How much does tutoring cost in the UK?
Most UK private tutors charge £25–£45 per hour. Primary work sits at the lower end, A-Level and 11+ specialists at the upper end. London adds 20–30%. Below: real rates by level, what drives them, and how to budget honestly.
UK tutor rates by level (2026)
Hourly rates compiled from public listings on TheTutorLink, Tutorful, MyTutor and SuperProf, May 2026. Ranges cover the middle 80% of advertised tutors.
| Level | Online | In-person (London) | In-person (rest of UK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| KS2 / Primary | £18–£22 | £25–£32 | £20–£26 |
| KS3 | £22–£28 | £28–£36 | £24–£30 |
| GCSE | £25–£32 | £32–£42 | £28–£35 |
| A-Level | £30–£38 | £38–£50 | £32–£42 |
| IB (HL) | £35–£42 | £45–£55 | £38–£48 |
| 11+ / Oxbridge specialist | £40–£55 | £55–£80 | £45–£65 |
| University / undergraduate | £35–£45 | £45–£60 | £38–£50 |
Specialist tutors with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), examiner experience, or Oxbridge backgrounds charge at the top of each band — sometimes well above it.
What actually drives the rate
Five things move the price more than anything else:
- Qualifications. A second-year undergraduate tutoring GCSE Maths might charge £22 an hour. A Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) holder with 10 years in the classroom and current exam-board experience will charge £45–£55. Both can be the right choice — for different students.
- Subject scarcity. Further Maths, A-Level Physics, Latin, Mandarin, Computer Science and Economics all carry a premium because qualified tutors are thin on the ground. Expect to pay 15–25% more than the equivalent-level English or History tutor.
- Location. London adds roughly 20–30% to in-person rates. Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol sit about 10% above the national average. Rural areas often charge less but offer fewer choices.
- Exam-board specialism. Tutors who know AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, CIE or IB inside out — past papers, mark schemes, common pitfalls — charge £3–£8 an hour more than a general tutor. Worth it for exam terms.
- Group vs 1:1. A tutor running a group of three at £45/hr is taking £15 per pupil. Group rates typically work out 40–60% cheaper than 1:1 if you can find the right cohort.
Online vs in-person — the real cost difference
Online tutoring is almost always cheaper. A GCSE tutor charging £35 in person typically lists at £28–£30 online for the same hour. The 15–25% saving comes from no travel time, no fuel, and no minimum-lesson length to make the journey worthwhile.
The post-2020 evidence on outcomes is now solid: for KS3 upward, online 1:1 produces comparable progress to in-person for academic subjects, provided the tutor uses a shared whiteboard and the student has a stable connection. The exceptions are early-primary work (where physical materials matter), instrument tuition, and SEND students who benefit from in-room cues.
If budget is the constraint, online unlocks two extra advantages: you can hire a specialist anywhere in the UK rather than within driving distance, and you can fit lessons around shift patterns without a 30-minute travel buffer.
Where the platforms take their cut
The headline rate isn’t the whole story. Most marketplaces take 20–25% from the tutor’s payout, which forces tutors to either raise rates or accept thinner pay. Here’s what the same tutor takes home from a £30 lesson and a £45 lesson on each platform:
| Platform | Tutor commission | Tutor keeps from £30 | Tutor keeps from £45 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TheTutorLink | 5% | £28.50 | £42.75 |
| Tutorful | 25% | £22.50 | £33.75 |
| MyTutor | 22% | £23.40 | £35.10 |
| SuperProf | 20% | £24.00 | £36.00 |
Commission rates as of 2026, taken from each platform’s public help pages. The fee is taken from the tutor’s payout, not added to the parent’s bill — but it does push listed rates upward.
On TheTutorLink, a £30 lesson means the tutor walks away with £28.50. On Tutorful that’s £22.50. The £6 gap per hour is why our tutors can list honest rates without working evenings to break even. See full pricing breakdown →
Hidden costs to watch
- Joining fees. A handful of agencies charge £30–£100 to register a child. Walk away.
- Package lock-ins. "Pay for 10 lessons up front and save 10%" sounds reasonable until you discover the tutor isn’t the right fit in week two. Pay-as-you-go protects you.
- Cancellation charges. Some platforms keep 100% of the lesson fee if you cancel within 24 hours. Look for a 12-hour clear-refund window — that’s the fair standard.
- "Premium tier" upsells. Some agencies tier their tutors and charge a £200+ matching fee to access "elite" tutors — who are often the same QTS tutors you can hire directly elsewhere for £40/hr.
- Card surcharges and "service" fees. Should be zero. If a platform adds a 2–5% booking fee on top of the lesson rate, that’s a hidden tax on you.
How many lessons do you actually need?
Honest answer: more than most parents budget for. The rough patterns we see across thousands of bookings:
- GCSE catch-up (a few weeks before exams, no major gaps): 8–12 lessons. Cost at £30/hr: £240–£360.
- GCSE grade-jump (4 → 6, or 5 → 7): 24+ lessons over 6 months at one per week. Cost at £30/hr: £720+.
- A-Level final-push (Year 13, exam-focused): 12–20 lessons in the spring term. Cost at £40/hr: £480–£800.
- 11+ preparation (start in Year 5): 30–50 lessons over 9 months. Cost at £45/hr: £1,350–£2,250.
- Oxbridge / interview prep: 6–10 specialist sessions. Cost at £60/hr: £360–£600.
Weekly cadence beats intensive blocks. A child improves more from 24 weekly lessons than from 24 lessons crammed into the last six weeks before an exam — the brain needs spacing to consolidate.
Ways to keep costs sensible
- Try a free trial first. Most TheTutorLink tutors offer a free 30-minute session. Use it to confirm fit before committing — wrong-fit tutors are the most expensive lessons you’ll ever buy.
- Group lessons of 2–3. Pair up with a friend or sibling. A £45/hr tutor split three ways is £15 each — and accountability often improves with peers in the room.
- Sibling discounts. Many tutors offer 10–20% off the second child. Ask directly — it’s rarely advertised.
- Online over in-person when distance isn’t the issue. Saves 15–25% per hour and opens up specialist tutors outside your postcode.
- Weekly cadence, not crash courses. One lesson a week for 30 weeks costs the same as 30 lessons in 6 weeks but produces materially better results.
- Use school resources first. Past papers, BBC Bitesize, Seneca and Oak Academy are free. Tutors should fill specific gaps, not deliver the whole curriculum.
- Choose the right platform. A 5% fee versus a 25% fee saves the tutor £6/hr — which usually shows up as a lower listed rate. How to choose a tutor →
FAQ
What is the average hourly rate for a private tutor in the UK?
Most UK private tutors charge between £25 and £45 per hour. Primary tuition starts around £18–£22 per hour online, GCSE sits at £25–£35, A-Level at £30–£45, and 11+ or Oxbridge specialists charge £40–£70. London rates run roughly 20–30% higher than the rest of the UK.
Are online tutors cheaper than in-person?
Yes. Online lessons are usually 15–25% cheaper because the tutor saves on travel time and fuel. A GCSE tutor charging £35 in person will often charge £28–£30 online for the same hour. Outcomes are comparable for most subjects from KS3 upward.
How many tutoring lessons does a child need to improve a GCSE grade?
A grade jump (e.g. 5 to 7) typically takes 24+ lessons spread across 6 months — roughly one lesson per week through the school year. A short catch-up before exams needs 8–12 lessons. Less than 8 hours rarely shifts a grade.
Why does TheTutorLink cost less than Tutorful or MyTutor?
TheTutorLink charges tutors a flat 5% platform fee instead of the 20–25% other platforms take. Tutors keep more of each lesson, so they can list lower honest rates without cutting their take-home pay. You pay the rate the tutor lists — the fee is taken from the tutor’s payout, not added to your bill.
Are there hidden fees or joining costs?
Not on TheTutorLink. There are no joining fees, subscriptions, package lock-ins, or premium tiers. You pay per lesson at the tutor’s listed rate. Most tutors offer a free 30-minute trial. Cancel up to 12 hours before a lesson for a full refund.
Find a tutor in your budget
Browse vetted UK tutors with honest hourly rates. Free 30-minute trial with most. 5% platform fee — tutors keep 95%.