DBS Check Prices 2026: New Lower Fees From 5 October

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has confirmed that the government fee for a Basic or Standard DBS check will reduce from £21.50 to £20.00, while the fee for an Enhanced DBS check will fall from £49.50 to £41.00.

That means a saving of £8.50 on every Enhanced DBS check – a reduction of more than 17% in the DBS fee.

At Employment Tools, we’re passing these savings straight on. Our administration fees aren’t increasing as part of the change, so customers will benefit from the full reduction in the DBS fee from 5 October.

What are the new DBS check prices from 5 October 2026?

The DBS has confirmed the following changes:

The new fees take effect on Monday 5 October 2026.

Eligible Standard and Enhanced DBS checks for volunteer positions will continue to have no DBS fee. Basic DBS checks remain chargeable, including where the applicant is a volunteer.

What will a DBS check cost with Employment Tools from 5 October 2026?

The DBS fee is only one part of the overall cost of processing a DBS application through a Registered Body or Responsible Organisation. Providers can charge their own administration fee for processing applications.

At Employment Tools, our administration fees are staying the same. The reduction in the government DBS fee will therefore be reflected directly in the prices our customers pay.

With our standard pricing from 5 October 2026:

• A Basic DBS check will cost £25.45 excluding VAT
• A Standard DBS check will cost £28.75 excluding VAT
• An Enhanced DBS check will cost £51.95 excluding VAT

And customers taking advantage of our Free Admin Credit can reduce the effective administration cost even further.

With 50% Free Admin Credit, prices can be as low as:

• £23.63 for a Basic DBS check
• £25.83 for a Standard DBS check
• £48.30 for an Enhanced DBS check

All prices above exclude VAT. VAT applies to our administration fee, but not to the DBS fee itself.

Enhanced DBS checks are getting £8.50 cheaper

The biggest reduction is to the Enhanced DBS check.

From 5 October, the government DBS fee for an Enhanced check will fall from £49.50 to £41.00.

That’s an £8.50 saving on every Enhanced DBS application, or a reduction of just over 17% in the statutory DBS fee.

For organisations processing checks regularly, those savings can quickly add up.

For organisations recruiting at scale – particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare, social care and other roles where Enhanced DBS checks are commonly required, this reduction will make a significant difference to annual screening costs.

Why are DBS check prices reducing?

The Disclosure and Barring Service is funded through the fees it charges for its products and services.

DBS reviews its fees annually, with charges based on the cost of providing each service. Following its latest review, DBS has been able to reduce the fees charged across its products, with applicants requiring Enhanced DBS checks benefiting from the largest reduction.

The new fees have been approved by the DBS Board, Home Office, HM Treasury and the relevant government minister.

Are volunteer DBS checks still free?

Eligible Standard and Enhanced DBS checks for volunteer positions continue to have no DBS fee.

Organisations processing volunteer applications may still be charged an administration fee by the Registered Body processing the application.

At Employment Tools, our administration charge for volunteer checks is considerably lower than our charge for paid applications because there is no DBS fee to add.

With Employment Tools, you can get DBS checks for volunteers from as little as

• Standard DBS check for a volunteer: £5.83
• Enhanced DBS check for a volunteer: £7.30

It is important to note that Basic DBS checks are not free for volunteers. The normal Basic DBS fee applies regardless of whether the applicant is carrying out a paid or voluntary role.

Is the DBS Update Service getting cheaper?

Yes.

The annual cost of subscribing to the DBS Update Service is also reducing from £16 to £15 per year from 5 October 2026.

The Update Service can be used with Standard and Enhanced DBS certificates. It allows an individual’s certificate to be kept up to date and, with their consent, enables eligible employers to carry out an online status check rather than automatically requesting a completely new DBS check.

The Update Service remains free for eligible volunteers.

Why choose Employment Tools for your DBS checks?

AEmployment Tools combines competitive pricing with specialist DBS knowledge, fast processing and real support from people who understand the system.

We are an approved Government Registered Body, with years of experience processing DBS applications for organisations across the UK. That means you can manage Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS checks through an established provider that understands both the practical process and the eligibility rules behind each type of check.

Fast DBS processing

Complete DBS applications received before 4pm are submitted to the DBS on the same working day, helping you keep recruitment and onboarding moving without unnecessary delays.

Real support from DBS specialists

When you need help, you can speak to a real person who understands DBS checks, eligibility requirements and the Employment Tools system.

Whether you have a question about an application, the type of check a role may be eligible for or the identity process, our team is there to help rather than leaving you to rely on an automated chatbot.

Competitive and transparent pricing

We keep our pricing straightforward.

There are no sign-up fees, no monthly fees and no minimum spend. You simply use Employment Tools when you need it.

Our Free Admin Credit system can reduce your effective administration fees by up to 50%, making our already competitive DBS pricing even better value.

Manage more than DBS checks in one place

Employment Tools is designed to make wider pre-employment screening easier to manage too.

From the same secure account, organisations can manage:

• DBS checks
• Digital ID checks
• Right to Work checks
• Reference checks
• International background checks
• Other ongoing employment screening requirements

This gives your team one place to manage key checks rather than having to work across multiple providers and systems.

Digital ID checks for a simpler applicant experience

For eligible DBS applications, Digital ID checks can allow applicants to verify their identity online instead of bringing physical identity documents to you.

This can make the identity stage quicker and more convenient for both your organisation and the applicant, particularly when recruiting remotely or across multiple locations.

Suitable whether you process one check or thousands

Employment Tools is built for organisations of different sizes.

Whether you only need an occasional DBS check or process large volumes across multiple teams or locations, you can use the same system without committing to monthly fees or minimum volumes.

With competitive pricing, fast submission, specialist human support and a single platform for managing employment checks, Employment Tools gives organisations a straightforward way to carry out DBS checks with confidence.

Start processing DBS checks with Employment Tools today, or get in touch with our team to find out how we can support your organisation.

DBS Check Prices 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions

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About The Author

John Schofield-Antoncich

John is an employment compliance specialist with years of hands-on experience in DBS checks and other employment check processes. Having overseen thousands of applications, he’s your trusted source for accurate, up-to-date guidance.

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