DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
How much does respite care cost per week in the UK?
Respite care is a short stay in a care home, usually to give a family carer a break or to cover a recovery after illness. It is priced per week, and it often costs a little more than a permanent place, because the home is filling a bed for a short time and cannot count on it long term. Families arranging it are frequently exhausted and short of time, which is exactly when a surprise fee stings most. Knowing the going rate, and that the council can sometimes help, makes booking a break far less daunting.
The quick version
- Respite care is a short-term stay, priced per week, often at a small premium over a permanent place.
- It covers the same types of care, so respite in a nursing or dementia setting costs more than in residential care.
- A carer's assessment from the council can unlock help towards the cost of a break.
- Self-funders are still charged more than the council rate for the same short-stay bed.
- Live-in care at home for a set period can be an alternative to a respite stay in a home.
What people actually paid
The gap: advertised vs actually paid (medians)
People reported paying 35% more than the advertised list price for respite care.
List prices are advertised prices; paid figures are what people reported, often for different cases. Treat the gap as a signal, not a quote.
Real prices, in people's own words
- £1,100“My Dad is paying 1100 pw for a respite place in a care home.”
- £1,500“I think my relative paid about £1,500 a week but there was a 3 for 2 weeks offer.”
- £2,500“was £2500 a week then”
- £2,500“was £2500 a week then”
Genuine amounts posted publicly. We publish the price and the quote, never the person.
Why the price varies so much
Respite prices move for the same reasons as any care home fee, then add a short-stay premium on top. A home holding a bed for a week or two cannot rely on that income continuing, so it often charges a little more than for a permanent resident. The type of care still drives the base cost, so respite in a dementia or nursing setting costs more than a straightforward residential care stay. Timing and demand matter as well, since beds are tighter over holiday periods when many carers want a break at once, and an emergency placement usually costs more than one booked in advance. Funding can soften the blow. A carer's assessment can lead to council help towards a break, and if the person being cared for already has council funding, respite may be arranged as part of their care plan.
How to pay less
- Ask the council for a carer's assessment, which can lead to funding or a grant towards respite.
- Book ahead where you can, since planned respite is easier to fund and price than an emergency stay.
- Confirm the weekly rate in writing and check what it includes, as short stays sometimes cost more per week.
- Ask whether the person's Attendance Allowance continues during a short stay, as it usually does.
- Compare a respite home stay with a spell of live-in care at home for the same period.
Common questions
Why does respite care cost more than a permanent place?
Because the home is filling a bed for only a short time and cannot count on the income continuing, it often charges a slightly higher weekly rate for respite than for a long-term resident. The care itself is the same, so a respite stay in a nursing or dementia home still costs more than one in standard residential care.
Can the council help pay for respite care?
It can. Respite is treated partly as support for the carer, so asking for a carer's assessment is the key step, and it can lead to funding or a one-off grant towards a break. If the person needing care already receives council funding, respite can often be built into their care plan. This is general information, not financial advice.
Is respite care only in a care home?
No. Respite can also be provided at home, for example a spell of live-in care while the usual carer is away, or extra home care visits. For some families that is less unsettling for the person being cared for than moving into a home for a week or two, and it is worth comparing the cost of both.