How much is a nanny in London per hour?

Most London nannies are paid £15–£20 gross an hour. We recommend £15–£18 for entry-level nannies and up to £20 for experienced ones. The legal minimum for workers aged 21 and over is the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour from April 2026, but London rates are well above it.

How much does a full-time nanny cost in London per year?

A nanny on 50 hours a week at £17 gross an hour earns £44,200 a year before tax. With employer National Insurance and pension, the family pays about £51,220 a year, plus any agency fee.

How much is an after-school nanny in London per week?

For 3 afternoons of 4 hours at £16 an hour, nanny pay is £192 a week. With our membership that comes to around £214 a week, plus £14.40 employer National Insurance.

Do I have to pay National Insurance for my nanny?

Yes, if you pay them more than £96 a week (£5,000 a year). As their employer you pay 15% on everything above that. Families can't use the Employment Allowance to reduce this, because it doesn't cover household staff.

Do I have to give my nanny a pension?

If they are 22 or over and earn more than £10,000 a year, you must enrol them in a workplace pension and pay at least 3% of their qualifying earnings. Our membership sets up PAYE, National Insurance and pension for you.

Can I use Tax-Free Childcare to pay a nanny?

Only if your nanny is registered with Ofsted. The government then adds £2 for every £8 you pay in, up to £2,000 a year per child under 12 (£4,000 for a disabled child). Ask us whether the nanny you're matched with is registered.

How much do nanny agencies charge in London?

It depends on the model. Traditional agencies usually charge a one-off placement fee, often a percentage of the nanny's annual pay. Apps fold their fee into an all-in hourly rate. We charge a monthly membership from £50 plus VAT for regular part-time cover, booking fees for one-off care, and a 10% plus VAT placement fee for Monday to Friday roles over 20 hours a week.

How much does a nanny cost in London?

Most London nannies are paid £15–£20 gross an hour. On top of that, the family pays employer National Insurance, a pension once pay passes £10,000 a year, and any agency fee. An after-school nanny for 3 afternoons comes to about £229 a week. A full-time nanny costs about £51,220 a year.

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Figures for the 2026/27 tax year, last checked 6 November 2026. Regular-care costs include employer National Insurance, pension and our fees including VAT. One-off bookings show nanny pay plus our booking fee.

Example weekly cost of a nanny in London
Type of care	Example	Total cost
After-school nanny	3 afternoons, 4 hours each, £16 an hour	£229 a week
Part-time nanny	2 days, 10 hours each, £18 an hour	£426 a week
Full-time nanny	Monday to Friday, 50 hours, £17 an hour	£985 a week, plus a one-off placement fee
Holiday nanny	One week, 10-hour days, £17 an hour	£1,030 for the week
Babysitter or emergency cover	One 4-hour booking, £16 an hour	£82

1. Your nanny's pay

Nannies are quoted a gross hourly rate, before tax and their own National Insurance. In London that is usually £15–£20 an hour. We recommend £15–£18 for entry-level nannies and up to £20 for experienced ones, with more for long hours, several children or extra skills like driving or a second language.

The legal minimum for workers aged 21 and over is the National Living Wage, £12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026. Few London nannies work for that. The voluntary London Living Wage, set each autumn by the Living Wage Foundation, is a better guide to what a London nanny expects.

Always agree pay as a gross figure. If you agree a net figure, you carry the risk when tax rates change.

2. Employer costs

A nanny who works in your home is your employee, so you run payroll for them.

Employer National Insurance: 15% of pay above £96 a week (£5,000 a year). Families can't claim the Employment Allowance against it, because household staff are excluded.
Workplace pension: if your nanny is 22 or over and earns over £10,000 a year, you enrol them and pay at least 3% of their qualifying earnings.
Holiday pay: 5.6 weeks a year, pro rata for part-time nannies, paid at their normal rate.
Payroll and insurance: payslips, HMRC returns and employer's liability insurance. Our membership includes PAYE, National Insurance and pension set-up, and Public Liability Insurance.

3. Agency fees

London agencies charge in three main ways: a one-off placement fee (usually a percentage of annual pay), a monthly membership, or an all-in hourly rate that folds the fee into what you pay per hour, as most apps do. Here is exactly what we charge.

Membership for regular cover

Per month plus VAT. 4-month minimum sign-up, then rolling monthly. Frozen for 2026/27.

1 day a week: £50
2 days a week: £70
3 days a week: £80
4 days a week: £100
5 days a week: £120
6–7 days a week: £140

Booking and placement fees

Ad hoc or emergency, 1–4 hours: £15 + VAT / day
Ad hoc or emergency, 4+ hours: £20 + VAT / day
Holiday or longer bookings, over 1 week: £150 + VAT / week
Placement fee, over 20 hours a week Mon–Fri: 10% + VAT of annual nanny pay

Every membership tier includes unlimited replacements throughout membership.

4. Worked examples

Weekly costs to the family, using 2026/27 rates. Our fees include VAT.

After-school nanny

3 afternoons × 4 hours at £16

Nanny pay (gross): £192
Employer NI: £14.40
Pension: £0
Membership, 3 days: £22.15
Total a week: £228.55

Pay is under £10,000 a year, so a pension is optional.

Part-time nanny

2 days × 10 hours at £18

Nanny pay (gross): £360
Employer NI: £39.60
Pension: £7.20
Membership, 2 days: £19.38
Total a week: £426.18

Full-time nanny

Monday to Friday, 50 hours at £17

Nanny pay (gross): £850
Employer NI: £113.10
Pension: £21.90
Total a week: £985

Plus a one-off placement fee of £5,304 (10% of annual pay, plus VAT).

5. Ways to bring the cost down

Tax-Free Childcare. If your nanny is registered with Ofsted, the government adds £2 for every £8 you pay, up to £2,000 a year per child under 12 (£4,000 for a disabled child).
Only pay for the hours you need. An after-school nanny covering 3pm–7pm costs a fraction of a full-time nanny if your children are at school all day.
Book holidays and one-offs separately. Holiday nannies and ad hoc babysitters are paid per booking, with no membership.

Common questions

How much is a nanny in London per hour?: Most London nannies are paid £15–£20 gross an hour. We recommend £15–£18 for entry-level nannies and up to £20 for experienced ones. The legal minimum for workers aged 21 and over is the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour from April 2026, but London rates are well above it.
How much does a full-time nanny cost in London per year?: A nanny on 50 hours a week at £17 gross an hour earns £44,200 a year before tax. With employer National Insurance and pension, the family pays about £51,220 a year, plus any agency fee.
How much is an after-school nanny in London per week?: For 3 afternoons of 4 hours at £16 an hour, nanny pay is £192 a week. With our membership that comes to around £214 a week, plus £14.40 employer National Insurance.
Do I have to pay National Insurance for my nanny?: Yes, if you pay them more than £96 a week (£5,000 a year). As their employer you pay 15% on everything above that. Families can't use the Employment Allowance to reduce this, because it doesn't cover household staff.
Do I have to give my nanny a pension?: If they are 22 or over and earn more than £10,000 a year, you must enrol them in a workplace pension and pay at least 3% of their qualifying earnings. Our membership sets up PAYE, National Insurance and pension for you.
Can I use Tax-Free Childcare to pay a nanny?: Only if your nanny is registered with Ofsted. The government then adds £2 for every £8 you pay in, up to £2,000 a year per child under 12 (£4,000 for a disabled child). Ask us whether the nanny you're matched with is registered.
How much do nanny agencies charge in London?: It depends on the model. Traditional agencies usually charge a one-off placement fee, often a percentage of the nanny's annual pay. Apps fold their fee into an all-in hourly rate. We charge a monthly membership from £50 plus VAT for regular part-time cover, booking fees for one-off care, and a 10% plus VAT placement fee for Monday to Friday roles over 20 hours a week.

Sources

Statutory figures are for the 2026/27 tax year and were last checked on 6 November 2026. Our own fees are frozen for 2026/27. This guide is general information, not tax advice.