How much does a private tutor cost in the UK in 2026? Hourly rates by level
Private tutoring rates in the UK vary enough by level, subject and format that a single "average price" isn't especially useful on its own — a primary reading tutor and an A-level further maths specialist are simply different services at different price points. As a general guide, most private tutors in the UK charge somewhere around £30 to £50 per hour, averaging roughly £35 to £40 an hour, but breaking that down by level gives a far more accurate picture for budgeting.
For primary-age tuition, rates commonly run around £22 to £38 per hour, averaging near £29 an hour. This tends to reflect both generally lower demand pressure at this level and a wider pool of capable tutors, including university students and graduates, alongside qualified primary teachers. Moving up to GCSE level, rates commonly run around £28 to £55 per hour, averaging near £38 an hour, with the range widening because GCSE tuition spans everything from general subject support to focused exam-technique coaching close to results day. At A-level, rates step up again to commonly around £38 to £75 per hour, averaging near £52 an hour, reflecting the more specialised subject knowledge required and a smaller pool of tutors confident teaching at that level, particularly in subjects like further maths, further sciences or less commonly taught languages.
Format makes a consistent difference at every level. Online tutoring commonly costs around £5 to £10 per hour less than in-person tutoring for the same level and subject, a gap that reflects the tutor's lower overheads and the time saved not travelling between sessions, rather than any difference in teaching quality. For families weighing convenience against cost, this gap is worth factoring in alongside practical considerations like whether a child engages as well over video call as in person.
Location adds another layer on top of level and format. Central London rates commonly run around 20 to 30 percent above the national average across most subjects, and at A-level this premium can widen further, with London A-level rates cited as running roughly 2.1 times the typical regional average in some cases. Families outside major cities can generally expect to pay noticeably less for a broadly comparable tutor.
Subject also moves the price, largely due to supply. Maths and the sciences commonly command higher rates than humanities subjects, simply because qualified, experienced tutors confident teaching these subjects tend to be in shorter supply relative to demand. Tutor background matters too: a qualified, experienced classroom teacher tutoring on the side typically charges more than a university student offering tutoring, reflecting both formal qualifications and a track record of results, though a strong university-student tutor can still be excellent value, particularly for younger or less exam-critical support.
Given how much level, format, subject and location all move the final number, the only reliable way to budget for a specific need is to get a few direct quotes for the actual subject, level and format required, rather than anchoring on a single UK-wide average.
Frequently asked questions
Most private tutors in the UK charge somewhere around £30 to £50 per hour, averaging roughly £35 to £40 an hour, though the exact rate depends heavily on level, subject, format and location.
Primary tuition commonly costs around £22-£38/hour (averaging near £29), GCSE around £28-£55/hour (averaging near £38), and A-level around £38-£75/hour (averaging near £52), with rates generally rising with level.
Yes, commonly by around £5-£10 per hour at the same level, reflecting the tutor's lower overheads and no travel time rather than any difference in teaching quality.
Qualified, experienced tutors confident teaching maths and the sciences are commonly in shorter supply relative to demand than for humanities subjects, which tends to push their hourly rates higher.