How Much Should You Charge for Babysitting? UK Babysitting Rates Explained

If you’re thinking about babysitting to earn extra money, one of the hardest parts is working out what to charge. Rates vary a lot, and nobody wants to price themselves out of work — or undersell themselves.

So what is a reasonable price for babysitting per hour in the UK?

The short answer: most babysitters charge between £10 and £14 per hour, with higher rates common for experienced sitters, multiple children, late nights and short-notice jobs.

Below, I’ll break down average babysitting rates, what affects how much you can charge, and what parents are actually paying right now.

Average babysitting rates in the UK (2025–2026)

Based on current job listings, babysitting platforms, and real-world experience, these are typical UK babysitter rates:

• Teen babysitter (16–18): £7–£9 per hour
• Adult babysitter (18+): £10–£12 per hour
• Experienced babysitter or childcare background: £12–£15 per hour
• Late nights, weekends or short notice: £15–£20 per hour
• New Year’s Eve and major holidays: £20–£25 per hour

The average babysitting rate sits around £11–£12 per hour, but plenty of families pay more for reliability and experience.

How much should you charge for babysitting per child?

Most babysitters charge a base rate for one child, then add extra for additional children.

A common structure looks like this:

• One child: £10–£12 per hour
• Two children: £12–£14 per hour
• Three or more children: £14–£18 per hour

Looking after more children isn’t just “more work” — it’s more responsibility. Charging extra is completely normal and expected.

National Minimum Wage and babysitting pay

Although babysitting is often casual work, many parents use the National Minimum Wage as a benchmark, especially when booking adult babysitters.

Current UK National Minimum Wage rates:

April 2025
21 and over: £12.21 per hour
18 to 20: £10.00 per hour
Under 18: £7.55 per hour
Apprentice: £7.55 per hour

April 2026
21 and over: £12.71 per hour
18 to 20: £10.85 per hour
Under 18: £8.00 per hour
Apprentice: £8.00 per hour

For babysitters aged 21 or over, charging £12+ per hour is now entirely reasonable, especially for evening work. Teen babysitters usually charge less, but even they are increasingly paid above minimum wage if parents value reliability.

Factors that affect babysitting rates

There’s no single “correct” babysitting price. What you can charge depends on a few key factors.

Your experience and qualifications

There’s no babysitting degree, but relevant experience matters. Parents are often happy to pay more for someone with childcare experience, nursery work, or teaching support roles.

Paediatric first aid is a big plus. Courses usually cost around £90 and can quickly pay for themselves through higher rates and more work.

Your age

Older babysitters are often paid more simply because parents associate age with experience. Teenagers can still find plenty of work, but asking for £12–£14 per hour without experience may be a stretch at first.

What’s involved in the job

Some babysitting jobs are straightforward: put the kids to bed and keep an eye on the monitor. Others involve cooking meals, homework help, bath time, or caring for babies and toddlers.

Once a job starts looking more like nannying, higher pay is justified.

Time of day and finish time

Late nights matter. Many babysitters add £2–£5 extra per hour after 11pm, especially if parents are out late or unreliable with return times.

Always agree this in advance. It avoids awkward conversations and makes long nights feel more worthwhile.

Flexibility and short notice

If you’re available at short notice, you can usually charge more. Parents who’ve been let down often care more about reliability than price.

Location and travel

Long travel times, fuel costs, or poor transport links all justify higher rates. Babysitting isn’t just the hours in the house — it’s the time it takes to get there and back.

Local competition

Check what other babysitters in your area are charging. If most people charge £10–£12, going in at £15 only works if you genuinely offer something extra.

What other babysitters charge

Looking at current UK babysitting listings, advertised rates typically range from £9 to £15 per hour, with some specialist or holiday work priced even higher.

Sites such as Bubble and Babysits place the average babysitter rate between £9 and £10, but in practice many families now pay more due to rising minimum wage levels and childcare costs.

London rates are not dramatically higher than elsewhere — reliability often matters more than postcode.

How much does my wife charge for babysitting?

My wife has over 30 years’ experience in childcare and works full-time as a childminder. For babysitting, she charges £10 per hour, with a minimum booking of three hours.

That rate keeps things simple and fair. On New Year’s Eve, she once earned £150 for a long evening — helped slightly by the fact the parents were very merry when they got home.

Final thoughts

There’s no fixed rule for babysitting prices, but £10–£14 per hour is now the realistic range for most UK babysitters.

If you’re new, starting slightly below local averages can help you build experience and references. Once parents trust you, raising your rate becomes much easier.

Babysitting won’t make you rich, but as a flexible side hustle, it’s still one of the simplest ways to earn decent money — especially if you price yourself properly.

If you’re keen on making some extra money, why not take a look at the best paid side hustles in the UK?