Free tool
Home care cost calculator
Work out roughly what visiting care could cost each week, every four weeks and over a year. Change the numbers to match the care you have in mind.
- Takes a minute
- Nothing saved or sent
- England rates
£34.42 is the Homecare Association minimum price for 2026 to 2027. Private agency prices are usually higher, so enter a quote if you have one.
Estimated weekly cost
£240.94
- Every four weeks
- £963.76
- Over a year
- £12,528.88
- Hours each week
- 7
Short visits often cost more per hour. This is an estimate. Agencies will give you a quote after an assessment.
Live-in care is usually priced by the week, so this calculator does not cover it. Read about live-in care costs.
Source: Homecare Association Minimum Price for Homecare, England, April 2026 to March 2027
How we work it out
We multiply the hourly rate by the hours per visit, the visits per day and the days per week. That gives the weekly cost. Four-weekly is the weekly cost times four, and yearly is the weekly cost times 52.
The starting rate is £34.42 an hour, the Homecare Association Minimum Price for Homecare, England, April 2026 to March 2027. The minimum an agency needs to charge to pay carers the National Living Wage for all working time, including travel, and run safely. Private agency prices are usually higher.
If an agency has given you a quote, put their rate in instead. Live-in care is usually priced by the week, so read our live-in care cost guide for that.
Sources
A guide, not financial advice. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.
Questions families ask
Why do short visits cost more per hour?
Carers still need to travel between homes, and that time has to be paid. Many agencies charge a higher hourly rate for visits of 30 or 45 minutes to cover this.
Why does the calculator start at £34.42 an hour?
This is the Homecare Association minimum price for 2026 to 2027. It is the least an agency needs to charge to pay carers properly and run safely. Private prices are usually higher.
Can I use this for live-in care?
No. Live-in care is usually priced by the week rather than by the hour. Our live-in care cost page explains how it is charged.
Will I get an exact price?
Not from this tool. An agency will visit or call to assess what is needed, then give you a quote.
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