Costs and funding

What does care at home cost?

Prices depend on where you live, the type of care and the hours. Here is what shapes the price, the figures worth knowing, and where help with paying can come from.

Work out a cost Check funding help

A family and their carer chatting over tea around the kitchen table — “Always ask for every rate in writing: weekdays, evenings, weekends and bank holidays.”
Hattie’s tip for comparing quotes

The numbers worth knowing

Published figures for England. We check them when they change each year.

£34.42 an hour

The Homecare Association minimum price for home care in England, 2026 to 2027. Private prices are usually higher.

Source

£23,250 upper limit

Over this in savings, you will usually pay the full cost of care yourself.

Source

£14,250 lower limit

Under this, the council may meet more of the cost, depending on income.

Source

£114.60 a week

Attendance Allowance at the higher rate (£76.70 at the lower rate). Not means tested.

Source

If you need care to stay living at home, the council’s financial assessment does not include the value of the home you live in. Source

How care at home is usually charged

Each type of care is priced in its own way, which is why quotes can be hard to compare.

By the hour

Visiting care

You pay for the time carers spend with you, often with a minimum visit length.

About visiting care →By the night

Overnight care

Usually a set price per night, with waking nights costing more than sleeping nights.

About overnight care →By the week

Live-in care

A weekly price for a carer who lives in, depending on the level of need.

About live-in care →

What affects the price

Agencies set their own prices. These are the things that make the biggest difference.

Where you livePrices tend to be higher where wages and living costs are higher, and in rural areas where carers travel further.
Time of dayEarly mornings, evenings and nights can cost more than daytime visits.
Weekends and bank holidaysMany agencies charge a higher rate on these days, so ask for every rate in writing.
Visit lengthShort visits usually cost more per hour, because travel between visits still has to be paid.
Travel and mileageSome agencies include travel in the rate. Others add mileage for shopping trips and errands.
The type of careMore complex needs, or visits that need two carers, cost more than companionship or help with meals.

Free tool

Work out a weekly cost in a minute

Put in the hours you have in mind, or a quote from an agency, and see the weekly, four-weekly and yearly cost. Nothing you enter is saved.

Hourly rate
Visit length
Visits a day
Days a week

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Cost guides

All articles

An older couple looking through paperwork at the kitchen table with a pot of tea

Costs and funding8 min read

How much does home care cost per hour?

Home care is usually charged by the hour, but the price depends on where you live, when visits happen and how long they last. Here is what shapes the cost and how to compare quotes fairly.

Len Burgess1 October 2026

Read the guide →

A live-in carer and an older woman chatting over lunch

Costs and funding8 min read

How much does live-in care cost?

Live-in care is usually charged as a weekly rate rather than by the hour. The price depends on the type of agency, the level of need and a few practical details at home.

Len Burgess1 October 2026

Read the guide →

A woman smiling on the phone at home, arranging care for her mum

Costs and funding9 min read

Paying for care at home

Some people pay for all their home care, others get help from the council, benefits or the NHS. Here is how funding for care at home works in England.

Len Burgess1 October 2026

Read the guide →

Help with paying

You may not have to pay for everything yourself

Many families pay for some or all of their care, but help is often available. Our guide to paying for care explains each option, and the funding checker shows what may apply in a couple of minutes.

The council can assess care needs, and then finances, to see if it will help
The value of the home is not counted when care is at home
Attendance Allowance is not means tested, so savings do not affect it
If needs are mainly health needs, the NHS may pay through NHS Continuing Healthcare

Check what help may apply

Questions families ask

Is there a typical hourly price for home care?

No. Agencies set their own prices, which vary by area, time of day and visit length. The Homecare Association minimum price is a useful floor, and private prices are usually higher.

Why is live-in care priced by the week?

A live-in carer stays in the home, so agencies price the whole week rather than each hour. The price depends on how much help is needed, including at night.

Does the council pay for home care?

It may. The council carries out a needs assessment and, if you are eligible, a financial assessment. With savings under the upper limit, the council may contribute.

Do families pay Hello Hattie anything?

No. Our matching service is free for families. Care agencies pay us when we introduce them to a family.

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