How Much Should I Charge for Tutoring? (UK Rates Guide 2026)

Setting your tutoring rate is one of the first big decisions you'll make when starting out, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Charge too little and you undervalue yourself, attract less committed clients, and burn out quickly. Charge too much too early and you'll struggle to fill your schedule.

Here's a practical guide to working out what to charge, based on UK tutoring rates in 2026.

Typical UK tutoring rates in 2026

Rates vary significantly by subject, level, location, and experience. As a rough guide:

• Primary (KS1–KS2): £20–£35/hour
• Secondary / GCSE: £25–£50/hour
• A-Level: £35–£70/hour
• Degree level / professional: £50–£100+/hour
• London premium: typically £10–£20/hour above the rates above
• Online tutoring: broadly comparable to in-person, sometimes slightly lower

These are the ranges you'll see across tutoring directories. Where you sit within those ranges depends on several factors.

Factors that justify a higher rate

Qualifications

A degree in the subject you teach is the baseline expectation for secondary and A-Level tutoring. A Master's or PhD in a relevant field justifies a premium, particularly for university-level work or specialist subjects.

Teaching experience

Qualified teachers (QTS) typically command higher rates, as do tutors with several years of proven results. "I've been tutoring for six years and my students consistently improve by 1–2 grades" is worth more to a parent than "I got an A in Maths."

Exam results and track record

If you can point to a track record of students achieving specific grades, you're selling outcomes rather than time. Outcomes are worth more. Keep records of student progress and, where appropriate, ask for permission to reference results.

Specialist demand

Subjects with fewer qualified tutors — Further Maths, Latin, specific foreign languages, standardised test preparation (11+, UCAT, LNAT) — attract higher rates because supply is limited. If you can teach one of these, price accordingly.

The mistake most tutors make

Starting too low and staying there. Many tutors set a modest rate to attract their first clients, intend to raise it later, and then find it psychologically difficult to increase prices for existing families.

The fix: research comparable rates before you start, set a rate you're comfortable defending, and build in a review every 6–12 months. If you have a waiting list, that's a strong signal you're priced below market.

How to raise your rates

If you've been undercharging, increasing rates feels uncomfortable. In practice, most families will accept a reasonable annual increase, particularly if the tutoring has been working and you give them clear notice.

A simple approach: give 4–6 weeks' notice, keep the increase to 10–15%, and frame it as an annual review rather than an arbitrary change. "I review my rates each September in line with my costs and experience" is a professional and reasonable statement.

Some families will leave. That's fine — it creates space for new clients at the higher rate.

Should you charge differently for different students?

Some tutors use a single rate for simplicity; others adjust based on subject, level, or distance. There's no right answer, but consistency within a family is important — charging a parent £40 for their GCSE student and £30 for their primary-age child will cause confusion.

If you offer a concession rate for families who genuinely can't afford your standard rate, keep it limited and confidential. It's a goodwill gesture, not a pricing structure.

Online vs. in-person rates

Online tutoring removes travel time and costs, which is why some tutors charge slightly less. But the teaching and the results are the same, so there's no real reason online should be cheaper. Plenty of experienced online tutors charge the same as they would in person, and most families accept this.

Putting it into practice

Search tutoring directories in your area and subject to see what comparable tutors are charging. Set your rate at the midpoint or above if you have strong qualifications and experience. Review it annually. And don't apologise for it: you've earned what you charge.