Calculate care home fees in the UK for 2025/26. Residential care, nursing care and dementia care weekly and annual costs with self-funding threshold and NHS funding.
Choose between residential care (£800/wk avg), nursing care (£1,100/wk avg), or dementia care (£950/wk avg) from the dropdown menu.
Select your region to apply the regional cost multiplier — London costs are around 30% above the UK average, while northern regions are typically 10% lower.
Input the combined value of your savings and property equity (if applicable). This is used to determine whether you are above or below the £23,250 self-funding threshold.
The calculator will display your estimated weekly cost, annual cost, and how long your assets are likely to last before falling to the self-funding threshold.
Check whether you may qualify for council funding, NHS Continuing Healthcare, or whether you need to self-fund, and seek independent financial advice for care funding options.
Average UK care home costs in 2025/26 range from around £800 per week for residential care to £1,100 per week for nursing care, and approximately £950 per week for dementia care. Costs are significantly higher in London (up to 30% above average) and lower in northern England and Wales.
The self-funding threshold in England is £23,250. If your total assets (savings plus property equity in certain circumstances) exceed this figure, you are expected to fund your own care. Once assets fall below £23,250, the local authority may contribute toward your care costs.
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of care arranged and funded entirely by the NHS for adults with significant, complex ongoing health needs. It is not means-tested, so it is available regardless of income or assets. Eligibility is assessed using the national decision support tool.
If your assets exceed £23,250 (England), you fund your own care. Between £14,250 and £23,250 you pay a means-tested contribution. Below £14,250 the local authority pays. For those with a primary health need, NHS Continuing Healthcare covers the full cost.
The means test includes savings, investments, and the value of your property if you are moving into residential care permanently and no eligible person (spouse, partner, dependent child or carer) remains living there. Some assets like personal possessions are excluded.
You cannot simply transfer your home to avoid care fees — local authorities can challenge deliberate deprivation of assets. However, your home is disregarded if a qualifying person (spouse, civil partner, dependent child or certain carers) continues to live there. Deferred Payment Agreements are also available.
The Care Act 2014 is the primary legislation governing adult social care in England. It sets out local authority duties to assess needs, provide information and advice, and arrange care. It also established the means-testing framework and introduced personal budgets and direct payments.
A deferred payment agreement (DPA) allows you to use the value of your home to pay for care without having to sell it during your lifetime. The local authority pays your care fees and recoups the money from your estate when the property is eventually sold.
If the local authority deems you eligible for care and your assets are below £23,250, they will carry out a financial assessment and contribute toward an assessed care package. They will pay a standard rate to care homes in their area; if you prefer a more expensive home, a 'top-up' fee from a third party may be required.
Residential care provides personal care — help with washing, dressing, meals and social activities — but no on-site nursing. Nursing care homes have registered nurses present 24 hours a day and can manage complex medical conditions. Nursing care attracts an additional NHS-funded Funded Nursing Care (FNC) contribution of around £235 per week in 2025/26.
Having a property does not automatically disqualify you from council help. The property is disregarded for the first 12 weeks of a permanent care placement (12-week property disregard), and you can apply for a deferred payment agreement to avoid selling immediately. Once the 12-week disregard ends and no DPA is in place, the property value is included in the means test.
The UK government proposed an £86,000 lifetime cap on personal care costs, originally planned for October 2023 but subsequently delayed. The cap aims to protect individuals from catastrophic care costs. However, only amounts you personally pay (not council-funded amounts) would count toward the cap. Implementation timing remains subject to government confirmation.