Compiled by TutorContracts from the sources listed below, checked on 5 November 2026. We sell the templates linked on this page.
How much do private tutors charge in the UK? 2026 hourly rates by level and region
Most UK private tutors charge somewhere between £25 and £50 an hour. Tutorperch, which analysed UK tutor profiles, reports a median listed rate of £30 an hour nationally and £40 in London. Agency guides report higher figures, with TutorCruncher putting the typical average at around £35 to £40. A-level, entrance exam and London tuition sit at the top of the range.
What is the average hourly rate for a private tutor?
It depends who is counting. Tutorperch looked at 24,183 tutor profiles from the former First Tutors directory, of which 9,138 listed a usable price, and reports a UK median of £30 an hour, with the top quarter of tutors charging £40 or more. These are listed prices, not confirmed amounts paid.
TutorCruncher, which makes software for tutoring businesses, reports that most UK tutors charge between £30 and £50 an hour, with the average around £35 to £40. Agency and premium tutor rates pull guides like this upwards, so treat the Tutorperch median as a guide to independent tutors and the agency ranges as the upper end of the market.
Rates by level
Rates rise with the level and the stakes of the exam. These are the figures as reported:
| Level | Tutorperch median (reported) | TutorCruncher range (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | Not reported | £20 to £40 |
| Primary entrance exams, including 11+ | £33 | Not reported |
| GCSE | £30 for most subjects | £30 to £55 |
| A-level | £35 for most subjects | £35 to £70 |
| A-level entrance exams | £50 | Not reported |
| University and degree level | Not reported | £50 to £100 or more |
Rates by subject
Subject makes less difference than level in the Tutorperch data. It reports a £30 median at GCSE and £35 at A-level for maths, English, the sciences, history and psychology, with economics and combined science higher at £35 and £40, and French, Spanish and German at £30 at both levels.
TutorCruncher reports wider gaps between subjects, for example maths at £38 to £55, physics at £40 to £58, English literature at £35 to £50 and Mandarin at £45 to £65 an hour. Specialist subjects and entrance exams tend to sit at the top of any range.
Rates by region
Location is the biggest single factor after level. London and the Home Counties are the most expensive, and the North East is among the cheapest.
| Area | Tutorperch (reported median) | TutorCruncher (reported range) |
|---|---|---|
| London | £40 | £50 to £65 |
| Surrey and the Home Counties | £37.50 in Surrey, £35 in several Home Counties | £45 to £60 |
| Manchester | Not reported | £40 to £55 |
| West Midlands | Not reported | £35 to £48 |
| Yorkshire | Around £25 in Leeds | £32 to £45 |
| North East | Around £25 | £28 to £40 |
Online lessons and tutoring platforms
TutorCruncher says online tuition usually costs less than in-person lessons because there is no travel time or fuel, but neither source publishes a separate online rate. Many tutors charge the same for both and add a travel charge for home visits.
If you work through a platform, check who pays the fee. Tutorful's help centre says it takes no commission from tutors and instead adds a service fee on top of the tutor's rate, paid by the student, so the parent pays more than the rate you set. Other platforms and agencies may take a cut of your rate instead, so read their terms.
How to work out your own rate
Start from what tutors at your level charge locally, then check the numbers work for you:
- Count the unpaid time: preparation, marking, travel and messages to parents
- Allow for tax: Class 4 National Insurance is 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270 in 2026 to 2027, on top of Income Tax
- Allow for costs: resources, insurance, DBS and Update Service fees, software and travel
- Allow for gaps: school holidays and the end of exam season can empty your timetable
- Price block bookings and cancellations: payment in advance and a clear notice period protect your income
- Review yearly: our guide to raising your tutoring rates covers how to do it fairly
Get the free Tutoring Rate Calculator Worksheet: 17 questions and a signed declaration, emailed to you as a print-ready form.
Free template
Get the print-ready Tutoring Rate Calculator Worksheet
A print-ready worksheet that turns your local market rate, hours, costs and holidays into an hourly rate you can stand behind. Free, and yours to keep.
Frequently asked questions
How much do private tutors charge per hour in the UK?
Tutorperch reports a UK median listed rate of £30 an hour and £40 in London. TutorCruncher reports most tutors charge £30 to £50, with an average around £35 to £40.
Do A-level tutors charge more than GCSE tutors?
Usually, yes. Tutorperch reports a typical £30 median at GCSE and £35 at A-level, and TutorCruncher reports £30 to £55 at GCSE against £35 to £70 at A-level.
Is online tutoring cheaper?
TutorCruncher says online tuition usually costs less because there is no travel, but no separate online rate is published in the sources we checked. Many tutors charge the same and add a travel charge for home visits.
How much do private tutors charge in London?
Tutorperch reports a London median of £40 an hour, with a quarter of London tutors charging over £50. TutorCruncher puts London at £50 to £65.
How much can I earn before I tell HMRC?
GOV.UK says that if your gross trading income from all your trades combined is £1,000 or less in a tax year you usually do not need to tell HMRC. Above that, register for Self Assessment by 5 October after the tax year ends.
Sources
- The UK Private Tutoring Rate Report 2026, Tutorperch
- Average tutoring rates UK: 2026, TutorCruncher
- For tutors: how much does it cost to use Tutorful?, Tutorful
- Self-employed National Insurance rates, GOV.UK
- Tax-free allowances on property and trading income, GOV.UK
- Register for Self Assessment, GOV.UK
Your teaching is good. Your terms should be too.
Payment, notice and safeguarding agreed with parents before lesson one.
A tutor with a business behind the teaching.
These articles are general guidance for UK private tutors, not legal advice. Our documents are editable templates: adapt them to your own tuition, check your insurer's requirements and take advice where the stakes are high.