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Industry Aligned

Calculations based on CQC compliance costs and HMRC employer requirements

Always Current

Updated for 2025/26 National Living Wage and latest employer cost rates

Expert Informed

Developed with input from domiciliary care agency operators across the UK

Widely Used

Trusted by care agencies, self-employed carers, and care business consultants

£25-35
Typical UK hourly rate
for home care services
1.5M+
Care workers in the UK
across all care settings
£3-10
Regional variation
between highest and lowest
15-25%
Healthy profit margin
for sustainable agencies

💡Quick Facts for Care Agencies

What does the 2025/26 minimum wage mean for care?

The National Living Wage increased to £12.21/hr in April 2025. Most care agencies pay £12.50-£15/hr to attract quality staff.

How much do councils pay for care?

Council-funded care rates vary from £18-28/hr, often below the true cost of delivery, which is why many agencies focus on private clients.

What hidden costs do agencies forget?

Common oversights include travel time between calls, training costs, holiday pay accrual, and CQC compliance costs.

How It Works

Our intelligent calculator considers all the factors that matter - from staff wages and travel costs to business overheads and profit margins.

1

Input Staff Wages

Add your average care worker pay rate. This forms the basis of your cost calculations.

2

Account for Travel Time

Include travel time or mileage between clients to get a comprehensive view of your operational costs.

3

Set Profit Margin

Add NI, pension, and business overheads to ensure your rates cover all expenses and desired profits.

4

Choose your target margin

Select a profit margin that aligns with your business goals to finalize your rate.

5

Get your recommended rate

Instantly receive a recommended hourly charge rate for your care services based on the inputs provided.

Calculate Your Care Agency Hourly Rate

Ready to find out what you should be charging? Use our Care Agency Rate Calculator to get your personalized rate in just a few minutes.

Interactive Rate Calculator

Adjust the sliders to see your recommended hourly rate update in real-time

Ready to calculate your care agency rates

Quick start with a scenario:

Simplified interface with sliders for basic rate calculation
Detailed form with all cost parameters for precise rate calculation
Use sliders to adjust care agency parameters including staff wages, overheads, and profit margins. Values update in real-time.

Current Settings

Staff Hourly Wage
Value range: 5 to 50
Business Running Costs
Value range: 0 to 20
Target Profit Margin
Value range: 0 to 50

Rate Calculation Parameters

£12.21/hr
£5/hr£50/hr
£3/hr
£0/hr£20/hr
Business running costs per hour including office rent, insurance, management, training, and equipment
20%
0%50%
Your desired profit margin as a percentage to ensure business sustainability and growth
Results update automatically as you adjust values
Local Care Prices

Find Care Prices in Your Area

Compare local care costs for residential, domiciliary, nursing, and live-in care services across the UK.

Typical Home Care Rates in the UK

Most domiciliary care agencies in the UK charge between £25 and £35 per hour, depending on location, staff costs, and level of support.

Use the calculator below to find out where your agency fits within that range.

📍 Compare your rate to national averages

Table showing typical hourly care rates by UK region
RegionTypical Rate
London£30-£35 / hour
South East£28-£33 / hour
South West£27-£32 / hour
Midlands£25-£30 / hour
North England£24-£29 / hour
Wales£25-£30 / hour
Scotland£26-£31 / hour

Want more specific pricing for your area?

📍Find Care Prices in Your Area
Featured Guide

Why This Calculator Matters

Pricing care services isn't straightforward. Most agencies either undercharge and struggle to stay afloat or overcharge and lose clients. All because they don't account for the real cost of delivering high-quality care.

This calculator helps you find the sweet spot by considering all your costs and desired profits, ensuring your agency remains competitive and sustainable.

Latest Care Guides

Stay informed with our latest insights on care costs, planning strategies, and industry updates.

Frequently Asked Questions