How much does a security guard cost in the UK?

It is the first question almost every buyer asks, and rightly so. But the honest answer is that the headline hourly rate matters far less than what sits behind it. Here is a straight, practical guide to what security guards cost in the UK in 2026, and how to tell a fair price from a false economy.

Typical UK rates in 2026

As a broad guide, professional, SIA-licensed manned guarding in 2026 tends to fall in these ranges:

• Major cities (including Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff): typically from £21 up to around £26 per hour.
• London and premium sites: from around £30 per hour, rising higher for prime locations.
• Provincial towns and rural areas: from £21 per hour.
• Night and weekend cover typically carries a premium over standard day rates.

As a rule of thumb, a professional, fully compliant SIA-licensed officer starts at around £21 per hour. Anything materially below that is a warning sign that something, usually pay, protection or vetting, has been cut. With the National Living Wage at £12.71 an hour from April 2026, a rate much lower leaves little room for the officer's holiday pay, National Insurance, pension, insurance, supervision and vetting.

Round-the-clock cover means about 730 officer hours a month. For one officer covering a single site 24/7, that works out at roughly £15,300 to £19,000 per month at £21 to £26 an hour, and from around £21,900 per month in London at £30 an hour, before any night or weekend premiums. Check whether a quote includes VAT. These are guide figures only; every site is quoted on its own requirements.

What drives the price

Several factors move a quote up or down: the location, the number of hours and officers, day versus night cover, the risk profile of the site, and any specialist requirements such as canine support or close protection. A quiet reception desk and a high-risk construction site are simply not the same job.

If one quote is dramatically cheaper than the rest, the difference has to come from somewhere, and it is usually the officer's pay, protection or vetting.

What a compliant rate actually includes

A properly costed rate is not just the officer's wage. It covers holiday pay, National Insurance, employer's and public liability insurance, uniform, training, supervision, account management and, crucially, thorough BS 7858 vetting. When a price looks too good to be true, one or more of these has usually been stripped out, and that becomes your risk, not the provider's.

Why the cheapest quote can cost you more

Underpriced security is a false economy. It often means officers paid cash-in-hand with no protection, high turnover, poor reliability, and unvetted people on your premises. If a provider cannot confirm its officers are on PAYE and screened to BS 7858, the saving on paper can turn into a very real liability. We explore this in our guide to the questions to ask before hiring a security company.

Rate ranges are indicative 2026 market guidance drawn from published UK industry pricing guides and will vary by site, location and requirement. For an accurate figure, request a quote.