How Much Does a Care Home Cost in the UK? (2026)

Care home fees are one of the biggest costs a family ever faces — and the figures can be daunting. Here's a clear, up-to-date look at what care homes actually cost in 2026, why prices vary so much, and the help that could bring the bill down.

If you're looking into a care home for yourself or someone you love, the first question is almost always: how much is this going to cost? The honest answer is "it depends" — on where you live, the type of care needed, and the home itself. But there are clear national averages to plan around, and there's more financial help available than many families realise.

The average cost of a care home in the UK

Across the UK in 2026, a self-funder pays on average around £1,298 a week for residential care and £1,535 a week for nursing care. That works out at roughly £67,500 and £79,800 a year. Where specialist dementia care is needed, fees are higher again.

Residential, nursing or dementia care — what's the difference?

The type of care is the biggest single driver of cost:

• Residential care covers help with day-to-day living — washing, dressing, meals and activities.
• Nursing care adds round-the-clock support from registered nurses, so it costs more.
• Specialist dementia care means extra training, staffing and a carefully designed environment — often the most expensive option.

Not sure which level of care is needed? Start with a free needs assessment from your local council, which sets out the type of care that's right before you compare homes.

Why costs vary so much: where you live

Location matters enormously. The very same standard of care can cost hundreds of pounds a week more in London and the South East than in the North of England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Recent figures put average self-funded residential care at about £1,548 a week in London, compared with around £1,112 in the North East.

Who pays? The three routes to funding care

There are three main ways a care home place gets paid for, and many people use a combination:

• Self-funding — you pay the fees yourself, usually because your savings or property put you over the means-test threshold.
• Local authority (council) funding — the council pays some or all of the cost after a financial assessment.
• NHS funding — the NHS contributes to, or fully covers, care where needs are primarily health-related.

The means test and the £23,250 threshold

In England, whether the council helps with the cost comes down to a financial assessment (the "means test"), which looks at your savings, income and — for a care home — usually the value of your property. The capital thresholds have been frozen since 2010:

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own systems — for example, Scotland provides free personal and nursing care contributions (see below) and has different capital limits.

Help with the cost of care

Very few people pay the "sticker price" with no help at all. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim:

• NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC) — a non-means-tested payment of around £219.71 a week (2026) paid to the home if you need registered nursing care. Read our full FNC guide.
• NHS Continuing Healthcare — full NHS funding where your needs are primarily health-related. It's worth requesting an assessment.
• In Scotland — a Personal Care contribution of £254.60/week plus, for nursing homes, a Nursing Care contribution of £114.55/week (2026).
• Attendance Allowance and other benefits — non-means-tested help toward the cost of care needs.
• A Deferred Payment Agreement — lets you use your home's value to delay paying, rather than selling in a hurry.

How to keep care costs manageable

• Compare several homes — fees for similar care vary widely between providers.
• Check exactly what's included (some fees are all-inclusive; others add extras for outings, hairdressing or a better room).
• Make sure you're claiming every benefit and NHS contribution you're entitled to.
• Get the property question right early — selling isn't always necessary.