How much to charge for babysitting
Rates reviewed July 2026
Most babysitting is priced $15–$30 per hour in 2026, with about $22 typical. By the job, an one child usually runs $15–$25. Your rate depends mainly on number and ages of children.
Babysitting is priced per hour, scaled by number of kids, your experience, and the local market. Certifications like CPR and a track record of repeat families push you to the top of the range.
You should charge
$19
per hour · typical $15–$30
Quote at the low end instead of here and you hand back $4 per hour. Every single job.
Why this number. State your rate as a confident round number and let your experience justify it. Families pay more for someone who sounds sure of their worth than for the cheapest available sitter, trust beats price in childcare.
Got your number? The hard part is keeping it when the client pushes back.
Typical babysitting prices
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| One child | $15 – $25 |
| Two children | $18 – $28 |
| Three+ children | $22 – $35 |
Free · The words, not just the number
Get the babysitting pricing script
A short, calm script for quoting babysitting in person. The goal is not to pitch. It is to ask a few good questions, say your number once without flinching, and let them talk themselves into yes.
- ✓The questions to ask before you ever name a price
- ✓How to say your number so it lands, then stay quiet
- ✓The line for when they say "that's too much" (no discounting)
- ✓A rate-increase template for clients you already have
- ✓Plus What to Say: the free AI that answers any client pushback
Instant unlock, and a copy in your inbox. No spam. The calculator stays free either way.
What changes the price
- Number and ages of children
- Your experience and certifications (CPR/first aid)
- Late-night or last-minute bookings
- Extra duties, cooking, bath time, light tidying
The pricing move most people miss
State your rate as a confident round number and let your experience justify it. Families pay more for someone who sounds sure of their worth than for the cheapest available sitter, trust beats price in childcare.
What to SayAI
They pushed back on your price? Get the exact reply.
Paste what a babysitting client says. A sales-psychology-trained AI writes the words that hold your price, in seconds. Free.
Get the reply →Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for babysitting?+
Most babysitting is priced $15–$30 per hour, with a typical rate around $22 per hour. Where you land inside that range comes down mainly to number and ages of children and your experience and certifications (CPR/first aid). Use the range as your anchor, then adjust up for experience, strong demand, and a higher cost-of-living area.
Should I charge by the hour or a flat rate for babysitting?+
Charging by the hour ($15–$30 per hour) is the simplest way to start and protects you when the scope is unclear. But once you know how long a typical job takes, a flat per-job price usually earns more: it pays you for getting faster instead of punishing you for it, and clients prefer a fixed number they can budget around.
How much should I charge for babysitting as a beginner?+
Starting out, price near the lower end of the range, roughly $15 to $22 per hour. Resist going below that to win work: a price that is too low attracts price-shoppers, signals low quality, and is hard to raise later. Once you have a few happy clients and reviews, move toward $30.
What affects how much babysitting costs?+
The biggest factors are number and ages of children; your experience and certifications (CPR/first aid); late-night or last-minute bookings; extra duties, cooking, bath time, light tidying. Two jobs that look alike can price very differently once these are accounted for, which is why a quick walkthrough or a few questions before quoting protects your rate.
How do I quote babysitting so the client says yes?+
State your rate as a confident round number and let your experience justify it. Families pay more for someone who sounds sure of their worth than for the cheapest available sitter, trust beats price in childcare. Put the quote in writing with exactly what is included, state the price once without apologizing for it, and give one clear next step. A confident, well-structured quote wins jobs at a higher price than a vague one at a lower price.