Quick answer: event security in the UK is usually priced per officer, per hour. As a guide, an SIA-licensed security officer costs around £18 an hour in rural areas and small towns, £18 to £20 in provincial towns and £18 to £25 in major cities such as Manchester, before VAT. Your total depends on how many officers you need, for how many hours, and which roles the event calls for.
- £18–£25typical hourly rate per SIA security officer, by location
- Officers × hoursthe two numbers that drive almost every quote
- +20% VATcheck whether a quote includes VAT before you compare
Planning security for a party, conference, festival or sporting event usually starts with one question: how much will it cost? The honest answer is that every event is priced on its own details, but the way a quote is built is the same everywhere. Once you understand it, you can budget with confidence and compare quotes properly.
This guide is written by Universal Support Services Group (USSG), an SIA Approved Contractor based in Stockport that provides event security services across Greater Manchester and the UK. It covers typical rates, worked example budgets, the roles your event may need and how to get an accurate quote.
Typical event security rates in the UK
Most security companies charge an hourly rate for each officer. The rate changes with location, because wages, travel and demand are higher in big cities. These are the typical hourly rates USSG uses as a guide for an SIA-licensed security officer:
| Where the event is | Typical hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Rural areas and small towns | £18 |
| Provincial towns and smaller cities | £18 to £20 |
| Major cities, such as Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow | £18 to £25 |
These figures are a starting point, not a fixed price list. Door supervisors, supervisors and other specialist roles are priced separately, and a provider will confirm the rate for each role once it knows your event. Be cautious of quotes far below these levels: the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour from April 2026, before holiday pay, employer costs, licensing, training and supervision are added.
Quick budget estimator
Enter your numbers for a rough, pre-quote budget for security officers. It uses the rates in the table above and does not include supervisors, door supervisors, extras or VAT.
£216 to £300
2 officers × 6 hours = 12 officer hours at £18 to £25 an hour, excluding VAT.
The estimator is a guide only. Your quote will be based on the venue, duties and staffing agreed for your event.
How an event security quote is worked out
Almost every quote starts with the same sum. Once you know it, you can see where the money goes and where you have room to plan.
Hours are counted for every officer, not just for the event itself. If doors open at 18:00 but officers need to be in place at 17:00 for a briefing and stay until 23:30 to clear the site, that is 6.5 hours per officer. If equipment is left on site overnight, you may also need static security guarding while the venue is empty.
Steward, security officer or door supervisor?
The roles your event needs have a big effect on the price, and they are not interchangeable. The SIA is clear that it is the work a person does, not their job title, that decides whether they need a licence.
Customer-facing help
Directing people to their seats, toilets or first aid, giving information and checking tickets.
This stewarding does not need an SIA licence. Refusing entry, making people leave, searching, patrolling the perimeter or dealing with behaviour in a crowd is licensable work.
Guarding the event
Guarding the site, equipment and people against theft, damage, unauthorised access and disorder, including overnight cover.
Under contract and away from licensed premises, this needs the SIA Security Guarding licence.
Licensed premises
Guarding at premises covered by a premises licence or a temporary event notice, while they are open to the public and alcohol or regulated entertainment is provided.
Needs the SIA Door Supervision licence, whether the staff are contracted or in-house.
Not sure which you need? Our guide on what manned guarding is explains the guarding role in more detail, and we can help you work it out from your venue and programme.
Example event security budgets
These worked examples show how the rates turn into a budget. They use the typical rates above, exclude VAT and assume security officers only, so treat them as a guide rather than a quote.
Party at a function room in a provincial town
£180 to £200
2 officers × 5 hours = 10 officer hours at £18 to £20
One-day conference in Manchester city centre
£540 to £750
3 officers × 10 hours = 30 officer hours at £18 to £25
Community event in a city park, with overnight cover
£1,728 to £2,400
8 officers × 9 hours on the day, plus 1 officer × 12 hours on 2 nights = 96 officer hours at £18 to £25
If your event sells alcohol, needs a supervisor or has a large crowd, those roles are added to the budget at their own rates. Ask for each role to be priced on a separate line so you can compare quotes like for like.
What changes the price of event security
- LocationCity-centre events usually cost more per hour than events in smaller towns.
- Hours and timingOvernight, weekend and bank holiday work may be charged differently. Ask the provider.
- Roles and licencesDoor supervisors, supervisors and specialist roles are priced separately from security officers.
- Number of postsEach entrance, bar, stage area or car park that needs constant cover adds staff.
- Notice periodBooking early gives a provider time to plan staff. Ask whether short notice affects the price.
- Build and break-downOvernight protection of stages, marquees and equipment adds hours.
- Venue and licence conditionsA premises licence or the local authority may set security conditions you must meet.
- Extra servicesRadios, CCTV, search procedures or cleaning before and after the event are agreed on top.
How many security staff does an event need?
There is no single legal ratio of security staff to guests that applies to every event in the UK. The right number comes from your event risk assessment, and it depends on the venue layout, the number of entrances, the audience, whether alcohol is sold, and the times of day when crowds arrive and leave.
Check your licence and local authority first. If your event runs under a premises licence, the licensing authority can attach conditions about security staff, and those staff must then hold an SIA licence. For larger public events, many councils run a Safety Advisory Group. It cannot approve or ban an event, but it can review your safety plan and advise on staffing. The legal duty for public safety stays with the organiser.
A good security provider will look at your site plan and programme and explain how they reached their staffing number, instead of quoting a number without seeing the event.
Martyn’s Law and event security costs
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law, introduces new duties for certain public premises and events, with the Security Industry Authority as the regulator. Premises and events expecting 200 to 799 people fall into the standard tier, and those expecting 800 or more, including staff, fall into the enhanced tier. The duties are not yet in force. The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025 with an implementation period of at least 24 months, and the SIA expects it to come into force in spring 2027.
The Act focuses on procedures and planning rather than a set number of security staff, but it is worth building into your plans now. Read our Martyn’s Law guide for what it means for venues and organisers.
How to get an accurate event security quote
The more detail you give, the more accurate and comparable your quotes will be. Send each provider the same information:
- Venue address, event dates and the times you need cover, including build and break-down
- The programme, with the busiest arrival and departure times
- Expected attendance and the type of audience
- Whether alcohol is sold or the venue holds a premises licence
- The duties you need, such as entrances, bag checks, patrols or overnight cover
- Any conditions set by the licensing authority or a Safety Advisory Group
When the quotes arrive, check that each one shows the number of staff, the hours, the role and rate for each line, and whether VAT is included. Ask who will manage the team on the day and how incidents are reported. Our guide on how to choose a security company has more questions to ask.
Ways to keep costs down without cutting safety
- Book early. It gives the provider time to plan the right team for your date.
- Share a clear programme. Officers can be scheduled for the busy periods instead of the whole day where that is safe.
- Use the right role for each post. Do not pay for a door supervisor where a security officer is enough, but never use an unlicensed steward for licensable work.
- Combine services. If you also need cleaning before and after the event, or mobile patrols on nights when the site is quiet, one provider can coordinate both.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard cost for a party?
For a private party, many organisers need two officers for the length of the event. At typical rates of £18 to £25 an hour, two officers for five hours cost around £180 to £250 before VAT, depending on location. The venue, guest numbers and whether alcohol is served can change what you need.
Is event security charged per hour or per event?
Most providers charge per officer, per hour, and add the hours for every officer on the team. Some give a total price for the whole event, but it is still built from staff numbers, hours and rates.
Do event stewards need an SIA licence?
Not if they only carry out stewarding duties such as directing people to seats, toilets or first aid and checking tickets. Refusing entry, making people leave, searching, patrolling the perimeter or dealing with behaviour in a crowd is licensable work and needs the right SIA licence.
Do I need door supervisors for my event?
If the event runs under a premises licence or a temporary event notice and is open to the public while alcohol or regulated entertainment is provided, anyone guarding the premises needs the SIA Door Supervision licence. Your licence may also set conditions about security staff.
Does the price include VAT?
Not always. Check whether each quote is shown with or without VAT, which is charged at the standard rate of 20%, so that you compare like for like.
How far in advance should I book event security?
As early as you can, especially for busy dates such as summer weekends, bank holidays and the Christmas season. Early booking gives the provider time to plan the right team and brief officers on your site.
Get a clear event security quote
Tell us your venue, dates, programme and expected attendance. We will review your requirements and send a written proposal that shows the staff, hours and rates behind the price.
See our event security servicesAsk for a quoteSources
- SIA licensing at events: SIA, Events guidance for suppliers of security and Check if you need an SIA licence to work as an event steward
- Licence conditions: Home Office, guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003
- Staffing and Safety Advisory Groups: HSE, crowd management and HSE, Safety Advisory Groups
- Martyn’s Law: Home Office factsheet and SIA, Martyn’s Law: the SIA’s new regulatory role
- National Living Wage: GOV.UK, National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
- VAT: GOV.UK, VAT rates
- Hourly rates: USSG guide figures, November 2026