How Much Does a Private Meal Prep Chef Cost in the UK? (2026 Guide)
How Much Does a Private Meal Prep Chef Cost in the UK?
A private chef sounds like a luxury, until you compare it with what you already spend on takeaways, meal boxes and the weekly “what’s for dinner” scramble. So what does it actually cost?
The short answer: most UK households pay roughly £150 to £450 per week for a chef to shop, cook and stock the fridge with around a week of meals. London can run higher, and smaller or simpler arrangements can come in lower.
Here’s what drives the number.
Typical UK prices at a glance
Service | Typical cost |
Weekly meal prep (5 days, 2 meals a day) | £400 – £650 per week |
Smaller weekly prep (5 dinners for 2) | £300 – £550 per week |
Central London weekly prep | £450 – £750+ per week |
Hourly rate for a private chef | £35 – £70 per hour (subject to minimum shifts) |
One-off cook session for a family | £250 – £500 per session |
Monthly Retainer (2–3 cook days a week, with some meals cooked and served) | £1,800 – £3,500 per month |
Monthly Retainer (4-5 days a week with chef cooking & serving) | £4,000 - £8,000 per month |
These are market ranges, not quotes. Your price depends on the factors below.
What affects the cost?
Number of people and meals. Cooking for a couple is a different job from feeding a family of five. More portions mean more shopping, cooking time and containers.
Menu complexity. Roast chicken, grain bowls and traybakes are quicker to produce than multi-component dishes or restaurant-style plating.
Additional Household Staff - Cooking for any additional household staff will need to be discussed & agreed to in advance will likely affect the price offered.
Whether it's exclusively meal prep - If you want to have the chef stay onsite to serve the meal, cleanup etc. this will drive up the price.
Dietary requirements. Gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, macro-tracked or allergy-safe cooking takes more planning and care, and sometimes specialist ingredients.
Ingredients. Some chefs include groceries in their price. Others charge them at cost on top. Always ask which applies, as this is the biggest source of surprise bills.
Location. London and the South East sit at the top of the range. Elsewhere in the UK, including the Cotswolds and the regions, rates are often a little lower.
Frequency. Regular clients usually pay less per meal than one-off bookings. Weekly or fortnightly arrangements often come with discounts of around 10 to 30 percent, because the chef can plan shopping and prep more efficiently.
Experience. A Michelin-trained chef will charge more than a home cook turned professional. Often the difference shows in flavour, consistency and food safety standards.
Is it worth it compared with the alternatives?
Many clients work out the cost per meal. A £500 weekly prep covering 10 dinners is £50 for a couple’s dinners, or £25 per person, with fresh, restaurant-quality food made to your tastes. Compare that with a delivery box, a takeaway habit or the hours you’d spend shopping, cooking and washing up. For many busy households, what they really buy is time.
What’s usually included?
Typically, a meal prep visit covers:
Menu planning around your preferences and dietary needs
Grocery shopping (or a shopping list, depending on the arrangement)
Cooking and portioning meals
Labelling with reheating instructions
Cleaning the kitchen afterwards
Check each of these when you request a quote, especially shopping and cleaning.
How to get the best value
Book regularly. A weekly or fortnightly slot is almost always better value than one-off bookings, and you'll always get a better price by offering recurring work to one-off jobs.
Choose mid-week. Some chefs offer lower rates outside weekends and peak periods.
Be clear about your brief. Share your budget, household size and food dislikes upfront, so the quote is accurate.
Ask what’s included. Groceries, equipment and travel are the most common hidden costs.
Pay for the match, not just the price. The cheapest chef isn’t the best value if the food, reliability and food hygiene don’t meet your standards.
How Yuzu works
At Yuzu Private Dining, we match you with a vetted private chef who fits your household, tastes and budget, so you don’t have to search, screen and negotiate alone.
Ready for a quote? Tell us how many you’re feeding, any dietary needs and how often you’d like a chef, and we’ll come back with a tailored proposal.
FAQs
Do private chef prices include ingredients? It varies but prices above are based on labour rates excluding ingredients. Some chefs include groceries in the price, while others add them at cost. Always confirm this before booking.
What’s the minimum booking? Many chefs set a minimum fee per visit, often around £200 to £250, or ask for a set number of cook days per week for regular arrangements.
How far ahead do I need to book? For regular weekly meal prep, one to two weeks’ notice is common, though it depends on chef availability.
How do I make sure I have the same chef available when I need them? In order to have a continuous chef who knows your preferences, portioning, local food supply options etc. we'd recommend having a retained chef on a fixed monthly fee to keep specific scheduled times available for you.
Can a private chef cook for allergies and special diets? Yes. Tell the chef about any allergies or dietary requirements when you enquire, so menus and kitchen practice can be planned around them.
Is a private chef cheaper than a meal delivery service? Per meal, delivery boxes are usually cheaper. A private chef offers fresh food, tailored menus and no cooking at home, so many people compare on quality and time saved instead, especially for those who are looking for something better than ready meal type deliveries.
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