How much does a childminder cost per hour UK?

The average childminder cost in the UK is £5 to £7 per hour for children under two, and £5 to £6 per hour for children aged two and over. In London and the South East, rates are typically £6 to £9 per hour. Rates vary by region, the age of the child, and the hours you need. Most childminders charge per hour or per session rather than a flat daily rate.

Is a childminder cheaper than nursery?

Childminders and nurseries cost roughly the same on average in the UK, but it varies by area. For under-twos, childminders tend to be slightly cheaper (£5–£7/hour) than nurseries (£6–£8/hour). For three to four-year-olds, costs are similar. Childminders often offer more flexibility on hours and may not charge for bank holidays, whereas nurseries usually do.

Can I use Tax-Free Childcare for a childminder?

Yes. If your childminder is Ofsted-registered (or registered with a childminder agency), you can use Tax-Free Childcare to pay them. The government tops up every £8 you pay in with £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year (£4,000 for disabled children). Both parents must be working and earning at least the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours a week.

Do childminders get the free 30 hours?

Yes. Ofsted-registered childminders can offer the government-funded free childcare hours: 15 hours per week for eligible two-year-olds, 15 hours for all three and four-year-olds, and 30 hours for three and four-year-olds of working parents. Some childminders choose not to offer funded hours, so check before signing up.

Money & Budgeting

How Much Does a Childminder Cost in the UK?

Average childminder costs by region, how childminder fees compare to nurseries, free childcare hours, and help with childcare costs. UK 2026 guide.

By PocketWise · 25 March 2026 · 3 min read

Childminder fees are one of the biggest costs for working parents. Here is what childminders charge across the UK, how to reduce the cost, and how they compare to other childcare options.

Average Childminder Costs by Age

Child’s age	Average hourly rate	Average weekly cost (25 hours)	Average weekly cost (50 hours)
Under 2	£5.50–£7.00	£137–£175	£275–£350
Age 2	£5.25–£6.50	£131–£163	£263–£325
Age 3–4 (before free hours)	£5.00–£6.50	£125–£163	£250–£325
Age 3–4 (after 30 free hours)	£5.00–£6.50	£0–£100 (remaining hours only)	£100–£195
School age (before/after school)	£4.50–£6.00	£45–£90 (10–15 hours)	N/A

Childminder Costs by Region

Region	Average hourly rate (under 2)	Average weekly cost (25 hours)
London (Inner)	£7.00–£9.00	£175–£225
London (Outer)	£6.50–£8.00	£163–£200
South East	£6.00–£7.50	£150–£188
South West	£5.50–£6.50	£138–£163
East of England	£5.50–£7.00	£138–£175
West Midlands	£5.00–£6.00	£125–£150
East Midlands	£5.00–£6.00	£125–£150
North West	£5.00–£6.00	£125–£150
North East	£4.50–£5.50	£113–£138
Yorkshire	£5.00–£5.75	£125–£144
Wales	£4.50–£5.50	£113–£138
Scotland	£4.50–£5.50	£113–£138
Northern Ireland	£4.00–£5.00	£100–£125

Childminder vs Nursery Costs

Factor	Childminder	Nursery
Average hourly rate (under 2)	£5.50–£7.00	£6.00–£8.00
Average weekly cost (25 hours, under 2)	£137–£175	£150–£200
Flexibility on hours	Usually more flexible	Fixed sessions (mornings, full days)
Holiday charges	Some charge only for booked days	Usually charge during closures
Sibling discounts	Often available (10–20% off)	Less common
Registration fees	Rare	Common (£25–£100)
Included meals	Usually included	Sometimes extra (£2–£5/day)
Ratios	3 children under 5 per childminder	Varies by age group

Annual Childcare Costs

Childcare type	Hours/week	Under 2 (annual)	Age 2 (annual)	Age 3-4 with 30 free hours (annual)
Childminder	25	£6,500–£9,100	£6,200–£8,500	£0–£5,200
Childminder	50	£13,000–£18,200	£12,500–£16,900	£5,200–£10,100
Nursery	25	£7,500–£10,400	£7,000–£9,400	£0–£5,500
Nursery	50	£15,000–£20,800	£14,000–£18,800	£5,500–£11,000

Government Help with Childcare Costs

Free Childcare Hours

Age	Hours per week	Weeks per year	Eligibility
9 months to 2 years	15 hours	38 weeks	Both parents working (or single working parent)
2 year olds	15 hours	38 weeks	All children from April 2025
3–4 year olds	15 hours	38 weeks	All children
3–4 year olds	30 hours	38 weeks	Both parents working, earning under £100,000 each

The free hours are delivered through Ofsted-registered childminders and nurseries. Not all childminders offer funded places.

Tax-Free Childcare

Feature	Details
How it works	Government adds £2 for every £8 you pay into a childcare account
Maximum top-up	£2,000 per child per year (£4,000 for disabled children)
Eligibility	Both parents working, earning at least NMW × 16 hours/week
Income cap	£100,000 per parent
Age limit	Up to age 11 (or 17 for disabled children)
Can use for childminders	Yes — if Ofsted-registered

Universal Credit Childcare Element

Feature	Details
What it covers	Up to 85% of childcare costs
Maximum per month	£1,014.63 for one child, £1,739.37 for two+ children
Eligibility	On Universal Credit, both parents working (or single parent working)
Childcare must be	Registered with Ofsted
Upfront cost issue	You pay first, then claim back — can get an advance if needed

Childcare Vouchers (Closed to New Applicants)

Feature	Details
Status	Closed to new applicants since October 2018
Existing users	Can continue until the child leaves qualifying childcare
Tax saving	Up to £933/year per parent (basic rate taxpayer)
Can use alongside	Cannot use with Tax-Free Childcare or UC childcare element

What to Check When Choosing a Childminder

Factor	What to ask
Ofsted registration	Essential — you cannot claim government help without it
Ofsted rating	Check their latest inspection report
Fees and what is included	Meals, nappies, activities, outings
Holiday and sickness policy	Do you pay when the childminder is ill or on holiday?
Notice period	Usually 4 weeks
Deposit	Typically one or two weeks’ fees
Sibling discount	Ask — many offer 10–20% off
Pick-up and drop-off	Do they do school runs?
Contract	Always get a written contract

How to Find a Childminder

Resource	Details
Childcare.co.uk	Search by postcode for registered childminders
Your council’s Family Information Service	Free local childcare search
Pacey.org.uk	Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY)
Ofsted reports	Check at reports.ofsted.gov.uk
Word of mouth	Ask other parents in your area

Related guides:

Sources

MoneyHelper — Everyday money