What is the average babysitting rate in the United Kingdom? 2026

The time has come! You’ve found the ideal babysitter to look after your children while you enjoy a night to rest or go out with friends. You were very impressed with the person you found: They live close to you, showed great availability, and have great experience. Now there are some questions to answer: How much do you pay the babysitter? What's the average hourly rate for a babysitter in the United Kingdom? What impacts the babysitter’s hourly rate? We've figured it out for you!

What is the average rate charged by babysitters and nannies in the United Kingdom, and how can you determine this amount? Don’t panic: We’ve prepared this guide to answer all your questions.

• What is the average babysitting rate in the United Kingdom?
• How much should I pay a babysitter?
• What is the average babysitting rate worldwide?

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What is the average babysitting rate in the United Kingdom?

According to data from thousands of babysitters registered on our platform, the average babysitting rate in the United Kingdom in 2026 is £11.38 per hour. Service costs per hour have increased compared to the previous year.

However, the average babysitting rate varies depending on the city. Babysitters charge an average hourly rate between £10.10 and £12.79.

London is the city where babysitting services are most expensive, with an average of £12.79 per hour. The most affordable city is Bradford, where the average babysitting rate is £10.10 per hour.

In London and Birmingham, the most populated cities in the country, the average rate is £12.79 and £10.80, respectively.

Take a look at the map below to find out what your region’s average babysitting rate is.

Average babysitting rates in the main cities

As mentioned above, babysitters in the United Kingdom charge an average of £11.38 per hour. There is also a difference depending on the city. Below, we’ve listed the average babysitting rate in the selected main cities.

Babysitting rate London £12.79
Babysitting rate Edinburgh £11.87
Babysitting rate Bristol £11.60
Babysitting rate Glasgow £11.28
Babysitting rate Bradford £10.10
Babysitting rate Birmingham £10.80

It’s important to remember that this is an average hourly rate. Several factors influence this price, including special activities such as cooking or household tasks. If more than one child is involved, the rate is also expected to be higher. The babysitter’s experience and age are also important factors in this calculation.

How much should I pay a babysitter?

As mentioned above, babysitters charge an average of £11.38 per hour. However, this amount may vary depending on the babysitter and the situation. Factors such as qualifications, experience, number of children, and additional tasks can influence the final price.

Minimum wage

The national minimum wage can be used as guidance when determining a fair rate. In 2026, the National Living Wage in the United Kingdom increased to £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over, effective from April 2026..

For other age ranges the minimum hourly rates are:
* 21 and over: £12.71
* 18 to 20: £10.85
* Under 18: £8

This is an hourly amount and should only serve as a reference, as other factors such as qualifications and experience also affect the final price.

Qualifications and experience

As a parent, you are responsible for making your own decisions and choosing whether to hire someone with more experience or someone who loves children but has less experience. Qualifications and experience are not always related to age.

In the end, it depends on the parents’ choice. You may choose to hire a less experienced babysitter and pay less per hour, or pay more for someone with several years of experience or relevant certifications such as first-aid training.

What are the duties and responsibilities of a babysitter?

In addition to ensuring that children are safe and well cared for, babysitters may also have additional tasks. Babysitters and families can agree on what these tasks are, and they can significantly influence the babysitting rate.

Household tasks

Sometimes parents ask babysitters to carry out household tasks while caring for the children, such as vacuuming, cooking, or tidying up. If the babysitter agrees, it is reasonable to expect a higher hourly rate.

Homework help

If the babysitter is good at subjects like maths or history, they may help children with homework and explain school material.

Picking up or dropping off children

Families may ask babysitters to pick up or drop off children at school or activities. Not all babysitters offer this flexibility, so this may result in a slightly higher rate.

Pet sitting

In many households, babysitters may also need to deal with pets. Pet care is an additional responsibility and may include walking a dog, cleaning a litter box, grooming, or feeding animals.

Working hours

The babysitting rate may vary depending on the time of day. Families often pay more for daytime babysitting than evening babysitting, as children may already be asleep at night. Babysitters who work late at night or stay overnight often receive a higher rate due to availability.

Multiple children

If the babysitter is caring for more than one child, this increases responsibility and workload, which can influence the rate.

Children’s ages

Younger children usually require more supervision, so babysitting rates are often higher than for older, more independent children.
The infographic below provides an overview of all the factors that contribute to determining the hourly rate.

The hourly babysitting rate is something that is negotiated between parents and the babysitter. Take all the factors mentioned into account to arrive at a fair rate for both parties.

What is the average babysitting rate worldwide?

Some babysitters choose to work abroad, either temporarily during their studies, as au pairs, or as a permanent relocation. Likewise, families may look for babysitters when travelling or moving to another country.

Through Babysits, it is possible to find babysitting jobs and babysitters in 120+ countries. When comparing average babysitting rates worldwide, it becomes clear that rates vary significantly by country.

Countries with the highest average babysitting rates include Australia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Denmark, and the USA. These differences are partly due to variations in the cost of living and wage levels.

Now that you know how much babysitting services typically cost, you may be looking to hire a babysitter or nanny. Find babysitters in the United Kingdom’s main cities:
* Babysitter in London
* Babysitter in Birmingham
* Babysitter in Manchester
* All babysitters in the United Kingdom