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How Much Do Security Guards Cost Per Hour in the UK?
In 2026, a professional SIA-licensed security guard in the UK typically costs between £17 and £25 per hour outside London, and £21 to £35 per hour in London, excluding VAT. Night shifts, weekends, bank holidays and short-notice cover usually cost more.
Typical static guard rate outside London.
Expect 25–50% above the day rate.
Combine guards with CCTV to cut costs.
Need guards on your site? We cover the whole UK.
When looking to secure your people, property, and assets, security guards are a popular choice amongst businesses as they are a versatile security measure that help to deter criminal activity, control access and respond to potential security threats.
In 2026, a professional SIA-licensed security guard in the UK typically costs between £17 and £25 per hour outside London, and £21 to £35 per hour in London, excluding VAT. Night shifts, weekends, bank holidays and short-notice cover can cost more. These rates vary because no two sites are the same. Factors such as location, hours of cover, contract length and the responsibilities of the guard all influence the final price.
In this guide, we explore typical security guard costs in the UK, how much cover can cost per shift, week or month, and what to consider when comparing quotes from security providers.
Typical Security Guard Rates in the UK (2026)
The figures below are typical market rates charged by professional security companies, not what the guard takes home. All prices exclude VAT.
| Service | Typical rate outside London | Typical rate in London |
|---|---|---|
| Static security guard (day) | £17–£25 per hour | £21–£35 per hour |
| Night shifts | Usually 25–50% above the day rate | Usually 25–50% above the day rate |
| Weekends and bank holidays | An uplift on top of the standard or night rate | An uplift on top of the standard or night rate |
| Door supervision | £20–£35 per hour | £20–£35+ per hour |
| Mobile patrols | £12–£35 per visit | £25–£45 per visit |
| Keyholding and alarm response | Monthly retainer, plus a charge per call-out | Monthly retainer, plus a charge per call-out |
What a Security Guard Costs Per Shift, Week and Month
Hourly rates are useful for comparing quotes, but most budgets are set by the week or month. The examples below use a flat £20 to £30 per hour, before VAT. In practice, night and weekend hours often carry a higher rate.
| Cover required | Hours | Approximate cost (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| One 8-hour day shift | 8 | £160–£240 |
| One 12-hour night shift | 12 | £240–£360 |
| One guard, 40 hours a week, for a month | About 173 | £3,470–£5,200 |
| Weekend cover (Friday 6pm to Monday 6am) for a month | About 260 | £5,200–£7,800 |
| 24/7 cover for one week | 168 | £3,360–£5,040 |
| 24/7 cover for one month | About 730 | £14,600–£21,900 |
The jump from part-time to 24/7 cover is significant. That’s why many sites combine guards with technology, using a guard only for the hours when a physical presence makes the biggest difference. More on that below.
What Affects the Cost of a Security Guard?
Hours and shift pattern
Night shifts, weekends and bank holidays cost more because guards are paid more to work them. A requirement for cover over Christmas or New Year will usually be priced at a premium.
Contract length and notice
A long-term contract lets a provider plan rotas and keep the same officers on your site, which usually means a better rate. Short-notice and one-off bookings cost more, particularly when a guard is needed within hours after a break-in or alarm activation.
Location
Rates in London and the South East are higher, reflecting higher wages and living costs. Remote or rural sites may also carry a premium if officers have to travel further.
Site risk and duties
A guard checking passes at a reception desk has a different role from a guard protecting plant and materials on an open construction site overnight. Higher-risk sites, larger areas to patrol and more complex duties such as access control, vehicle checks or concierge work all affect the price.
Number of guards and lone working
Some sites need two officers for safety or to cover a large perimeter. Where one guard works alone, lone-worker monitoring and regular check-calls with a control room should be part of the service.
Extras and technology
Body-worn cameras, guard monitoring systems, detailed incident reporting, vehicle patrols and security dogs can all add to the hourly rate. Many of these also make the guard more effective and give you a clear record of what happened on site.
Red Flags in a Cheap Security Quote
A low hourly rate can look attractive, but if it can’t cover the legal minimum wage plus employment costs, something has to give. Things to watch out for can include:
- Rates well below £17 per hour for static guarding, the provider is either underpaying staff, not paying holiday pay or tax properly, or cutting corners elsewhere.
- No proof of SIA licences. Every front-line guard must hold a valid Security Industry Authority licence. Ask how the provider checks them.
- No recognised accreditation, such as NSI or ACS (Approved Contractor Scheme) membership.
- No control room or out-of-hours support, leaving a lone guard with no backup.
- Vague quotes that don’t say what’s included, such as relief cover, reporting, supervision or insurance.
The cheapest quote can end up costing more if a guard doesn’t turn up, a shift goes uncovered or an incident isn’t properly reported. Our checklist for choosing a security partner covers the questions to ask before you sign.
How to Reduce Your Guarding Costs Without Losing Cover
You don’t always need a guard on site around the clock. A layered approach often gives the same or better protection for less.
- Guard only the highest-risk hours. Many sites are most vulnerable overnight and at weekends. Staff those periods and rely on other measures when the site is busy.
- Add a mobile CCTV tower. A monitored mobile CCTV tower watches the site 24/7, with operators able to issue audio warnings and call for a response. Our guide to security guards vs mobile CCTV towers compares the two in detail.
- Switch static cover to mobile patrols. For lower-risk sites, scheduled mobile patrols at varied times can deter intruders at a fraction of the cost of a full-time guard.
- Use keyholding and alarm response. Rather than paying for someone to wait on site, a keyholding and alarm response service sends a trained officer when an alarm is triggered.
- Agree a longer contract. Committing for a longer period usually secures a better rate and more consistent officers.
How Prime Prices Security Guarding
Every site is different, so we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all pricing. When you contact Prime, we look at your site, your risks and the hours you actually need covered, then give you a clear, fixed quote with no hidden extras.
Every Prime quote for security guards includes:
- Fully SIA-licensed and vetted officers
- Relief cover, so shifts are never left empty
- Support from our 24/7 control room, including lone-worker monitoring
- Clear incident reporting
- Advice on whether technology such as CCTV towers or mobile patrols could reduce your costs
Here at Prime, we provide SIA-licensed security guards to businesses and sites across the UK, backed by our 24/7 control room. If you’d like a fixed quote for your site, get in touch with the team today.
