Life Coaching Prices UK 2026: What You Pay, What You Get, And How To Choose A Good Coach

If you’ve been searching life coaching cost UK in 2026, you’ve probably noticed one frustrating truth: prices are all over the place. Some coaches charge £30 an hour, others charge £200+, and executive coaching can run into four figures for a session.

So what’s normal, what’s inflated, and what are you actually paying for?

This guide breaks it down in plain English: typical UK life coaching prices, what you should expect to receive, and a simple checklist for choosing a coach you can trust.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase. This helps support Grow Your Thoughts at no extra cost to you.

Life Coaching Prices UK 2026 Snapshot

There isn’t a single “official” price for life coaching in the UK, because coaching isn’t regulated and coaches set their own fees. National Careers Service

That said, we can get a realistic picture from UK directories and published pricing data.

Typical life coaching cost UK in 2026

Here’s a practical range you’ll commonly see:

Budget / newer coaches: ~£30 to £60 per hour Indeed
Mid-range (common on UK directories): ~£50 to £100 per hour Habit Coach
Experienced / specialist coaches: ~£100 to £200 per hour The Coaching Academy
Executive or corporate coaching: often higher (commonly £150 to £550 for a 1–2 hour session in some organisational contexts) University College London

Directory-based reality check (UK):

One UK analysis of Life Coach Directory listings (March 2025) found an average hourly rate around £82, and the most frequently listed price was £50. Habit Coach
Bark’s UK pricing guide also describes an average around £50 per session, often ranging £40 to £75, with online sessions sometimes starting lower. Bark

Global context (not UK-specific): the 2025 ICF Global Coaching Study executive summary reports an average fee of $234 USD for a one-hour coaching session across active coaches globally. wfpma.org

Quick price table you can use when comparing coaches

Coaching type	Typical UK price range (rough guide)
Online life coaching (1:1)	£30–£100 per hour Bark
In-person life coaching (1:1)	£50–£150 per hour Bark
Experienced specialist coach	£100–£200 per hour The Coaching Academy
Executive/corporate coaching	£150–£550 per 1–2 hr session (varies widely) University College London

Important: price alone doesn’t tell you quality. A £50 coach can be brilliant. A £250 coach can be average. What matters is the process, ethics, fit, and results you’re actually building.

What You’re Actually Paying For

A lot of people assume they’re paying purely for “an hour of talking”. But most professional coaches price for the whole service, including time you don’t see.

What your fee often covers behind the scenes

Session preparation and reviewing notes
Designing exercises, prompts, or accountability plans
Between-session support (if included)
Admin, scheduling, invoicing, systems
Continuing professional development
Supervision or mentoring (common in professional coaching circles)
Insurance, taxes, business costs

This is why two coaches offering “60 minutes” can feel totally different. One might just chat. Another might deliver a structured, goal-led process that changes how you think and act week to week.

Coaching vs therapy in plain terms

Coaching is generally developmental and action-focused (goals, choices, behaviour, accountability), while counselling is more reparative and therapeutic (processing distress, healing). The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) describes coaching as having a developmental focus compared with counselling’s more reparative nature. BACP

A good coach should be clear about scope and signpost you to a qualified professional if what you need is therapy-level support.

Pricing Models You’ll See In The UK

If you want the best value, you need to understand how coaches package their time.

Pay-as-you-go sessions

You pay per session (often 45–60 minutes).
Best for: trying coaching out, one specific problem, or occasional support.
Watch for: no structure, no plan, no accountability.

Block bookings and packages

Common packages include:

4 sessions (often 1 month)
6 sessions (a popular “starter transformation” bundle)
10–12 sessions (deeper habit and identity work)

Bark’s guide even illustrates block pricing patterns (e.g., 5 sessions at the single-session price multiplied out), though real coaches often add discounts or bonuses for packages. Bark

Why packages can be better: mindset change needs repetition. One session can spark insight. A package builds a new baseline.

Monthly coaching retainers

You pay monthly for a set number of sessions + support.
Best for: consistency and accountability.
Watch for: vague deliverables (“support as needed” with no boundaries).

Group coaching

Usually cheaper per person.
Best for: motivation, shared accountability, community.
Not ideal for: highly private issues or very bespoke support.

Employer-funded coaching

If your workplace offers coaching support, it can be higher budget because the “client” is often the organisation. UCL notes sessions in the £150–£550 range for 1–2 hours in their executive coaching context. University College London

What You Should Get From A Good Coach

If you want to avoid wasting money, judge coaching by what you receive and how the coach works, not just their Instagram posts.

A good coach usually offers

A clear start

A short discovery call to check fit (often free)
Clarity on goals, expectations, boundaries, and confidentiality
A written coaching agreement (even a simple one)

A real coaching process

Powerful questions that challenge your thinking (not just friendly chatting)
Practical exercises (journaling prompts, reframes, experiments, habit tools)
Accountability that is supportive but firm
Progress tracking (even simple “before vs after” measures)

Professional standards and ethics
Coaching isn’t regulated, but many coaches align with professional bodies and codes, such as:

ICF, which defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking, creative process to maximise potential ICF
ICF Code of Ethics ICF
Global Code of Ethics for coaches/mentors (AC/EMCC) globalcodeofethics.org

You don’t need a coach to have certain letters after their name, but you do want someone who takes professionalism seriously.

What “support” can include (ask before you pay)

Email or WhatsApp check-ins (some coaches include this, some don’t)
Worksheets, guided exercises, or reading prompts
A session summary with action steps
Accountability between sessions

Life Coach Directory even suggests asking what else you get for the money (for example, email support between sessions). lifecoach-directory.org.uk

How To Choose A Coach In The UK

Here’s the simple method that protects your money and your mental space.

Step 1: Be brutally specific about what you want

Instead of “I want to improve my life”, pick something measurable, like:

“Stop overthinking at night and fall asleep faster”
“Build confidence to speak up at work”
“Stick to my routines without self-sabotage”
“Stop quitting when motivation drops”

A good coach helps you clarify this, but you should arrive with a rough direction.

Step 2: Choose the right type of coach

“Life coach” is a broad label. In reality, coaches tend to specialise in:

mindset and identity
habits and discipline
confidence and self-esteem
performance and productivity
relationships and boundaries

Pick someone who does your problem every week, not someone who says they do everything.

Step 3: Check how they work, not just what they say

Ask: do they have a repeatable process, or are they winging it?

A practical reference point: ICF’s coaching competencies framework is built around foundations, relationship, communication, and cultivating learning and growth. ICF
Your coach doesn’t have to be ICF-credentialed, but they should be able to explain their process clearly.

Step 4: Ask these 12 questions before you commit

What’s your fee per session, and do you offer packages?
How long are sessions (45, 60, 90 minutes)?
What happens between sessions (support, exercises, check-ins)?
What does a typical coaching “journey” look like with you?
How do you set goals and measure progress?
What’s your cancellation and rescheduling policy?
What training have you done and how do you keep developing?
Do you follow a professional code of ethics (ICF/AC/EMCC or similar)? ICF
What do you do if a client needs therapy-level support? (A good coach will signpost.) BACP
What type of clients do you work best with?
What type of clients are not a good fit for you?
What results do clients usually report after 4–8 weeks?

Step 5: Use the discovery call properly

Don’t treat it like a friendly chat. Treat it like a test drive.

You’re looking for:

clarity
structure
calm confidence (not hype)
good listening
the ability to challenge you respectfully

Red Flags And Money Saving Tips

This section alone can save you hundreds.

Red flags that should make you walk away

Guarantees (“I guarantee you’ll transform your life in 7 days”)
Pressure sales (“This offer ends tonight or you don’t want it enough”)
No clear pricing, no written agreement, vague boundaries
They shame you for asking questions about cost
They try to act like a therapist without appropriate qualifications
They talk more than they listen
Their whole method is “positive vibes” with no tools or accountability

Remember: coaching is not a regulated profession in the UK, so you’re choosing the person and process, not a protected title. National Careers Service

Money saving tips that still get you quality

Start with 2–3 sessions before committing to a big package
Choose online coaching if travel/time is a pain (often cheaper) Bark
Look for group coaching if your goals are general (confidence, discipline, mindset)
Ask if they offer lower-cost slots (some coaches do) lifecoach-directory.org.uk
Pay for fit and structure, not branding

The “too cheap” trap

If someone is charging £20 and offering unlimited WhatsApp support, be cautious. It might still be fine, but ask:

how they manage client load
boundaries
what you’re actually receiving

Cheap coaching that drains you is expensive in the long run.

FAQ About Life Coaching Cost UK

How much does a life coach cost in the UK per hour in 2026?

Common prices are often in the £50–£100 per hour range, with many directory listings clustering around £50, and some data placing averages around the low £80s. Habit Coach

Why is life coaching so expensive sometimes?

Price can rise due to:

experience and reputation
niche specialism
location (London often higher)
between-session support
corporate and executive markets University College London

Should I choose coaching or counselling?

If your goal is growth, action, and development, coaching can fit well. If you’re dealing with deeper distress, trauma, or clinical-level symptoms, counselling/therapy may be more appropriate. BACP describes coaching as developmental, while counselling is more reparative in nature. BACP

Is life coaching regulated in the UK?

Life coaching is not regulated in the UK, meaning anyone can call themselves a life coach. That’s why it’s smart to look for ethical standards, clear boundaries, and professional behaviour. National Careers Service

A simple final checklist before you pay

Before you book, make sure you can answer “yes” to these:

I understand the full cost and what’s included
I know what success looks like and how we’ll track it
The coach has a clear process (not just vibes)
I feel safe, respected, and challenged in a good way
There’s an ethical approach and healthy boundaries ICF+1

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not professional advice.

No financial advice: Prices and examples are estimates based on publicly available information and may change. Always confirm fees, terms, and what’s included directly with the coach or provider before booking.
No medical or mental health advice: This content is not a substitute for medical, psychological, or mental health care. If you’re experiencing significant distress, symptoms, or a crisis, please seek support from a qualified professional (such as your GP or a licensed therapist).
No guarantees: Coaching outcomes vary from person to person, and we cannot guarantee results.
Third-party services: Any references to third-party services, directories, or providers are for convenience and do not represent an endorsement.

If you are in immediate danger or feel you may harm yourself or someone else, call 999 (UK). For urgent non-emergency medical advice, call 111. You can also contact Samaritans free on 116 123 (24/7).