about £35–£40/hour
Mainstream benchmark
Private tutor costs UK 2026
How much does a private tutor cost in the UK in 2026?
A parent-friendly guide to typical hourly tutor rates, what changes the price, and how to turn one lesson a week into a realistic term or school-year budget.
Current answer
How much does a private tutor cost in the UK in 2026?
Many UK parents should budget about £35–£40 per hour for mainstream one-to-one private tutoring in 2026. That is a practical benchmark from current market evidence, not an official UK tariff or a promise that every tutor will charge the same.
Two current figures are closely aligned: Tutorful’s pricing guide reports an overall average of £37.45 per hour, while The Times’ reporting of a Parentkind/YouGov survey gives an average tutoring cost of £37.50 per hour. Primary support can be lower, while A level, 11-plus, hard-to-source subjects, qualified teachers, exam specialists and specialist support can cost more.
For a useful budget, multiply the hourly rate by lesson length, lessons per week and the number of weeks. A short exam burst can cost less overall than weekly tutoring for the whole school year, even if the hourly rate is higher.
Typical tutoring fees per hour by level
These figures show how prices tend to rise with stage and subject depth. Use them as provider-published benchmarks for comparison, not as guaranteed national rates.
Provider-published hourly-rate examples by tutoring level.
| Level or goal | Example hourly rate | How to read it | Source caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary | £33.01/hour | Often below the mainstream average, especially for general confidence or catch-up support. | Tutorful provider-published benchmark. |
KS3 | £34.47/hour | Usually a little below GCSE where the support is general rather than exam-specific. | Tutorful provider-published benchmark. |
GCSE | £35.86/hour | A useful benchmark for exam catch-up, revision or subject confidence. | Tutorful provider-published benchmark. |
A level | £41.88/hour | Higher-level subject expertise often costs more than GCSE or general secondary support. | Tutorful provider-published benchmark. |
Degree level | £42.33/hour | Useful as a sign that more advanced subject support typically sits above the mainstream school benchmark. | Tutorful provider-published benchmark. |
11-plus | about £41.12/hour | Selective-school preparation often sits above general primary tutoring and can rise sharply at the premium end. | Tutorful benchmark; The Times also reported a £41/hour 11-plus average from Parentkind/YouGov evidence. |
What changes private tutoring prices?
A tutor’s hourly rate usually reflects more than the lesson itself. The most useful comparison is not just cheap versus expensive, but what the fee covers and how closely the tutor fits your child’s goal.
Level and exam stage
Primary and lower-secondary support is often cheaper than GCSE, A level or advanced subject work. The Tutorful benchmarks rise from £33.01/hour at primary to £41.88/hour at A level.
Subject demand
Harder-to-source or higher-demand subjects often cost more. Tutorful examples range from Spanish at £31.35/hour and Maths at £36.12/hour to Physics at £43.04/hour and Economics at £49.95/hour.
Tutor profile
Qualified teachers, examiners, highly experienced tutors and niche specialists may charge more. The higher price may be worth it for a very specific goal, but it is not automatically better value for every child.
Lesson format and location
Online tutoring often has lower overheads. In-person tutoring can cost more if travel time, local demand or venue costs are built into the price.
Urgency and specialism
Short-notice exam preparation, selective-school work and some specialist support can move above the mainstream benchmark. Treat premium examples as a separate tier, not the normal price for every family.
Is online tutoring cheaper than in-person tutoring?
Often, but not always. Tutorful reports online tutoring at £37.45 per hour on average and face-to-face tutoring at £40.54 per hour. Travel time and local overheads help explain the difference, but a highly specialist online tutor may still cost more than a local general tutor.
Online tutoring can reduce cost and choice constraints
It may help families compare a wider pool of tutors without paying for travel time. This can be especially useful if the right subject specialist is not local.
In-person tutoring can still be worth considering
Some children work better face to face, and some goals may suit an in-person setup. Compare the total cost, including travel or venue assumptions, rather than only the headline hourly rate.
What tutoring could cost over a term or school year
These are worked examples, not recommended lesson plans. They show why the number of weeks matters as much as the hourly rate.
Worked examples turning hourly tutoring rates into parent budgets.
| Scenario | Calculation | Estimated cost | When it might fit |
|---|---|---|---|
One lesson a week for a 12-week term | 12 × £37.50 | about £450 | Confidence support, catch-up or a first test of whether tutoring is helping. |
One lesson a week for 39 weeks | 39 × £37.50 | about £1,462.50 | Longer-term support where the family can sustain the cost and the goal is clear. |
Two GCSE lessons a week for 10 weeks | 20 × £35.86 | about £717.20 | Focused revision, exam technique or a short catch-up period before assessments. |
Two A-level lessons a week for a 12-week term | 24 × £41.88 | about £1,005.12 | Higher-level subject support where regular practice and feedback are important. |
Two 11-plus lessons a week for 30 weeks | 60 × £41.12 | about £2,467.20 | A longer selective-school preparation plan. Not every child needs this intensity. |
How to set a sensible tutoring budget
A good budget starts with the job the tutor needs to do. Decide the goal, the likely number of weeks and the maximum weekly spend before you compare tutors.
Start with the outcome
Write down whether the aim is catch-up, confidence, homework support, exam preparation or specialist support. A narrow goal makes it easier to avoid paying for more sessions than you need.
Choose a weekly ceiling
A £37.50 hourly rate feels different at one lesson a week than at two or three. Set the weekly amount your family can sustain, then compare tutors within that boundary.
Use a review point
Instead of assuming a full school year, plan an early review. Ask what should be improving after the first few lessons and what evidence the tutor will use to judge progress.
Browse visible prices
Price filters and profile information can help you understand the spread before you contact anyone.
Ask for a budget-aware shortlist
If you know the subject, level, goal and rough budget, a matching conversation can save time.
Price is not the same as value
A lower hourly rate can be a good choice when the tutor fits the child’s level and goal. A higher rate can make sense for specialist knowledge, exam experience or hard-to-source subjects. The key is whether the tutoring is targeted and sustainable.
Evidence supports tutoring, but not guarantees
The Education Endowment Foundation says one-to-one tuition can produce “approximately five additional months’ progress on average”. That is an average evidence finding, not a promise that one child will gain a certain grade or school place.
Fit matters more than a premium label
Check whether the tutor regularly teaches the exact level, subject and exam goal. A clear fit can be better value than a more expensive tutor with less relevant experience.
Sustainability matters
A plan the family can keep up with is usually more useful than an expensive burst that stops before the child has time to build confidence or routine.
Key terms that affect the total price
These terms often appear in tutor profiles, quotes and provider information. Understanding them helps you compare like with like.
Hourly rate
The amount charged for one hour of tutoring. It may or may not include extras such as travel, agency fees, booking fees or VAT, depending on the arrangement.
Online tutoring
One-to-one tuition delivered remotely. Current provider data suggests it is often cheaper on average than face-to-face tutoring, but specialist online tutors may still charge premium rates.
Face-to-face tutoring
In-person tuition at a home, school, centre or other agreed location. Travel time, local demand and venue-related overheads can affect the hourly rate.
11-plus tutoring
Tutoring aimed at selective-school entrance assessment. It is often priced above mainstream primary tutoring and can become much more expensive at the premium end.
VAT on private tuition
VAT treatment depends on who supplies the tuition and how the service is structured. Private-school fees and private tuition should not be treated as the same VAT category.
DBS and PVG checks
Background-check terminology depends on the role and UK nation. DBS is used in England and Wales; Scotland has the PVG scheme for regulated roles with children and protected adults. Northern Ireland has a separate official process.
Specialist tutoring
Support requiring additional expertise, such as selective-school preparation, hard-to-source subjects or some SEND-related support. Prices can vary much more widely than mainstream tutoring.
Questions to ask before you book
Before committing to regular lessons, ask enough questions to understand the full cost and whether the tutor is the right fit.
-
Is the hourly price the final price?
Ask whether there are booking fees, agency fees, VAT, travel charges or minimum-session rules.
-
What does the price include?
Clarify lesson length, preparation, feedback, homework marking and whether the rate changes by level or subject.
-
Why this tutor for this goal?
Ask about experience with the exact aim: catch-up, confidence, GCSE, A level, 11-plus or another specific need.
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Online or face to face?
If lessons are face to face, ask whether travel is included. If lessons are online, ask what platform and resources the tutor uses.
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What safeguarding checks are in place?
Ask what checks the tutor or provider holds, whether they are current and what practical safety arrangements apply before lessons begin.
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What happens if we pause or cancel?
Cancellation, payment and package rules are provider-specific. Ask for them before you set up a regular arrangement.
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How will progress be reviewed?
Agree what the tutor will look for after the first few lessons so you can judge whether the spend is helping.
Budget-aware tutor request
A short message you can send when asking about price
You are contacting a tutor or asking Latimer for a shortlist and want the price conversation to be clear from the start. Use this when you know the child’s goal and rough budget, but want to avoid hidden costs or a poor fit.
Hello, I’m looking for support with [subject/level] for [goal]. Our ideal budget is around £[amount] per hour, and we are considering [online/face-to-face]. Could you confirm the hourly price, whether there are any extra fees, and what experience the tutor has with this goal?
It keeps the conversation practical, transparent and focused on fit rather than price alone. It also gives the tutor or matching team enough information to avoid suggesting options that are clearly outside budget.
Sources behind the tutor-cost figures
These references are used for the price benchmarks, official caveats and Latimer-specific service details in this guide.
- Open source
Tutorful pricing guide
- Open source
The Times reporting of Parentkind/YouGov tutoring evidence
- Open source
HMRC VAT Notice 701/30
- Open source
Education Endowment Foundation: one-to-one tuition
- Open source
GOV.UK DBS check information
- Open source
Disclosure Scotland PVG scheme
- Open source
Latimer Tuition: Find a tutor
- Open source
Latimer Tuition: Match me with a tutor
- Open source
Latimer Tuition: safeguarding information
Related guidance
More guidance from this section
More guidance from this part of the Ed Centre that may help with the same decision, stage or next step.
How much does a private tutor cost in the UK?
A parent’s guide to realistic hourly rates, what changes the price, and how to judge value before you commit.
Tutoring costs and value for parents
Tutoring prices vary more than most parents expect, and the differences are rarely about quality alone. Tutor experience and qualifications, the subject and level, online or face-to-face format, and whether an agency adds booking fees or contracts all move the hourly rate. These parent guides explain what drives the cost of private tuition and how to judge the value you are getting back.
How to choose an online GCSE maths tutor for your child
A parent-friendly guide to choosing by qualification fit, diagnosis, feedback and safe online lesson structure — not just price or profile credentials.
Support and clarity
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.
How much do tutors charge per hour in the UK?
A practical 2026 benchmark is about £35–£40 per hour for many mainstream one-to-one private tutors. That is not an official national rate: prices vary by level, subject, experience, format, location and specialist need.
How much does a GCSE tutor cost?
Tutorful’s provider-published benchmark for GCSE tutoring is £35.86 per hour. A GCSE tutor may charge more if the subject is harder to source, the work is close to exams, or the tutor has specific exam-board or examiner experience.
How much does an A-level tutor cost?
Tutorful’s benchmark for A-level tutoring is £41.88 per hour. A-level support often costs more than primary or GCSE tutoring because it usually needs deeper subject knowledge and more specialised exam preparation.
Is online tutoring cheaper than face-to-face tutoring?
Often, but not always. Tutorful reports online tutoring at £37.45 per hour on average and face-to-face tutoring at £40.54 per hour. Travel, local demand and specialist expertise can change the comparison.
How much should I budget for tutoring over a term or school year?
At £37.50 per hour, one lesson a week for a 12-week term costs about £450. One lesson a week for 39 weeks costs about £1,462.50. A shorter exam burst may cost less overall than year-round weekly lessons.
Do private tutors charge VAT?
VAT depends on who supplies the tuition and how the service is structured. HMRC’s guidance refers to tuition supplied by “an individual teacher, working in a personal capacity”. Parents should ask whether the quoted hourly price is the final price.
Can Latimer help me find a tutor within my budget?
Yes. You can browse visible prices on Latimer’s tutor directory, or share your subject, level, goal, timing and budget through the matching service. Latimer says the team can recommend up to three tutors that fit, with no obligation to book.
Sources and references
Sources and references
Official guidance
- 1.HMRC VAT Notice 701/30
Official guidance used for the private-tuition VAT caveat.
- 2.GOV.UK basic DBS check information
Official basic DBS information for England and Wales, used as background for careful safeguarding-check wording.
- 3.GOV.UK DBS check tool
Official tool supporting the caveat that the appropriate DBS check depends on role and circumstances.
- 4.Disclosure Scotland PVG scheme
Official Scotland-specific source for PVG background-check terminology.
Peer-reviewed research
- 1.Education Endowment Foundation: one-to-one tuition
Evidence context for one-to-one tuition impact, used with a no-guarantee caveat.
News and analysis
- 1.The Times / Parentkind-YouGov tutoring reporting
Reported average hourly tutoring cost, average annual spend and 11-plus cost context.
Internal pages
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
Other sources
- 1.Tutorful pricing guide
Provider-published benchmark for overall tutoring cost, level-by-level rates, subject examples and online versus face-to-face comparisons.