PRICE GUIDE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · 2026–2027
Interpreter cost in the UK
£80–£120 per hour. Typically £95.
A professional interpreter costs £80–£120 per hour in the UK, with about £95 typical for an hour of telephone or video interpreting. Common languages booked in advance are cheapest; face-to-face work, rare languages, legal or medical settings and short notice cost the most.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does an interpreter cost in the UK?
| Low end | £80 | a common language booked in advance by phone |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £95 | what most people pay |
| High end | £120 | face-to-face legal or medical interpreting |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the accountants, solicitors and professional firms near you.
What moves the price
- Remote or face-to-face — an interpreter attending in person costs more than telephone or video
- Language — rare languages and dialects cost more than widely spoken ones
- Setting — legal, medical and conference interpreting need specialist skills
- Minimum booking — many interpreters charge a minimum of an hour or more
- Travel time — face-to-face interpreting adds travel time and expenses
- Notice — same-day and out-of-hours bookings cost more
Professional services prices in the UK are up 12% over five years (ONS Consumer Price Inflation, Other services n.e.c., to 2026 August). Five years ago a typical interpreter would have cost about £55 — an estimate from today's guide price and that index, not a recorded price. Source: ONS MM23 D7FR →
WHAT YOU GET
What an interpreter visit includes
Takes: Most bookings run from one hour to a full day, often with a minimum charge. Not included: Written translation, transcription and certified documents are priced separately — see the related guides below.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common interpreter jobs
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Interpreter near you, with prices shown
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How to pay less
- Book remote interpreting by video or phone where face-to-face is not needed
- Book the interpreter in advance, as short-notice bookings cost more
- Group several meetings into one interpreter booking to meet the minimum charge
Before you book
- For public service work, check whether the interpreter is on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters
- Tell the interpreter the subject, any technical terms and who will attend
- Ask whether the interpreter's rate includes travel time and expenses
- Confirm the interpreter's language pair and dialect match your needs
Interpreter cost: questions people ask
£80–£120 per hour, with about £95 typical for an hour of telephone or video interpreting. Common languages booked ahead cost the least; face-to-face legal or medical work costs the most.
From one hour to a full day. Many interpreters charge a minimum of an hour, and full days are priced separately.
The National Register of Public Service Interpreters lists qualified interpreters for courts, police, health and other public services.
For anything legal or medical, a professional interpreter is safer, as they are trained to be accurate, impartial and confidential.
Written translation, transcription and travel expenses are usually separate. Check the booking terms before you confirm.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, taken from published UK interpreting price guides. They are a national range, not a quote.
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