Home care costs in Hertfordshire
Hourly and live-in rates for 2026, from the agencies that publish them. Updated as agencies confirm their prices.
There are 318 home care agencies registered with the CQC in Hertfordshire, East of England, and agencies based in neighbouring areas cover it too. 14 have an hourly rate on record with us, each dated and traced to where it came from.
The typical weekday hourly rate in Hertfordshire is £28.25, so two one-hour visits a day comes to about £396 a week. The middle half of agencies charge between £25.94 and £29.83 an hour. That is close to the East of England average of £27.98. That is about 5% more than the England figure of £27.
Live-in care in Hertfordshire typically costs £1,475 a week, based on 18 agencies with a rate on record. Once you need more than about 35 hours a week it is usually cheaper than visits.
Of the agencies with a published rate, Accedo Herts South in Waltham Cross is the least expensive at £13 an hour and Sarah's Home Care Ltd in Watford the most at £33.50. A gap that size within one council area is normal: visit length, whether carers are employed or self-employed, and what the visit involves all move the price.
Compare with a carer you choose through PrimeCarers
About £396 a week for two one-hour visits a day
Live-in care £1,475 a week
A self-employed carer you chooseTypically £20, about £280 a week for the same visits
Your own carer could cost about £116 a week less, £6,006 over a year
Live-in care near Hertfordshire typically £1,090 a week.
PrimeCarers runs this site. Carers on it are self-employed and set their own rates. Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check within the last 2 years, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them.
Least expensive home care agencies in Hertfordshire
| Agency | Office | CQC | From, an hour | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your own carer through PrimeCarers For comparison. Self-employed, they set their own rate | Near Hertfordshire | Not an agency | £18 | 36% below |
| Accedo Herts South | Waltham Cross | CQC: Requires improvement | £13 | 54% below |
| Carer Centricity Ltd T/A Visiting Angels North Hertfordshire Dementia | Hitchin | CQC: Not yet rated | £13.75 | 51% below |
| Main Office Live-in £900/wk | Hatfield | CQC: Not yet rated | £19.99 | 29% below |
| Home Instead Senior Care Dementia · Live-in £1,350/wk | Baldock | CQC: Outstanding | £20 | 29% below |
| Home Help Watford Dementia · Live-in £1,200/wk | Abbots Langley | CQC: Good | £25 | 12% below |
| Heriitage Care Ltd Dementia · Live-in £1,100/wk | Stevenage | CQC: Good | £25.92 | 8% below |
| Unique Quality Care Ltd Office Dementia · Live-in £1,610/wk | Potters Bar | CQC: Good | £26 | 8% below |
| Crown Personnel Services Limited Dementia · Live-in £1,000/wk | Harpenden | CQC: Not yet rated | £28 | about typical |
Most expensive home care agencies in Hertfordshire
| Agency | Office | CQC | From, an hour | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah's Home Care Ltd Dementia | Watford | CQC: Good | £33.50 | 19% above |
| Care Herts Limited Dementia | Welwyn Garden City | CQC: Good | £33.50 | 19% above |
| European Nursing Agency Limited Dementia · Live-in £1,400/wk | Welwyn Garden City | CQC: Good | £31.50 | 12% above |
| Manaaki Healthcare Ltd Dementia · Live-in £1,500/wk | Hertford | CQC: Good | £29 | 3% above |
| JNN Welwyn Garden City Dementia | Welwyn Garden City | CQC: Not yet rated | £28.50 | about typical |
| Herts Homecare Dementia · Live-in £1,400/wk | Hemel Hempstead | CQC: Good | £28 | about typical |
| Crown Personnel Services Limited Dementia · Live-in £1,000/wk | Harpenden | CQC: Not yet rated | £28 | about typical |
| Unique Quality Care Ltd Office Dementia · Live-in £1,610/wk | Potters Bar | CQC: Good | £26 | 8% below |
“From” is the lowest weekday hourly rate the agency has published or confirmed to us, dated on each agency’s page. Agencies that add or correct a rate appear here within the day.
How Hertfordshire compares with nearby areas
Worth knowing: agencies based in these areas often cover Hertfordshire too.
What the rate includes
An agency’s hourly rate in Hertfordshire pays the carer, the office that plans the rota, travel between visits, training, insurance and a margin. Weekends and bank holidays usually cost more, short visits cost more per hour, and some agencies add mileage for visits far from the office.
Ask for the full price list: weekday and weekend rates, the shortest visit they do, and the cancellation terms. Rates are reviewed once a year, usually in April.
Who pays in Hertfordshire
If you have more than £23,250 in savings you will normally pay yourself. Below that, Hertfordshire council assesses what you can contribute; your house does not count while you live in it. You can take the money as a direct payment and choose your own agency or carer.
People with very high health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which covers the whole cost at home.
Full guides: who pays, and when the council helps, direct payments and Continuing Healthcare at home.
Agency or your own carer in Hertfordshire?
Self-employed carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour and set their own rates, against the typical Hertfordshire agency rate of £28.25. The same carer comes each time and you agree the hours between you. Live-in care is typically £1,090 a week near Hertfordshire.
Common questions
How much does home care in Hertfordshire cost an hour?
The typical home care agency in Hertfordshire charges £28.25 an hour on weekdays, and live-in care £1,475 a week, based on 14 agencies with a rate on record. Every agency page shows where its figure came from and when.
How much does home care in Hertfordshire cost a week?
At £28.25 an hour, one visit a day is about £198 a week, two visits a day about £396, and three about £593. Live-in care is about £1,475 a week. Most agencies raise rates once a year, in April.
What is the cheapest home care agency in Hertfordshire?
Accedo Herts South in Waltham Cross has the lowest published rate we hold for Hertfordshire, from £13 an hour. The full table on this page lists every agency with a rate on record, cheapest first.
Will Hertfordshire council pay for home care?
If your savings are below £23,250, Hertfordshire council will assess your needs and what you can afford, and may pay part or all of the cost. The value of your house does not count while you live in it. You can take the money as a direct payment and spend it with the agency or carer you choose; if they charge more than the council's rate you pay the difference. Ask the adult social care team for a needs assessment first.
Is a self-employed carer cheaper than an agency in Hertfordshire?
Usually. Carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour against the typical Hertfordshire agency rate of £28.25, and live-in care is typically £1,090 a week near Hertfordshire. You choose the carer and the same person comes each time.
Rates last checked October 2026.