How Much Does a Security Guard Cost in the UK?

If you are comparing security guards in the UK, the hourly rate is an important starting point. It is not, however, the complete cost of protecting your premises.

As an indicative guide, standard static or manned guarding usually costs around £15–£25 per hour per officer. The final rate depends on your location, operating hours, site risk, duties, staffing requirements and the level of supervision included.

Weston Group provides tailored manned guarding services for commercial premises, property managers and organisations. We work from Blackwood across South Wales and support clients nationally, with each service planned around the way your site operates.

Indicative security guard costs in the UK

The following figures are planning ranges rather than fixed prices. A tailored quotation is needed before a service can be confirmed.

Security service	Indicative cost
Standard daytime static guarding	£15–£25 per hour
Typical daytime cover, one officer, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week	Approximately £2,600–£4,350 per month
Continuous 24-hour cover, standard single site	Approximately £5,500–£8,500 per month
Out-of-hours, weekend or bank holiday cover	Often an additional 10–30% or more
Mobile patrol security	Approximately £1,000–£1,800 per month
Event security services	Around £15–£20+ per hour per operative
Key holding and alarm response	Usually a monthly service charge plus a fee for attendance

These figures are indicative. Rates may be higher where your premises need specialist training, several officers, short-notice cover or additional management support.

What affects the cost of a security guard?

Security guard pricing is based on the requirements of the assignment, not simply the number of hours on a timesheet. The main factors include:

• Hours and shift patterns: Daytime weekday cover is normally priced differently from overnight, weekend and bank holiday shifts.
• Site type and risk: Warehouses, construction sites, commercial offices, vacant properties and high-footfall premises all have different requirements.
• Location: Rates vary between regions. A site in central London may cost more than a similar site in South Wales, while travel and availability can also affect rural locations.
• Number of officers: One reception post is different from a site requiring several officers, rotating shifts or separate entrance points.
• Licensing and vetting: Officers carrying out licensable security work must hold the appropriate SIA licence.
• Training and site induction: Your procedures, access arrangements, reporting requirements and emergency processes need to be understood before an officer starts.
• Supervision and reporting: Regular management contact, site visits, handovers and incident reporting should be reflected in the service.
• Contract length: A one-off assignment or short-notice deployment may cost more per hour than an ongoing, planned contract.
• Relief cover: A dependable service needs arrangements for holidays, sickness and other absence so your site is not left without cover.

A responsible security guard company should explain these factors clearly instead of presenting one unexplained hourly figure.

How much does static or manned guarding cost?

Static guarding, also called manned guarding, places an officer at your premises for agreed hours. The officer may manage access, monitor activity, welcome visitors, carry out patrols or follow other site-specific duties.

For standard commercial cover, an indicative rate is £15–£25 per hour per officer. A daytime officer working eight hours a day, five days a week would represent approximately 173 hours each month. At the indicative hourly range, that gives a planning cost of roughly £2,600–£4,350 per month, before any additional requirements or uplifts.

A site requiring 12-hour coverage every day would use approximately 364 officer-hours each month. At the same indicative range, the basic calculation is approximately £5,500–£9,100 per month. Continuous cover also needs a properly managed rota, relief arrangements and clear handovers, so the final contract value may vary.

Night work, weekends and bank holidays often attract an uplift of around 10–30% or more, depending on the assignment. Specialist or short-notice cover can sit above these figures.

Manned guarding may include:

• Access control and visitor management
• Reception or front-of-house support
• Gatehouse duties
• Internal and external patrols
• Contractor and delivery checks
• Site-specific incident reporting
• Shift handovers and management communication

The right duties depend on your premises and the outcomes you need from the service.

How much does mobile patrol security cost?

Mobile patrol security can provide a visible presence without keeping an officer permanently at your site. It may suit commercial premises, industrial units, vacant buildings, business parks and properties that need checks outside normal working hours.

Indicative mobile patrol packages often cost around £1,000–£1,800 per month, depending on the number of visits, the area covered, the distance between sites and whether the visits are scheduled, random or both.

A patrol service may include:

• Scheduled security visits
• Random checks for added visibility
• Locking and unlocking
• Perimeter and building inspections
• Out-of-hours check calls
• Alarm response attendance
• A report following each visit

Weston Group provides mobile patrol coverage from Blackwood across South Wales, including arrangements tailored to the premises and visit pattern. For some sites, patrols offer a more proportionate option than paying for a permanently stationed officer.

What does key holding and alarm response cost?

Key holding and alarm response is generally priced differently from static guarding. It is usually arranged as a monthly service charge, with an additional attendance fee if an alarm activates or the premises needs a response.

The cost depends on:

• The number of sites
• The location of your premises
• The agreed response arrangements
• Whether key holding is combined with mobile patrols
• The distance and time involved in attending

This service can be useful when you need a trained response without employing a guard overnight. It also gives your staff a defined alternative to attending the premises themselves when an alarm is triggered.

The provider should explain what is included in the monthly charge, what counts as a response and how attendance is reported.

How much does event security cost?

Event security services are usually charged per operative and per hour. As an indicative guide, standard event security may cost around £15–£20+ per hour per operative.

The final cost depends on:

• Event size and expected attendance
• Venue layout and access points
• Event duration and finish time
• Whether the event takes place at night or over a weekend
• Whether you need door supervisors, access control staff or general security officers
• The level of risk and supervision required

A clear event plan should identify how many operatives are needed, where they will be positioned, who manages the team and how incidents are escalated.

What should a good security quote include?

When comparing quotes, ask for a clear breakdown rather than a single hourly price. Your quotation should identify:

• Number of officers and required licence type
• Dates, hours and shift pattern
• Day, night, weekend and bank holiday rates
• Duties included within the assignment
• Training and site induction arrangements
• Supervision and management contact
• Holiday, sickness and emergency cover
• Uniform, equipment and communication arrangements
• Reporting and incident escalation
• Insurance and contract terms
• Review arrangements and notice periods
• Any additional fees for patrols, key holding or alarm response

This information makes it easier to compare like for like. It also helps prevent unexpected charges after the service begins.

Weston Group is an SIA Approved Contractor with approval number WESESOSC01. We discuss your requirements, site procedures and coverage before recommending a service, so the quotation reflects the assignment rather than a generic package.

Why is one security company much cheaper than another?

A lower hourly rate is not automatically a problem, but it should be examined carefully. An unusually cheap quote may leave out important elements such as:

• Proper recruitment and vetting
• Site-specific training
• Active supervision
• Reliable absence cover
• Suitable insurance
• Management visits
• Useful reporting
• Time for handovers and administration

It is also important to check whether the quoted figure applies to every shift. Some providers show a daytime rate but apply a different cost to nights, weekends or bank holidays.

The question is not only, “What is the hourly rate?” It is also, “What level of service will that rate provide?”

Why the cheapest hourly rate is rarely the cheapest contract

A security service that looks inexpensive can become costly if officers change frequently, reports are unclear, cover is missed or your team has to manage problems that should have been handled by the provider.

A dependable service should support continuity. Officers need to understand your site, managers need to remain informed and any concerns should be addressed before they affect your operation.

The most suitable option may not be a guard on site for every hour. Depending on your requirements, a combination of manned guarding, mobile patrol security, key holding services or alarm response may provide better value. The important point is that the arrangement should be based on your risk, premises and operating pattern.

A tailored approach to security costs

Security guard prices in the UK commonly fall within the ranges above, but no two sites are the same. A commercial office in Blackwood, a distribution facility elsewhere in South Wales and a national property portfolio may all need different coverage.

We work with you to understand the practical requirements of your premises, including access points, working hours, staffing levels and reporting expectations. From there, we can help you compare static guarding with patrol-based or combined options.

If you are reviewing your current security arrangements, contact Weston Group through our manned guarding service to discuss your requirements. We will provide clear guidance and an indicative price based on your site, schedule and level of cover.