DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
Childminder vs nursery: which is really cheaper
A childminder is usually the more affordable route for the very youngest children, while a nursery can pull ahead once funded hours are stretched across a full-time place, so which is really cheaper depends on your child's age and the pattern of hours you need. The two options are priced in different ways. A nursery place is normally billed monthly around fixed days, whereas a childminder tends to charge by the hour, which suits families juggling shifts or school pick-ups. The 15 and 30 hours free childcare scheme can be used with either type of provider, though not every childminder offers it, so the value it adds varies from one family to the next. This guide compares what parents report paying for each option, shows how part-time patterns change the outcome, and sets out who tends to do better with which choice.
The quick version
- Childminders usually charge by the hour, while nurseries bill a fixed monthly fee for set days.
- A childminder often costs less for babies and toddlers than a nursery baby room, though the gap narrows as children get older.
- The 15 and 30 hours free childcare scheme can apply to both options, but not every childminder registers to offer it.
- Part-time or irregular patterns tend to favour a childminder, while five fixed days a week often suit a nursery better.
- Travel time and wraparound cover, such as school pick-ups, can tip the maths in a childminder's favour even when the headline rate looks similar.
What people actually paid
The gap: advertised vs actually paid (medians)
People reported paying 24% less than the advertised list price for childminder.
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
- £4“I used to start from £4. Per hour”
- £5“I paid 4.50ph inc meals”
- £6“I paid £5.50 (Glasgow) per hour”
- £6“we pay £6/hour (went up from £5 about 1.5 years ago). Includes all food/snacks”
Genuine amounts posted publicly. We publish the price and the quote, never the person.
Why the price varies so much
The price gap between a childminder and a nursery mostly comes down to overheads, staffing ratios and how flexible the care needs to be. A Nursery (full-time) place carries the cost of a building, a full staff rota, and higher staff-to-child ratios in the youngest rooms, which is why a Baby room (full-time) place usually tops any nursery's price list. A Childminder works from home or a small setting with lower overheads, and for babies and toddlers that often shows up as a lower hourly rate than the equivalent nursery place. The gap narrows as children get older, since ratios ease off and a nursery's per-child cost falls. Hours and pattern matter as much as age. A family needing a Nursery (part-time) place for two or three set days a week pays a different daily rate to one paying a Childminder by the hour for shifting or irregular cover. The 15 and 30 hours free childcare scheme can lower either bill, but it tends to suit fixed weekly patterns better than the ad hoc hours many working parents actually need, so its value depends on how neatly your working pattern lines up with the hours on offer.
How to pay less
- Match your childcare pattern to the provider that charges the way you actually use it, hourly for shifting days, monthly for five fixed days.
- Check whether your childminder is registered to offer the 15 and 30 hours free childcare scheme, since not all of them are, and ask how they choose to spread those hours.
- Open a Tax-Free Childcare account so the government tops up whatever you pay above any funded hours, whichever provider you use.
- Ask a nursery how funded hours are stretched across the year, since a monthly top-up on a Nursery (full-time) place can shrink a lot depending on the spread.
- Get quotes for the same actual hours from both a Childminder and a nursery before deciding, rather than comparing a nursery's headline monthly fee with a childminder's hourly rate.
Common questions
Is a childminder cheaper than a nursery?
For babies and toddlers, a childminder is often cheaper than a nursery, particularly compared with a Baby room (full-time) place, because a childminder's overheads are lower. As children get older the gap narrows, and the cheaper option often comes down to which setting fits your actual hours rather than which charges less on paper.
Do funded hours work with a childminder as well as a nursery?
The 15 and 30 hours free childcare scheme can be used with a registered childminder as well as with a Nursery (full-time) or Nursery (part-time) place, but not every childminder signs up to offer it. It is worth asking directly whether your childminder takes part before assuming the hours apply.
Why is part-time childcare sometimes pricier per hour than full-time?
Providers often give a better rate to families who book a full week, since fixed costs are spread across more sessions. A parent taking two or three days can end up paying a higher hourly rate than one booking five, whether the provider is a childminder or a nursery.
Which is better for irregular working hours, a childminder or a nursery?
A childminder usually suits shifting or irregular hours better, since most bill by the hour and can flex around early starts, late finishes or school runs. A nursery place is normally sold in fixed daily blocks, which works less well if your hours change from week to week.
How do I compare the true cost of a childminder and a nursery?
Add up the actual hours you need each week and price both options against that same total, rather than comparing a nursery's monthly fee with a childminder's hourly rate in isolation. Include any funded hours and extras like meals or activities, since these can close or widen the gap between the two.