Care Home Costs & Care Fees UK Average | November 2024
Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes
When paying for your own care, the average weekly fee for a residential care home is £1,387, compared to £1,545 for a nursing home. Across a whole year, you’ll pay around £72,000 for residential care and £80,000 for nursing care. The exact cost of care will vary, depending on the type of care you need, where you live in the UK and whether you pick a home with luxury facilities such as a spa or restaurant.
Depending on your total assets and care needs, you may qualify for assistance to help with care home fees via local council funding or through the NHS.
Here, we’ve shared the average cost of care homes across the UK for different types of care, and whether you'll be eligible for funding support. We also have an article explaining home care costs for 2024.
Article and Figures Last Updated: November 2024
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In this article:
- How much are care home costs in the UK?
- Average weekly care home costs across the UK
- Care home costs in England, Scotland and Wales
- Local authority funded care home costs
- Who pays for care?
- Savings thresholds
- Help with paying care home fees
- What's included in care home fees?
- Costs by provider
- Costs by facilities available
How Much Are Care Home Costs In the UK?
The average weekly cost of living in a residential care home is £1,387, while the average nursing home cost is £1,545 per week. Our data shows thar annual residential care home fees cost around £72,000, while nursing care costs around £80,000 per year.
Care home costs vary, depending on the type of care provided. For example, a residential care home offering support with day-to-day activities like washing and dressing will cost less than a nursing home that provides 24/7 support for all residents from specially-trained nursing staff.
Care costs will also differ based on the facilities a home offers and where the home is located. Generally, you’ll find that care homes are more expensive in some parts of the UK, such as London and Kent, compared to places in the North of England.
Average Weekly Care Home Costs Across the UK
Below, we’ve provided the cost of privately funded care home fees (when paying for your own care) throughout the different countries and regions of the UK across residential, nursing, residential dementia, nursing dementia and residential respite care, based on the care homes we list.
| Region | Residential care costs per week | Nursing care costs per week | Residential dementia care costs per week | Nursing dementia care costs per week | Residential Respite care costs per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | £1,417 | £1,623 | £1,448 | £1,657 | £1,477 |
| East of England | £1,413 | £1,614 | £1,440 | £1,642 | £1,456 |
| London | £1,401 | £1,601 | £1,435 | £1,637 | £1,466 |
| North East England | £1,398 | £1,594 | £1,424 | £1,623 | £1,451 |
| North West England | £1,397 | £1,600 | £1,434 | £1,636 | £1,461 |
| South East England | £1,396 | £1,593 | £1,435 | £1,632 | £1,465 |
| South West England | £1,419 | £1,618 | £1,456 | £1,655 | £1,484 |
| West Midlands | £1,419 | £1,619 | £1,455 | £1,655 | £1,479 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £1,419 | £1,614 | £1,451 | £1,645 | £1,481 |
| England | £1,408 | £1,607 | £1,442 | £1,642 | £1,469 |
| Scotland | £1,386 | £1,553 | £1,446 | £1,609 | £1,487 |
| Wales | £1,435 | £1,644 | £1,449 | £1,657 | £1,460 |
| UK | £1,387 | £1,545 | £1,430 | £1,585 | £1,473 |
Source: Lottie's internal data, based on the care homes we're partnered with.
Residential care home costs
Private residential care is the least expensive type of care in the UK, costing an average of £1,387 per week across the UK, or £6,010 per month.
Residential care costs typically cover a basic standard of care, including help with daily tasks like washing, dressing and assisting residents with medication.
Nursing home costs
In the UK, the average cost of self-funded nursing care is £1,545 per week and £6,695 per month.
Nursing homes are generally more expensive than residential care homes, as they provide round-the-clock care for residents who may have complex health conditions. These types of care homes also provide personal care - but there will always be at least one qualified nurse on duty.
Dementia care home costs
Private nursing dementia care tends to be the most expensive type of permanent support, costing an average of £1,585 per week across the UK, or £6,868 per month. Meanwhile, the average cost of self-funded residential dementia care in the UK is £1,430 per week and £6,197 per month.
Care homes that provide specialist care, such as dementia care homes, will usually charge higher fees than both residential and nursing homes. Dementia can be complex and sometimes requires 24/7 care, and residents may need special therapy equipment to support them.
At the moment, people living with dementia in the UK have to fund the complete cost of their care, unless they have assets totalling less than £23,250.
Respite care home costs
Short-term respite care is often more expensive than permanent care. In the UK, the average cost of self-funded residential respite care is £1,473 per week (£86 more per week than permanent residential care) and £6,383 per month.
Respite care homes offer short periods of care for someone whose carer is on holiday or cannot care for them due to an emergency.
If you’re looking for temporary support, the best way to calculate the cost of care is via a financial assessment.
Care Home Costs in England
In England, the average self-funded residential care fee is £1,408 per week and £6,101 per month, while the average self-funded nursing care fee is £1,607 per week and £6,964 per month.
Care Home Costs in Scotland
In Scotland, the average self-funded residential care fee is £1,386 per week and £6,006 per month, while the average self-funded nursing care fee is £1,553 per week and £6,730 per month.
In Scotland, everyone aged 65 or over - regardless of income and assets - receives free nursing and personal care support (up to a certain limit) if they’ve been assessed by their local authority as needing it. They'll then have to contribute towards care home accommodation costs.
If your capital is below the lower limit (£21,500), the state will pay up to the following amounts:
- £832.10 a week for nursing care
- £719.50 a week for residential care
While these are the maximum funding amounts, you may not be entitled to this much. The amount of funding you or your loved one receive will depend on the level of care needed and the fees charged by different care homes.
Care Home Costs in Wales
In Wales, the average self-funded residential care fee is £1,435 per week and £6,218 per month, while the average self-funded nursing care fee is £1,644 per week and £7,124 per month.
Local Authority Funded Care Home Costs
The table below illustrates how the cost of care differs throughout the UK (when receiving support from your local authority), based on location and care types.
| Region | Residential care costs per week | Nursing care costs per week | Residential dementia care costs per week | Nursing dementia care costs per week | Residential Respite care costs per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | £875 | £1,104 | £913 | £1,135 | £932 |
| East of England | £953 | £1,181 | £1,014 | £1,214 | £1,022 |
| London | £1,128 | £1,346 | £1,194 | £1,416 | £1,216 |
| North East England | £852 | £983 | £882 | £1,008 | £908 |
| North West England | £858 | £1,072 | £901 | £1,110 | £934 |
| South East England | £1,064 | £1,288 | £1,123 | £1,347 | £1,161 |
| South West England | £1,042 | £1,265 | £1,094 | £1,316 | £1,126 |
| West Midlands | £1,122 | £995 | £950 | £1,148 | £988 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £867 | £1,075 | £906 | £1,116 | £921 |
| England | £970 | £1,196 | £1,019 | £1,250 | £1,047 |
| Scotland | £1,023 | £1,197 | £1,047 | £1,219 | £1,111 |
| Wales | £955 | £1,189 | £1,028 | £1,262 | £1,063 |
| UK | £972 | £1,196 | £1,021 | £1,248 | £1,050 |
Source: Lottie's internal data, based on the care homes we're partnered with, and local authority-funded fees. These have been combined to bring you care home costs throughout the UK.
Much like with self-funded fees, nursing dementia care is the most expensive, costing an average of £1,248 per week across the UK, or £5,408 per month. Nursing care is slightly less expensive, costing an average of £1,196 a week, or £5,183 per month. Residential care is the least expensive, costing an average of £972 per week across the UK, or £4,212 per month.
The most expensive region in the UK is London. Here, nursing fees cost an average of £1,346 per week, or £5,833 per month, while residential care costs an average of £1,128 per week, or £4,888 per month.
Meanwhile, the UK’s least expensive region is North East England. Here, nursing care costs an average of £983 per week, or £4,260 per month, while residential care costs an average of £852 per week, or £3,692 per month.
We’re here to help you find the right care home for you or your loved one. You can request a free list of care homes from our care experts, who will then share homes matching your budget, location and type of care needed. You can also search for a care home through our easy-to-use directory.
Who Pays for Care Home Fees?
When it comes to paying for care, you have several different options:
Self-funded care
If you have enough savings, you will be classed as a self-funder. When self-funding, you'll be expected to fully fund your own care.
You can either arrange and pay for care yourself, without involving your local council, or you can ask your local council to arrange and pay for your care. They’ll then bill you or your loved one the cost. However, not all councils offer this service, and some may charge a fee for doing it.
Our 2024 Care Seeker Survey found that the proportion of people who use personal savings to pay for their own care has significantly increased since 2021, from 41% to 65%. This was most apparent in England, where funding thresholds are the least generous to care seekers.
Local authority funding
Your local authorities may be able to provide financial support with your care home fees.
To be eligible for local authority funding, the following assessments will need to be taken by the care seeker:
Care needs assessment – This will work out your care needs and the level of support required, such as from a care home. Every care seeker has the right to a free care needs assessment, and you can apply for a care needs assessment here. If you qualify for care funding then it’s the local authority’s legal duty to provide the appropriate care services
Financial assessment – A local authority will then carry out a financial assessment to see whether you can pay for care yourself or if care home funding is needed
If you’re eligible for funding support, your local council will let you know how much they’ll contribute to the cost of care. This amount must be enough to pay the fees for at least one suitable care home. They’ll also arrange this suitable residential or nursing home to meet your or your loved one's care needs.
To make things clearer, we have guides explaining care funding in England, Scotland and Wales.
NHS-funded care
There are two main types of NHS funding within care homes. You can only receive one of these:
1. NHS Continuing Healthcare
If you've been assessed as having a ‘primary health need’, NHS Continuing Healthcare provides a care package which is arranged and funded by the NHS. This package covers the full cost of care and accommodation.
NHS Continuing Healthcare funding is available to adults in England who are living with intense, complex and unpredictable care needs.
You must complete an assessment by a team of healthcare professionals to determine if you’re eligible for NHS funded care - and this process can be complex.
An organisation called Beacon gives free, independent advice on NHS Continuing Healthcare. You can visit Beacon’s website or call their free helpline on 0345 548 0300.
2. NHS-funded nursing care
NHS-funded nursing care is provided by the NHS to cover the nursing or medical costs for those living in a care home or nursing home. This care is administered by a registered nurse.
You or your loved one may be eligible if:
- You're in a care home which is registered to provide nursing care
- You don’t qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare
- You've been assessed as needing a registered nurse to properly support your care needs
The amount you or your loved one can get each week will depend on where you live in the UK:
| Region | Rates of NHS-funded nursing care 2024/2025 |
|---|---|
| England | £235.88 a week at the standard rate and £324.50 at the higher rate |
| Scotland | £248.70 a week for personal care and £111.90 a week for nursing care - up to a total of £360.60 a week |
| Wales | £201.74 a week |
| Northern Ireland | £100 a week |
You should be assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare before a decision is made as to whether you’re eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care.
Savings Thresholds For Care Home Costs 2024/2025
Here are the UK savings thresholds for 2024/2025:
| Country | Upper threshold | Lower threshold |
|---|---|---|
| England | £23,250 | £14,250 |
| Scotland | £35,000 | £21,500 |
| Wales | £50,000 | N/A |
| Northern Ireland | £23,250 | £14,250 |
England and Northern Ireland - If your total savings and assets are over £23,250, you must self-fund your care. If your savings are below £14,250, you’ll qualify for the maximum support from your local council. Though, you'll likely still have to use most of your weekly income from your pension, benefits or savings to make up the difference. You'll be eligible for partial support if your savings are between £14,250 and £23,250
Scotland - If your total savings and assets are over £35,000, you must self-fund your care. If your savings are below £21,500, you’ll qualify for the maximum support from your local council. You'll be eligible for partial support if your savings are between £35,000 and £21,500
Wales - If your total savings and assets are over £50,000, you must self-fund your care. There’s no lower threshold in Wales, so if you have less than this amount, you’ll be eligible for the maximum amount of support regardless
Help With Paying Care Home Fees
Before you start paying for care, you’ll need to do a free care needs assessment. You can do one through the adult social services department of your local council or local authority.
A care needs assessment is followed by a financial assessment which decides whether your local authority will help with paying for care fees. These assessments need to be arranged before you start looking for care homes, to ensure you receive any funding help you may be eligible for.
After the care needs and financial assessment, you or your loved one will be advised whether you need care and what funding you’re eligible for (if any).
How much will the local authority pay for my care?
There’s no set amount of funding support your local authority will provide towards your care. This figure varies from one local authority to another and also depends on the type of care you require.
Your local authority will provide you with a ‘personal budget’ based on your individual needs and the results of your care needs assessment and financial assessment. A personal budget is the amount of money your local authority is willing to pay towards your care costs and it must be enough to cover the cost of at least one appropriate care home.
If it’s determined that you require financial assistance (based on your savings and assets), your local authority will suggest one or more suitable care homes. The care home(s) they pick will depend on how much they’re willing to contribute towards your care.
Can I choose a care home that’s more expensive than the one my local authority suggests?
If you’re interested in a home that’s more expensive than the personal budget provided by your local authority, a relative or close friend can make up the difference through a top-up fee.
For example, if your local council is willing to pay £600 a week towards care but your preferred home costs £1,000 a week, someone else will need to pay the other £400 of weekly care fees.
Benefits for self-funders
If you self-fund your care in a care home, you could be eligible for benefits such as Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
These benefits aren’t means-tested. You could be eligible for one of these if you require additional care and support due to a long-term health condition or disability. PIP is for people under the State Pension age, and Attendance Allowance is for people above it.
Attendance Allowance and PIP can only be claimed in a care home by somebody who pays for their own care. You can’t claim them if the local authority pays for your care.
What’s Included In Care Home Fees?
Care home fees cover several things, particularly if you’re living permanently in a care home:
- The care you require. This could be personal care (such as assistance with getting dressed and undressed, washing, eating and getting around) or a specialist form of care such as nursing care or dementia care
- Meals throughout the day
- Accommodation (your own bedroom)
- Housekeeping (such as laundry)
- Utility costs (such as gas and electricity)
- The use of on-site facilities
- A range of social activities and events
It’s important to ask about any hidden fees when visiting a home. Some homes don’t include extras like chiropody appointments, transportation, contents insurance and Wi-Fi in their basic cost.
Care Home Costs By Provider
The cost of a care home varies from provider to provider, with some charging higher or lower weekly fees than others.
| Care home provider | Average weekly cost of residential care | Average weekly cost of nursing care |
|---|---|---|
| Abbey Healthcare | £1,304 | £1,549 |
| Advinia Health Care | £929 | £1,241 |
| Anchor Hanover | £1,260 | |
| Aria Care | £1,367 | £1,422 |
| Avery Healthcare | £1,175 | £1,507 |
| Barchester Healthcare | £1,395 | £1,621 |
| Bupa | £1,184 | £1,392 |
| Care UK | £1,482 | £1,784 |
| Country Court | £1,337 | £1,379 |
| Four Seasons Health Care | £1,084 | £1,182 |
| Hallmark Luxury Care Homes | £1,634 | £1,951 |
| Hamberley Care Homes | £1,407 | £1,628 |
| Maria Mallaband Care Group | £1,224 | £1,483 |
| MHA (Methodist Homes) | £1,004 | £1,292 |
| Minster Care Group | £957 | £1,218 |
| Runwood Homes | £1,157 | £1,320 |
| Sanctuary Care | £1,222 | £1,445 |
| The Orders of St John Care Trust | £1,250 | £1,722 |
Source: Lottie's internal data, based on the care homes we're partnered with.
Care costs vary significantly from provider to provider. For example, providers such as Advinia Health Care and Minster Care Group, on average, charge under £1,000 per week for residential care. In contrast, more luxury providers such as Hamberley Care Homes and Hallmark Luxury Care Homes charge over £1,400 and £1,600 a week respectively for residential care.
It's worth noting that the cost of care for each of these providers differs, based on the types of care offered, the facilities available and the locations the homes can be found in.
Care Home Costs By Facilities Available
Based on the prices charged by our care home partners, we’ve discovered that the facilities in a care home also affect the overall cost.
| Facility | Average weekly cost of residential care homes offering the facility | Average weekly cost of residential care homes not offering the facility | Average weekly cost of nursing care homes offering the facility | Average weekly cost of nursing care homes not offering the facility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Café and/or restaurant | £1,267 | £1,107 | £1,585 | £1,385 |
| Hair and beauty salon | £1,199 | £1,089 | £1,516 | £1,264 |
| Cinema | £1,367 | £1,108 | £1,623 | £1,417 |
| Library and/or reading room | £1,245 | £1,161 | £1,586 | £1,438 |
| Gym | £1,511 | £1,174 | £1,655 | £1,471 |
| Spa | £1,444 | £1,726 | £1,159 | £1,452 |
Source: Lottie's internal data, based on the care homes we're partnered with.
Whether or not a care home offers a particular facility greatly impacts the total cost of care. This is especially true for luxury facilities such as cinema rooms, gyms and spas. For example, residential care is, on average, £337 more expensive in a care home containing a gym than one that doesn’t, while nursing care is £184 more expensive.
Find Care Homes in Your Area
You can use Lottie to find a care home near you. Every home we list has been handpicked by our care experts for the high standards of care provided, hardworking care teams, state-of-the-art facilities and enjoyable activities on offer.
For further support, you can also request a free care home shortlist. Our care experts will then send you a tailored list of homes matching your requirements, including location, budget and the type of care needed.
Source: All care home data used in this article is based on Lottie's internal analysis. If you'd like to use this data, please credit us as the source.
Lottie matches care seekers with the best care homes for their needs. You can request a free care home shortlist from our care experts, who will share homes matching your budget, location and type of care needed. You can also search for a care home through our easy-to-use directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the average cost of a care home per week in the UK?
Our research shows that in the UK, residential care home fees are £1,387 per week, while nursing care costs £1,545 per week. Annually, residential care costs around £72,000, while nursing care costs around £80,000.
Are the first six weeks in a care home free?
If you live in England and received NHS continuing healthcare, you’ll be eligible for up to six weeks of free care after leaving the hospital. These six weeks of free care can be given in a care home or at home. The goal is to prevent you from having to go back to the hospital.
What does the £86,000 cap on care costs mean?
The Government was due to introduce an £86,000 cap on care. This cap was the maximum amount anybody in England would need to spend on their care.
This care cap was expected to be introduced in October 2025, but has now been scrapped by the new Labour government.
Can I use equity release to pay for care?
Equity release is for people over 55. It allows you to access the value tied up in a property and turn it into a cash lump sum without having to sell your house.
Online tools such as Aviva’s equity release calculator will give you an idea of how much money you could receive from this scheme.
However, equity release policies can be costly if they aren’t followed correctly, so we recommend speaking to a financial advisor before making any decisions.
Will I have to sell my home to pay for care?
Whether you’ll have to sell your home to pay for care depends on if you pay for your own care or if financial assistance is needed, as determined by a financial assessment.
You don’t have to sell your home if you’re receiving care and support at home or if you’re applying for short-term care. If you’re applying for permanent care in a care home, you won’t have to sell your house if it’s still occupied by a partner, or in certain circumstances, a child, a relative over the age of 60 or a relative who is classed as being disabled.
If no one will live in your home once you go into care, you may need to sell it to help cover your care home fees. However, there are circumstances where the value of your house isn’t included in the financial means test, such as through the equity release scheme.
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Written by our team of experts and designed to help families fund later life care in England.
