What does a sleep-in cost per night in 2026?

Typically £90 to £140 a night in the UK, depending on region and provider. The carer is present overnight and paid for hours actually working, following the Mencap Supreme Court ruling.

What does a waking night cost?

Typically £170 to £260 a night. The carer is awake all night and conducting regular checks.

Written by Oliver Wakefield-Smith. Reviewed for accuracy against the Homecare Association's 2026/27 minimum-price report and Age UK's 2026 factsheets. Numbers verified 21 June 2026.

Night home care cost UK 2026

Three different shapes of night cover, three different prices. The Mencap Supreme Court ruling means sleep-in carers are paid only for hours actually working, not all night[20].

The three night-cover models

Sleep-in: carer present 10pm-7am, sleeps unless needed. Typical UK rate: £90-£140/night[1].
Waking night: carer awake all night, regular checks. Typical: £170-£260/night[1].
Night-sit: carer awake for a defined sit (e.g. 10pm-2am), often used at end of life. Typical: £120-£200/sit[1].

When a 24-hour split-shift beats live-in

At 70+ hours of cover a week, a single live-in carer (£1,500-£1,900/wk managed) is almost always cheaper than two day-rate carers plus a waking night (£2,500+/wk). Below 40 hours of day cover, the split-shift is more flexible.

Next steps

Compare live-in to hourly.
Dementia home care: when waking nights are likely.
End of life care at home: free overnight options.