Home care costs in Dudley
Hourly and live-in rates for 2026, from the agencies that publish them. Updated as agencies confirm their prices.
There are 59 home care agencies registered with the CQC in Dudley, West Midlands, and agencies based in neighbouring areas cover it too. 3 have an hourly rate on record with us, each dated and traced to where it came from.
The typical weekday hourly rate in Dudley is £24, so two one-hour visits a day comes to about £336 a week. The middle half of agencies charge between £23 and £25.75 an hour. That is close to the West Midlands average of £25. That is about 11% less than the England figure of £27.
Live-in care, one carer living in with breaks covered, is priced per week. Across the West Midlands the typical live-in rate is £1,675 a week, and once you need more than about 35 hours a week it is usually cheaper than visits.
Of the agencies with a published rate, Cera Black Country and Worcester in Brierley Hill is the least expensive at £19 an hour and SureCare Stourbridge, Hagley & Halesowen in Halesowen the most at £25. 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 £336 a week for two one-hour visits a day
Live-in care £1,675 a week
A self-employed carer you chooseTypically £20, about £280 a week for the same visits
Your own carer could cost about £56 a week less, £2,912 over a year
Live-in care near Dudley typically £1,050 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.
Home care agencies in Dudley with a rate on record
| Agency | Office | CQC | From, an hour | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your own carer through PrimeCarers For comparison. Self-employed, they set their own rate | Near Dudley | Not an agency | £18 | 25% below |
| Cera Black Country and Worcester Dementia · Live-in £1,120/wk | Brierley Hill | CQC: Good | £19 | 21% below |
| CHADD Supported Independent Living Services | Dudley | CQC: Good | £24 | about typical |
| SureCare Stourbridge, Hagley & Halesowen Dementia | Halesowen | CQC: Not yet rated | £25 | 4% above |
“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 Dudley compares with nearby areas
Worth knowing: agencies based in these areas often cover Dudley too.
| Council area | Hourly, weekdays | Live-in, a week | Agencies with rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dudley | £24 | 3 | |
| Walsall | £24 | 6 | |
| Birmingham | £24.05 | £1,675 | 10 |
| Solihull | £28.75 | £1,538 | 4 |
What the rate includes
An agency’s hourly rate in Dudley 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 Dudley
If you have more than £23,250 in savings you will normally pay yourself. Below that, Dudley 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 Dudley?
Self-employed carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour and set their own rates, against the typical Dudley agency rate of £24. The same carer comes each time and you agree the hours between you. Live-in care is typically £1,050 a week near Dudley.
Common questions
How much does home care in Dudley cost an hour?
The typical home care agency in Dudley charges £24 an hour on weekdays, based on 3 agencies with a rate on record. Every agency page shows where its figure came from and when.
How much does home care in Dudley cost a week?
At £24 an hour, one visit a day is about £168 a week, two visits a day about £336, and three about £504. Live-in care is about £1,675 a week. Most agencies raise rates once a year, in April.
What is the cheapest home care agency in Dudley?
Cera Black Country and Worcester in Brierley Hill has the lowest published rate we hold for Dudley, from £19 an hour. The full table on this page lists every agency with a rate on record, cheapest first.
Will Dudley council pay for home care?
If your savings are below £23,250, Dudley 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 Dudley?
Usually. Carers on PrimeCarers charge £18 to £25 an hour against the typical Dudley agency rate of £24, and live-in care is typically £1,050 a week near Dudley. You choose the carer and the same person comes each time.
Rates last checked October 2026.