You love the person you care for. You also have not had a proper night's sleep in months. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone, and you are exactly who respite care is for.
The worry that stops many carers asking for help is cost, so here is the short answer. In 2026, respite care typically costs £26 to £38 an hour for visits at home and £155 to £360 a night for overnight cover. A week of round-the-clock care, whether a live-in carer or a care home stay, usually starts above £1,100. Council funding, charity grants and benefits can reduce what you pay.
This guide explains what each type costs, what pushes prices up and who can help you pay. We have supported families since 1986, and the figures come from published 2026 price lists, GOV.UK, the NHS and independent care data.
What is respite care?
Respite care is short-term support that lets an unpaid carer take a proper break while someone else looks after the person they care for. The NHS describes several routes, from help at home to a short stay in a care home, and a break can last anything from a couple of hours to a few weeks.
The main types of respite care are:
Home respite care: a carer visits for a few hours or a full day, often called a day sit.
Overnight respite care: a carer stays through the night, either asleep on site (sleeping nights) or awake (waking nights).
Live-in respite care: a carer lives in the home for several days or weeks.
Day centre respite: a day of activities, company and meals away from home, such as our Keighley day centre.
Residential respite: a short stay in a care home.
Emergency respite: short-notice cover when you are unwell or something goes wrong.
Which one suits you depends on how long you need, how much support your relative needs and your budget.
Respite care costs at a glance in 2026
In 2026, respite care costs from about £26 an hour for home visits to £1,200 or more a week for live-in care. The right choice depends on how long you need and how much support your relative needs.
Type of respite care | Typical 2026 price | What it usually covers |
Home visits and day sits | £26 to £38 an hour | Companionship, personal care, meals and medication support |
Sleeping night | £155 to £300 a night | A carer sleeps on site and helps if needed |
Waking night | £200 to £360 a night | A carer stays awake all night |
Day centre | £45.50 to £57 a day, plus transport | Activities, company and a hot meal |
Live-in carer | £1,200 to £2,000 a week | One carer living in the home |
Care home stay | £1,129 to £1,532 a week, depending on region | Room, meals and 24-hour care |
These are market ranges drawn from published 2026 price lists from UK home care providers, charity-run day centres and care home data. Your own quote will depend on your situation.
Respite care costs by type
Here is the analysis of the estimated cost of each respite care type.
Respite care at home: day sits and visits
For most families this is the gentlest and often the least expensive way to get a break. A carer comes to your relative's home for a few hours, so you can work, rest or attend an appointment while routines stay familiar. Our day sits can be a single visit or several check-ins a week, and we keep to familiar carers rather than a constant rotation.
Overnight respite: sleeping nights and waking nights
On a sleeping night the carer sleeps on site and helps only if needed. On a waking night the carer stays awake, which suits someone who needs toileting, repositioning or reassurance through the night. Waking nights cost more because the carer works the whole shift, and some providers move a sleeping night to the waking rate if the carer is woken repeatedly. Our guide to choosing between waking and sleeping nights explains the difference in more detail.
Day centre respite
A day centre gives your relative company, activities and a hot meal while you get a full day to yourself. Our Keighley day centre offers exactly that. Charity-run centres usually charge a daily rate, with transport and sometimes meals on top, so ask what is included before you compare prices.
Live-in respite care
A live-in carer stays in the home for days or weeks, which suits longer breaks such as a holiday. Short respite bookings can cost more per week than long-term arrangements, and extras often include the carer's food (commonly £40 to £60 a week) and higher bank holiday rates.
Residential respite in a care home
A short stay provides round-the-clock care, meals and accommodation. Lottie's 2026 data puts the average self-funded respite week at £1,377 across the UK. Space can be hard to find at short notice, but some homes take advance bookings, according to the NHS, so book early for holidays.
What a week of each type adds up to
The biggest jump is between daytime and overnight support, so work out when you most need a break before you compare prices.
What affects the price of respite care?
Two families can ask for "a week of respite" and receive very different quotes. These are the usual reasons.
Factor | Why it changes the price | Practical tip |
Level of need | Dementia, two-person moves or medication support need more skill and sometimes a second carer | Share the full picture at the first consultation |
Hours and call length | Short visits cost more per hour because of travel and waiting time, according to the Homecare Association | Ask whether longer, fewer visits would work |
Time of day | Nights, weekends and bank holidays often cost more, and some providers double their rate on peak days | Ask for bank holiday rates in writing |
Location | A week in a care home averages £1,166 in Yorkshire and the Humber and £1,532 in London, per Lottie | Compare local quotes, not national averages |
Who employs the carer | Agency carers come with training, supervision and cover if someone is ill | Ask what happens if your carer cannot attend |
Practical examples: what a break might cost
These examples use the ranges above, so your own total will differ.
Situation | What is arranged | Estimated cost |
A regular breather | A 4-hour home visit once a week for 4 weeks (16 hours at £26 to £38) | £416 to £608 |
Sleeping properly again | 2 sleeping nights a week for 4 weeks (8 nights at £155 to £300) | £1,240 to £2,400 |
A two-week holiday | Live-in cover for 14 nights (2 weeks at £1,200 to £2,000) | £2,400 to £4,000, plus the carer's food contribution |
The first suits a carer who works one morning a week or simply needs a standing break. The second helps anyone whose nights are constantly interrupted, and it costs far less than a week of round-the-clock cover. The third keeps your relative at home with one-to-one care for the whole trip.
Who pays for respite care? Funding and financial help
You may not have to cover every penny yourself. Councils, charities and some benefits can help, though most routes start with an assessment.
Source of help | What it can do | First step |
Arranges or funds short breaks, or pays direct payments so you can arrange them yourself, when you and your relative are both assessed as needing them | Ask for a carer's assessment and a care needs assessment, then expect a financial assessment | |
Charity grants | Help towards respite from organisations such as Carers Trust | Search the Turn2us grants tool or contact a local carers service |
£76.70 or £114.60 a week for people over State Pension age, which can go towards care | Claim through GOV.UK | |
£86.45 a week if you care for 35 hours or more and earn £204 or less a week after deductions | Claim through GOV.UK |
In England, Lottie's 2026/27 thresholds show that people with savings above £23,250 are generally expected to pay in full, while those below £14,250 receive the most support, with a sliding scale in between. Councils apply their own rules, so check with yours.
Have a carer's assessment even if you expect to self-fund. It is free and records the support you need. This is general information, not financial advice.
Six practical tips to get the most from respite care
Ask for both assessments together. You can request a carer's assessment and a care needs assessment at the same time, which saves waiting twice.
Start with a short break. A trial afternoon helps your relative settle and shows you what works before you commit to a longer stay.
Book holiday cover early. Planned breaks cost less than emergencies, and care home places are hard to find at short notice.
Match the service to the need. Choose a sleeping night unless your relative wakes often, and keep waking nights for when they are genuinely needed.
Get the quote in writing. Check set-up fees, bank holiday rates, mileage, minimum visit lengths and notice periods.
Write an emergency plan. Note routines, medication, key contacts and who can step in, and keep it somewhere easy to find.
How to choose a respite care provider you can trust
Price matters, but trust matters more when someone else is looking after the person you love. Check these four things before you book:
CQC registration. Care providers in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission, so read the latest inspection report. Our guide to how to check the quality of a home care provider explains how.
Consistency. Ask whether the same few carers will visit each time.
Clear costs. Ask for every charge before care begins.
Independent reviews. Read reviews on sites such as homecare.co.uk.
How Elmar Home Care can help
Elmar Home Care has supported families since 1986 and now has offices in Keighley, Leeds, Bradford and Manchester. We are CQC-regulated and hold a 9.5 review score on homecare.co.uk. For respite care we offer day sits, sleeping nights and waking nights at home, plus our Keighley day centre, with familiar carers and a free in-home consultation. We explain the costs before any care begins.
Call 01535 654214, email caring@elmarhomecare.co.uk or contact your local team.
Read more in our guide to respite care in Leeds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are answers to the questions we hear most often.
How much does respite care cost per week in the UK?
It depends on the type. Daytime options such as a day centre or a few home visits cost a few hundred pounds a week, while round-the-clock cover, whether live-in or in a care home, starts above £1,000 a week.
Is respite care free?
Sometimes. Volunteer sitting services are often free or low cost, and the council can pay towards respite after assessments and a financial assessment, according to the NHS. Otherwise, you pay yourself, possibly with help from charity grants.
Can I arrange respite care at short notice?
Sometimes. Home care can often be arranged faster than a care home place, but availability varies and last-minute bookings usually cost more. Call your local team as early as you can.
Will respite care affect my Carer's Allowance?
You can still receive Carer's Allowance if you temporarily stop providing care, according to GOV.UK. You must tell the DWP if you stop caring for more than 28 days, or if you or the person you care for will be in respite care, hospital or a nursing home for more than 12 weeks.
Is respite care at home cheaper than a care home?
For a few hours or a few nights, usually yes. For a full week of round-the-clock cover the costs are broadly similar, so the decision often comes down to whether your relative would be happier at home with one-to-one care.
Final Words
Respite care costs less than many families fear when you match the service to the need. Four hours a week can cost roughly £400 to £600 a month, a fortnight of live-in cover runs into thousands, and council help, grants and benefits may soften the bill. Start with a carer's assessment, set a budget and ask for every cost in writing.
If you would like an honest conversation about what a break would cost for your family, our team is ready to help. Call 01535 654214 or request a free consultation and we will explain your options before any care begins.