 and H1 will each have dedicated profiles.
Boston Dynamics Atlas
Boston Dynamics is one of the best-known names in robotics, and Atlas is its fully electric humanoid platform. Boston Dynamics has UK and European presence through its parent company Hyundai and through established commercial relationships for its Spot wheeled robot. However, Atlas is not a product available for purchase or standard RaaS in the way that Spot is. Atlas is a research and development platform whose commercial availability for external buyers is not currently confirmed.
UK buyers interested in Atlas should contact Boston Dynamics UK directly. Boston Dynamics does have UK representation and operates through European channels, which may make a managed engagement more accessible than for purely US-based manufacturers. Entry in the full directory: being sourced, with UK contact details being verified.
Platforms approaching commercial availability
Platforms expected to enter commercial availability within 12 to 24 months
Tesla Optimus
Tesla's Optimus platform has received considerable media attention. As of mid-2026, Tesla is deploying Optimus in its own factories in a structured internal pilot. Third-party sales to external buyers are not expected before 2027 at the earliest, based on reported statements from Tesla. UK availability therefore remains a 2027-plus question at best. This directory will update the Optimus entry as commercial timeline information becomes available from primary sources.
1X Technologies Neo
1X Technologies, a Norwegian company backed by significant investment including from OpenAI, has developed the Neo platform for indoor service environments. The company has been more vocal about its commercial roadmap than some competitors. 1X has European roots, which may translate to earlier UK availability than for purely US-based platforms. UK availability: not confirmed as of September 2026. 1X's commercial team should be the contact for UK deployment enquiries. Entry in the full directory: being sourced.
Apptronik Apollo
Apptronik, based in Austin, Texas, has developed the Apollo platform for manufacturing and logistics applications. Apollo has been the subject of commercial agreements with major manufacturers. UK availability and UK distributor arrangements are not confirmed as of September 2026. Entry in the full directory: being sourced.
UK providers and hire
UK-based providers and hire options
For UK businesses that want to experience humanoid or advanced robot platforms without committing to a purchase or RaaS contract, UK-based hire and demonstration providers offer a more accessible entry point. Several UK companies operate in the adjacent event, demonstration, and short-term hire market for advanced robotic platforms.
This directory is compiling a verified list of UK providers that handle humanoid platforms specifically. The provider directory is being built alongside the robot listings, and entries will be added as they are individually verified. If you are a UK provider of humanoid robot hire, demonstration, or deployment services, you can register an interest in a listing via hello@humanoidrobotdirectory.co.uk.
For information on hire-specific options, see the sister site humanoidrobothire.co.uk, which focuses specifically on hire and short-term access routes for UK organisations.
A note on this guide
How this guide is maintained
This guide reflects the state of UK humanoid robot availability as of September 2026. The market is developing quickly and individual entries will be updated when new information is verified. Each entry in the full searchable database will carry a source citation and a last-verified date. Where information is unverified, it is labelled as such.
If you have verified information about UK availability or pricing for any platform listed here, corrections and additions are welcome at hello@humanoidrobotdirectory.co.uk. Manufacturers and providers who wish to have a verified listing in the directory should use the same address.
For a technical comparison of how the main platforms differ in specifications and capabilities, see Humanoid robot comparison 2026: how the main platforms differ.
Related guides
Related guides
Common questions
Common questions about humanoid robots available in the UK
Which humanoid robots can actually be bought or hired in the UK in 2026?
As of September 2026, no major commercial humanoid robot manufacturer has confirmed UK distribution through a standard channel. Unitree G1 and H1 units can be imported from China with import duty and VAT applying. Agility Robotics Digit and Figure AI's platform require direct commercial agreements with the manufacturers. UK-based robotics system integrators can act as access routes for some platforms, but availability is project-by-project rather than through a standard procurement channel.
What import costs apply when bringing a humanoid robot into the UK?
For robots imported from China, UK import duty typically applies under the relevant tariff code, plus 20% VAT on the full customs value. The exact duty rate depends on the tariff classification of the robot, which should be confirmed with a UK customs broker before procurement. The landed cost in the UK is therefore materially higher than the manufacturer's listed price.
Do humanoid robots imported from outside the UK need UK safety certification?
Yes. Machinery placed on the UK market must comply with UK machinery safety regulations, which include conformity assessment requirements. A robot deployed in a UK workplace must be safe for the workers in that environment under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations and other relevant UK health and safety law. US or China-certified products do not automatically meet UK requirements; a compliance review by a qualified professional is required.