Care home cost: what you'll pay and who pays it
The care home cost in the UK depends on the home, where it is and the care needed. Age UK's current guidance (checked September 2026) puts self-funded residential care at around £1,100 a week, while Which? figures for early 2026 range from about £1,095 a week in the North East of England to £1,456 a week in London.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice; we do not provide financial advice. It covers residential care home charges in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each set their own rules, summarised in our hub on paying for care.
Care home costs: what the weekly fee usually includes
Care home fees typically cover accommodation, meals, personal care, laundry and organised activities. Items such as hairdressing, chiropody and outings are often charged as extras on top of the weekly fee.
Care home charges in England: self-funding or council-funded
A council needs assessment first checks what help is needed. If residential care is agreed, a financial assessment decides who pays. If your capital is above £23,250 you usually pay the full fee; below that the council may contribute. Our paying for care guide explains the limits and how income is counted.
How many residents pay their own fees
ONS estimates that, from March 2022 to February 2023, around 37.0% of care home residents in England (about 137,480 people) were self-funders. The share varied by region, from 26.4% in the North East to 47.5% in the South East.
Self-funding and your home
A deferred payment agreement can delay selling your home to pay fees, but interest and administration charges apply and the debt grows until it is repaid, usually from the sale. See what happens to your home if you move into care.
Giving away money or property deliberately to avoid care charges is called deprivation of assets. A council can treat you as still owning it, with no fixed time limit.
Top-up fees, your allowance and the care cap
- Top-up fees: a relative or friend can pay the difference if you choose a home costing more than the council's usual rate; our paying for care hub explains when this applies.
- Personal Expenses Allowance: anyone whose care home place is arranged by the council keeps a minimum weekly amount for personal spending, set out in the hub.
- The care cap: a planned cap on lifetime care costs was cancelled in 2024, so there is currently no cap in England; the hub gives the details.
How care home costs vary by region and care type
Which? figures for early 2026 put self-funder residential fees lowest in the North East of England and highest in London, a gap of about £360 a week.
The type of care needed also matters: dementia care home fees can run higher than standard residential rates, and nursing home costs are generally higher still. If someone would rather stay at home, our guides to home care costs and live-in care costs set out those prices.
Some families look at property wealth. Equity release is sometimes used to pay for care at home, or for one partner's care home fees while the other stays in the home on a joint plan. It is a loan: interest usually rolls up, so the debt grows, less is left for your estate, and released cash can affect means-tested support. A plan usually ends when the last borrower moves permanently into care; see equity release for care fees.
Getting the right help
Before comparing homes, ask each one for an itemised weekly quote showing what is included and what is charged as extras, and ask the council what its usual rate is for someone with the assessed needs.
For decisions about funding a care home place, an FCA-regulated adviser or a specialist care fees adviser can explain the options.
Not sure where to start?
Frequently asked questions
How much does a care home cost per week in the UK?
Age UK's current guidance (checked September 2026) puts residential care at around £1,100 a week for someone paying their own fees, though the exact amount depends on location and needs. Which? figures for early 2026 range from about £1,095 a week in the North East of England to £1,456 a week in London. Ask homes for a current, itemised quote before comparing.
What is included in a typical care home weekly fee?
Care home fees usually cover accommodation, meals, personal care, laundry and organised activities. Extras such as hairdressing, chiropody and outings are often charged separately. Ask any home for a written breakdown of what its weekly fee includes and what is billed on top, so you can compare like with like.
How many care home residents in England pay their own fees?
ONS estimates that, from March 2022 to February 2023, around 37.0% of care home residents in England were self-funders, about 137,480 people. The share varied by region, from 26.4% in the North East to 47.5% in the South East. Whether you self-fund depends on the council's financial assessment of your own income and capital.
Why do different sources give different care home fee figures?
They measure different things. Age UK's current guidance (checked September 2026) gives a single typical weekly figure for a self-funder, while Which? figures for early 2026 are regional estimates for England. Which? is a consumer body rather than an official statistics source. ONS publishes how many residents pay their own fees, not what they pay.
Do care home fees vary much by region?
Yes. Which? figures for early 2026 show a gap of about £360 a week between the lowest- and highest-cost regions of England, from around £1,095 in the North East to £1,456 in London. Individual homes set their own fees within any region, so quotes from homes near you give a clearer picture.