How Much Does a Part Time Nanny Cost in the UK?

If you only need help with the kids for a few days a week, a part time nanny can be one of the most flexible childcare options going. The tricky bit is working out what you’ll actually pay once everything is added up.

Part time nanny costs aren’t just about an hourly rate. There’s tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, and the odd extra you might not have thought about. This guide walks you through all of it in plain language so you can budget properly before you hire.

What counts as a part time nanny?

There isn’t a strict rule, but most agencies treat anything under 30 hours a week as part time. Common setups include two or three full days a week, school runs and after school care, or a couple of mornings to cover work meetings.

Part time nannies usually do the same job as a full timer, just in fewer hours. That means looking after the children, preparing their meals, doing their laundry, tidying their rooms, and planning age appropriate activities. Some will also help with light housework that relates to the kids.

The average part time nanny cost in the UK

As a rough guide, part time nanny costs in 2026 sit between £15 and £22 gross per hour across most of the UK. London and the surrounding commuter belt tend to be at the higher end, often £18 to £25 per hour gross, while other regions usually fall lower.

For a typical setup of two days a week at eight hours a day, you’re looking at around £240 to £400 in gross wages every week, before any of the employer costs we’ll cover below. Over a year that works out to roughly £12,500 to £20,800 in wages alone.

Live in part time roles aren’t very common, since the whole point of live in care is daily availability. Most part time arrangements are live out, where the nanny travels to your home each day.

What affects how much you’ll pay

Hourly rates can vary quite a bit depending on a few key factors. Experience is the biggest one. A nanny with ten years of experience, a paediatric first aid certificate, and an early years qualification will charge more than someone newer to the job.

Location matters too. Central London commands a premium, as do affluent commuter towns. Rural areas and smaller cities tend to be more reasonable.

The age and number of children also makes a difference. Looking after a newborn or twins is harder work than picking one school aged child up at 3pm, and rates usually reflect that. Any extra duties, like driving the kids to clubs or speaking a second language with them, can push the rate up as well.

Gross vs net pay, and why it matters

This is one of the most common things parents get wrong, so it’s worth getting your head around early. Nannies often talk in net pay, meaning the amount they actually take home after tax. But as the employer, you’re responsible for paying the gross figure, plus the tax and National Insurance on top.

If you agree a net rate of £15 per hour without thinking it through, the true cost to you could be closer to £20 once tax and NI are added in. Always agree wages in gross terms and use a payroll provider or an online nanny tax calculator to work out the net the nanny will see.

HMRC is very clear on this. The nanny works in your home, so you are the employer, and that brings legal responsibilities you can’t pass off to anyone else.

The hidden costs of employing a part time nanny

On top of the hourly wage, there are a few extras you need to budget for. None of them are huge on their own, but together they add up.

Employer’s National Insurance

You pay 13.8 percent on earnings above the secondary threshold. For a part time nanny earning around £15,000 a year, that could be £700 or so on top of wages.

Workplace pension

If your nanny is eligible, you have to enrol them in a workplace pension and contribute at least 3 percent of their qualifying earnings. The Pensions Regulator can fine you if you skip this.

Holiday pay

Part time nannies are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year, pro rata. For someone working two days a week, that’s just over 11 days off paid at their normal rate.

Payroll and insurance

A nanny payroll service usually costs around £150 to £250 a year and saves you a lot of headaches. Employer’s liability insurance is a legal requirement and runs about £100 a year. You should also expect to cover things like activity money, petrol if they drive the children around, and reasonable expenses.

Agency fees

If you find your nanny through an agency, expect a one off placement fee. This is usually a percentage of the nanny’s gross annual salary, often between 10 and 17 percent. Most reputable agencies include a replacement guarantee if things don’t work out in the first few months.

Ways to keep part time nanny costs down

If the numbers feel tight, there are a few sensible ways to bring them down without cutting corners on care. A nanny share, where two families share the same nanny and split the cost, can work brilliantly if you can find a family with kids of a similar age and similar working hours.

You can also check if you qualify for Tax Free Childcare from the government, which gives you 20 percent off your childcare costs up to certain limits. Not every nanny will be signed up to receive it, so ask early.

Some parents save money by hiring a slightly less experienced nanny and offering a clear path to grow with the family. A good newly qualified nanny who’s a great fit will often outperform a tired senior nanny who’s just there for the paycheck.

Is a part time nanny worth the cost?

Compared to nursery, part time nannies often look more expensive on paper. The difference is what you get for the money. Your child is cared for at home, on your schedule, by one consistent adult who knows them well. There’s no rushing out the door at 8am or dealing with sickness rules that send your child home halfway through the day.

For families with more than one child, the numbers start to look quite different too. A nanny costs broadly the same whether they’re looking after one child or three, while nursery fees multiply with each child.

It comes down to what your family needs. If flexibility, continuity, and one to one care matter to you, a part time nanny is often well worth what you pay.

Getting it right from the start

The biggest mistake parents make with part time nanny costs is underbudgeting. They focus on the hourly rate and forget the tax, NI, pension, holiday pay, and insurance. Add all of that in from day one and you’ll avoid any nasty surprises down the line.

At Nanny Matters, we help families work out the full picture before they commit, match them with carefully vetted nannies, and handle the bits that feel overwhelming so you don’t have to. If you’d like to chat through what a part time nanny might cost for your family, get in touch and we’ll give you an honest answer.