Care home costs in Dorset
Weekly fees for 2026, from the homes that publish them. Updated as homes confirm their prices.
There are 120 care homes registered with the CQC in Dorset, South West. 5 have a weekly fee on record with us, each dated and traced to where it came from.
The typical residential care home fee in Dorset is £1,500 a week, about £78,000 a year. The middle half of homes charge between £1,450 and £1,575. That is about 15% more than the the South West average of £1,299. That is about 11% more than the England figure of £1,350.
Nursing homes charge more because registered nurses are on site. Across the South West the typical nursing fee is £1,581 a week. The NHS pays a weekly contribution towards the nursing part of the fee, direct to the home.
Of the homes with a published fee, The Old Rectory in Sturminster Newton is the least expensive at £995 a week and Verwood House Care Home in Verwood the most at £1,650. A gap that size within one council area is normal: the room, the building and whether nursing is included all move the price.
Care homes in Dorset with a fee on record
| Care home | Town | CQC | From, a week | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Old Rectory Dementia | Sturminster Newton | CQC: Good | £995 | 34% below |
| St Denis Lodge Residential Home Dementia | Shaftesbury | CQC: Good | £1,300 | 13% below |
| St James' Park Care Home Nursing · Dementia | Bridport | CQC: Good | £1,399 | 7% below |
| Upton Manor Nursing · Dementia | Poole | CQC: Good | £1,500 | about typical |
| Verwood House Care Home Nursing · Dementia | Verwood | CQC: Good | £1,650 | 10% above |
“From” is the lowest weekly figure the home has published or confirmed to us, dated on each home’s page. Homes that add or correct a fee appear here within the day.
How Dorset compares with nearby areas
What the fee includes
A care home fee in Dorset normally covers the room, meals, laundry, heating and personal care. Nursing homes add care from registered nurses. Hairdressing, chiropody, trips out, newspapers and some toiletries are usually charged on top, so ask for the list of extras before you sign.
Larger rooms, en suites and garden views cost more. Fees are reviewed once a year, usually in April; ask what last year’s increase was.
Who pays in Dorset
If you have more than £23,250 in savings and assets you will normally pay the full fee yourself. Below that, Dorset council assesses what you can contribute. The value of your home counts unless a partner or certain relatives still live there.
If you need nursing care the NHS pays a weekly contribution direct to the home. People with very high health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which covers the whole fee.
Care home or live-in care in Dorset?
A live-in carer through PrimeCarers costs from about £1,120 a week for one person and the same carer can look after a couple. The typical residential fee in Dorset is £1,500 a week per person, so for a couple live-in care is usually far cheaper than two care home places. Complex live-in care, for higher needs, is from about £1,344 a week.
How live-in care worksCommon questions
How much does a care home in Dorset cost a week?
The typical residential care home in Dorset charges £1,500 a week, based on 5 homes with a fee on record. Every home page shows where its figure came from and when.
How much does a care home in Dorset cost a year?
At £1,500 a week a year in a residential care home comes to about £78,000, and nursing care about £82,212. Most homes raise fees once a year, usually in April.
What is the cheapest care home in Dorset?
The Old Rectory in Sturminster Newton has the lowest published fee we hold for Dorset, from £995 a week (residential care). The full table on this page lists every home with a fee on record, cheapest first.
Will Dorset council pay for my care home?
If your savings and assets are below £23,250, Dorset council will assess your needs and what you can afford, and may pay part or all of the fee. Councils pay a set rate; if the home you choose charges more, a relative or friend may need to pay a top-up. Ask the adult social care team for a needs assessment first.
Is live-in care cheaper than a care home in Dorset?
Standard live-in care costs from about £1,120 a week and complex care from about £1,344. Against the typical Dorset residential fee of £1,500 it is less for one person, and for a couple it is usually much cheaper because one carer looks after both.
Fees last checked August 2026.