How much should a mobile hairdresser charge?
What UK mobile hairdressers actually charge in 2026, how the discount to salon pricing works, and how to price travel without losing bookings.
Quick answer
Mobile hairdressers typically charge 10–20% less than salons because there's no rent or overhead. Real 2026 mobile price lists show cut and blow dry between roughly £22 and £34, against £45–£95 in salons. Regional variation is large: Manchester cut and blow dry runs £45–£55 in a salon, central London £80–£95. Charge for travel beyond a set radius rather than absorbing it.
Mobile vs salon, UK 2026
| Service | Mobile | Salon |
|---|---|---|
| Cut & blow dry | ~£22–£34 | £45–£95 |
| Manchester (salon benchmark) | — | £45–£55 |
| Central London (salon benchmark) | — | £80–£95 |
| Typical mobile discount | 10–20% below salon | — |
Step-by-step
- 1
Set your discount to salon pricing deliberately
Mobile hairdressers usually charge 10–20% less than local salons, reflecting that you have no rent. That's the convention — but don't go further. Undercutting by half doesn't win better clients, it wins clients who'll leave for the next cheapest person, and it makes raising prices later much harder.
- 2
Benchmark against your actual region
Regional variation dwarfs everything else. A salon cut and blow dry is £45–£55 in Manchester and £80–£95 in central London, with the Midlands, North West and Scotland running 20–30% below the South East. Price against salons your clients could realistically visit, not a national figure.
- 3
Charge for travel past a set radius
Your time in the car is unpaid and your mileage is real. Set a radius covered by your standard price and a clear supplement beyond it. Publishing that is far better than quoting ad hoc — clients accept a stated travel charge and resent a surprise one.
- 4
Price by time and product, not just service name
A cut and blow dry on very long, thick hair takes substantially longer and uses more product than a short bob. Either band your prices by hair length — long cut and blow dry as a separate line — or state that longer hair carries a supplement. Most established mobile price lists do exactly this.
- 5
Publish your price list and your area
A page with services, prices, the area you cover and your travel policy stops the constant back-and-forth messaging and filters out enquiries outside your patch. It also makes an annual increase a page edit rather than a conversation with every client.
Tips & best practices
- ▸Don't compete on being cheapest — mobile's real selling point is convenience, especially for parents and older clients.
- ▸Back-to-back bookings in one area are worth more than a higher price spread across town.
- ▸Charge a supplement for long or thick hair; it's standard practice and protects your hourly rate.
- ▸Review prices annually — product and fuel costs rise whether or not your list does.
Common questions
How much should a mobile hairdresser charge for a cut and blow dry?
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Real 2026 UK mobile price lists show roughly £22–£34 for a cut and blow dry, against £45–£95 in salons. The convention is to charge 10–20% below local salon pricing, since you have no premises costs.
Why do mobile hairdressers charge less than salons?
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Because there's no rent, no reception staff and no salon overhead. The 10–20% discount reflects that. It shouldn't be much steeper — you still have travel time, fuel, product costs and unpaid gaps between appointments.
Should I charge extra for travel?
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Yes, beyond a stated radius. Publish the radius your standard price covers and the supplement outside it. Clients accept a clear travel charge; what they object to is one that appears without warning.
How do I raise my mobile hairdressing prices?
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Apply new prices to new clients immediately, and give existing clients a few weeks' notice with a specific date. Most stay — a trusted hairdresser who comes to your house is genuinely hard to replace, and clients know it.