How much is a babysitter?
Babysitting is charged by the hour, usually with a minimum booking of two or three hours. Rates depend on the time of night, the number of children, and whether the sitter is a student or an experienced, DBS-checked professional.
Rates last refreshed 10 August 2026
London vs UK rates
| Type | London | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Babysitter | £14.49/hr | £12.85/hr |
| Mother's helper | £7 to £11/hr | N/A |
Standard evening babysitting
A typical evening sit starts once the children are in bed or close to it, and is booked for three to five hours. Experienced sitters with a DBS certificate and paediatric first aid charge more than teenage or student sitters, and rightly so. Across London that works out at about £14.49/hr.
Late nights and last-minute bookings
Anything running past midnight, plus New Year's Eve and bank holidays, usually attracts a higher rate, often an extra pound or two an hour, sometimes a flat late-finish supplement. It's normal to agree this before the booking rather than at the door.
What else is normal to cover
Many families cover a taxi home for a late finish, and it's usual to leave food or to say clearly what the sitter is welcome to help themselves to. Additional children typically add a small hourly premium rather than doubling the rate.
Daytime and holiday sitting
Daytime sitting during school holidays is more demanding than an evening sit, the children are awake throughout, so it's usually paid at or slightly above the evening rate, and often booked as a full or half day.
Common questions
How much should I pay a babysitter per hour?
Pay the going local rate for an experienced, DBS-checked sitter rather than the lowest number you can find. Agree the hourly rate, the minimum hours and any late-finish supplement in writing before the booking.
How much is a babysitter for 4 hours?
Multiply the hourly rate by four and add any late-finish supplement if you'll be back after midnight. There's no booking fee on KidSitter, so the whole amount goes to your sitter.
Should I pay more for two children?
A modest premium is normal, often around £1 to 2 an hour extra rather than a doubled rate, since the sitter is in your home either way.
Do babysitters charge for travel?
Not usually for local bookings, but covering a taxi home after a late finish is common courtesy and widely expected in London.
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Babysitter costs by London borough
Sources & methodology
Figures are midpoints of current advertised rates for each type of childcare, compiled from published UK childcare rate surveys and advertised London rates, then grouped by borough, zone or London-wide depending on how granular the underlying data is. Each figure is labelled with the level it comes from, so nothing here implies more precision than the data supports. Rates exclude any agency fees, KidSitter charges no booking fee or commission. Last refreshed 10 August 2026.