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.
Weekend and bank-holiday home care rates
Most UK home-care agencies apply a 1.25x weekend multiplier to their weekday hourly rate, and a 1.5x or 2x multiplier on the eight English bank holidays[1]. The reasons are administrative, not legal: the National Living Wage is the same on Saturday as it is on Tuesday, but cover staff are scarcer and overtime premium is what brings them out.
Worked examples for a £32/hr weekday rate
| Day | Rate | 1hr | 14hrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | £32.00 | £32 | £448 |
| Saturday/Sunday (1.25x) | £40.00 | £40 | £560 |
| Bank holiday (1.5x) | £48.00 | £48 | £672 |
| Christmas Day / Boxing Day (2x) | £64.00 | £64 | £896 |
The eight English and Welsh bank holidays in 2026
New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, early May, spring, summer, Christmas Day, Boxing Day. Scotland has 9 (with Scottish New Year), Northern Ireland 10 (with St Patrick's and 12 July).
Next steps
- Run the calculator with the weekend share slider.
- Ask the agency for its weekend rate before signing.