About Care Calculator

Welcome to Care Calculator, the UK's most comprehensive free tool for calculating care agency rates and understanding care costs across the country.

Our Mission

We believe that transparent pricing in the care industry benefits everyone—care providers, care workers, and families seeking care services. Our mission is to provide accurate, easy-to-use tools that help care agencies set fair and sustainable rates while maintaining transparency about the true costs of quality care.

What We Offer

Care Agency Rate Calculator

Our flagship calculator helps domiciliary care agencies determine their ideal hourly charge rates by accounting for:

Care worker wages and employment costs
Travel time and mileage
Business overheads and operational expenses
Desired profit margins
Regional variations in costs

The calculator provides both simple and advanced modes, making it accessible for quick estimates while offering detailed breakdowns for comprehensive business planning.

Regional Care Pricing Data

We maintain an extensive database of care prices across the UK, covering:

Domiciliary care (home care services)
Residential care (care homes)
Nursing care (specialist nursing support)
Live-in care (24-hour support)
Complex care (high-dependency care)
Respite care (temporary care services)

Our data is regularly updated from official sources including local authority reports and CQC-registered providers, ensuring you have access to current market rates for your area.

Expert Guides & Resources

Our guides section provides in-depth articles on care industry topics:

Understanding care costs and pricing structures
Care agency business planning and management
Regulatory requirements and compliance
Staff retention and fair compensation
Regional market analysis

Browse all our guides to learn more about care agency charge rates vs pay rates, how much to charge for private care in 2025, and the real cost of providing hourly home care in the UK.

Who We Serve

Care Calculator is designed for:

Care Agency Owners & Managers – Set sustainable, competitive rates based on real costs
Healthcare Business Planners – Develop accurate financial projections and business models
Care Workers – Understand how agency rates relate to worker pay
Families & Care Recipients – Gain transparency on what care costs and why
Local Authorities – Compare market rates and commission services effectively

Our Approach

Evidence-Based

All our calculations and data are based on:

Official government statistics and reports
Local authority published rates
CQC registration data
Industry benchmarks and standards
Real-world operational costs

Transparent

We show you the full breakdown of how rates are calculated, including all the factors that contribute to the final hourly charge. No hidden assumptions or black-box calculations.

Regional Accuracy

We recognize that care costs vary significantly across the UK. That's why we provide regional data for towns and counties nationwide, from London to rural Scotland.

Regularly Updated

Care costs, minimum wage rates, and employment costs change regularly. We update our calculator and data to reflect current rates and regulations.

Data Sources

Our pricing data comes from:

Local authority fee-setting reports
Care Quality Commission (CQC) provider data
Skills for Care workforce reports
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Department of Health and Social Care publications
Regional care provider associations

Privacy & Data

We respect your privacy:

The calculator runs entirely in your browser
No personal or business data is stored on our servers
We use analytics to improve the tool (see our privacy policy)
No registration or account required

Our Team

Care Calculator was created by a team with experience in the UK care sector and technology. We combine practical industry knowledge with data analysis expertise to provide tools that genuinely help care businesses thrive.

Our content is researched and written by professionals who understand the challenges facing care providers in today's market. We regularly consult with care agency owners, industry bodies, and regulatory experts to ensure our information remains accurate and relevant.

Editorial Standards

We take accuracy seriously. All our guides and resources:

Are researched using official government and industry sources
Are reviewed for accuracy before publication
Are updated when regulations or rates change
Include citations to original data sources where applicable
Are written in clear, accessible language

If you spot an error or outdated information, please contact us – we appreciate the feedback.

Get In Touch

Have questions, suggestions, or feedback? We'd love to hear from you at hello@care-calculator.co.uk or through our contact page.

While we strive for accuracy, please note that Care Calculator is a planning tool. Always consult with qualified accountants, business advisors, and legal professionals for specific business decisions.

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Last updated: 4 January 2026