How much should a tutor charge per hour?
What UK private tutors actually charge in 2026, broken down by education level, subject and format, plus how to price as a qualified teacher.
Quick answer
Most UK private tutors charge £30–£50 an hour, averaging around £35–£40. By level, typical ranges are £22–£38 for primary, £28–£55 for GCSE and £38–£75 for A-Level — averaging roughly £29, £38 and £52 respectively. London commands 15–25% above the national average, and qualified teachers commonly charge £35–£60+.
UK tutoring rates by level, 2026
| Level | Typical range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | £22–£38 | ~£29 |
| GCSE | £28–£55 | ~£38 |
| A-Level | £38–£75 | ~£52 |
| London (any level) | £45–£120 | 15–25% above national |
Step-by-step
- 1
Price by level first — it's the biggest single factor
A-Level tutoring averages around £52 an hour against roughly £29 for primary. If you tutor across levels, charging one flat rate means you're underpricing your A-Level work substantially. Set a rate per level and publish it.
- 2
Charge a premium where supply is thin
STEM subjects and less commonly taught languages consistently command higher rates because fewer tutors offer them. If you teach further maths, physics, or a less common language, benchmark against that specialism rather than against general tutoring.
- 3
Price online slightly below in-person
Online tutoring typically runs 10–20% cheaper than in-person, largely because there's no travel for either side. That's not a downgrade — online lets you fill gaps in your timetable and reach families outside your area, which usually more than compensates for the lower headline rate.
- 4
If you're a qualified teacher, say so and charge for it
Qualified teachers commonly charge £35–£60 and above depending on subject, phase and track record. Parents actively look for QTS and current classroom experience. If you have it and you're charging undergraduate rates, you're leaving money on the table.
- 5
Put rates on your website
Parents compare tutors on price and fit before making contact. Published rates by level, with a short line on your qualifications and results, attract better-matched enquiries and end the repeated 'what do you charge?' messages.
Tips & best practices
- ▸Block-booking a term at a small discount stabilises your income and improves student outcomes.
- ▸Rates rise sharply in the run-up to exam season — set your calendar and prices before January, not during.
- ▸Travel time is unpaid; either cluster in-person students or lean into online.
- ▸A DBS check is a selling point worth mentioning explicitly on your site.
Common questions
How much do private tutors charge in the UK?
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Most charge £30–£50 an hour, with the average around £35–£40. Rates vary sharply by level: roughly £29 an hour for primary, £38 for GCSE and £52 for A-Level. London tutors typically charge £45–£120.
How much should I charge as a new tutor?
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Start near the bottom of the range for the level you teach — around £22–£28 for primary, £28–£35 for GCSE — and raise it once you have results and testimonials. Qualified teachers can reasonably start higher, at £35+.
Should online tutoring cost less than in-person?
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Typically yes, by around 10–20%, since neither side is travelling. The upside is that online lets you fill awkward slots and take students from anywhere, which usually more than offsets the lower rate per hour.
Why do A-Level tutors charge more?
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Fewer tutors can teach at that level, the subject knowledge required is deeper, and the stakes for the student are higher. Supply and demand does most of the work — A-Level averages around £52 an hour against £29 for primary.