How Much Does a Bodyguard Cost in the UK?

The six factors that set the price

Cost is a function of people and hours, adjusted for difficulty.

• Number of officers — one officer, two, or a team
• Hours per day, and whether they are unsocial hours
• Duration — a single day costs more per day than a month
• Notice — same-day requirements limit who is available
• Location and travel — distance, accommodation and driving time
• Vehicles — whether a security driver and car are required

Why day rates are usually the unit

Close protection is rarely sold by the hour, because an officer committed to your afternoon cannot take other work that day. Most UK assignments are priced on a minimum booking, typically a half or full day.

Longer assignments generally attract a lower daily rate, because scheduling becomes predictable and travel is amortised over more days.

24/7 cover costs more than people expect

Continuous cover cannot be delivered by one person. Round-the-clock protection requires a rotation of officers with proper rest, which means you are paying for a team, not a shift. Anyone offering 24/7 cover at a single-officer price is either misunderstanding the requirement or planning to under-deliver it.

What should be included

A proper quote should cover licensing, insurance, briefing and planning time, and any travel or accommodation. Ask what is excluded — that is where surprises live.

Getting a real figure

Tell us what is happening, where and for how long. We will give you a number and the reasoning behind it, including if we think you need less than you asked for.