How much do braces cost in the UK? (2026 price guide)
Braces in the UK start from £1,100 for fixed metal and climb to £6,995 for tooth-coloured ceramic, across the clinics we track. Same job, straighter teeth – the price only really moves on two things: the type of brace you go for, and how far your teeth have to travel. Here’s what metal and ceramic actually cost, how they stack up against Invisalign, and how to spread it so you’re not paying in one hit.
The two main types – and what each costs
We track live prices on the two most common fixed braces:
- Fixed metal braces – the classic. Tough, reliable, and the cheapest way in. Typically £2,950, ranging £1,100–£5,995.
- Fixed ceramic braces – same treatment, tooth-coloured brackets that barely show. You pay a step up for that near-invisibility: typically £3,500, ranging £1,500–£6,995.
Here they are side by side on live price:
| Metric | Fixed Metal Braces | Fixed Ceramic Braces |
|---|---|---|
| From | £1,100 | £1,500 |
| Typical | £2,950 | £3,500 |
| Range | £1,100–£5,995 | £1,500–£6,995 |
| Clinics pricing it | 80 | 55 |
| Links | Compare clinics | Compare clinics |
Live data from TreatmentCosts - updated automatically as clinics change their prices.
Two more options sit outside these two: clear aligners like Invisalign (removable, near-invisible – more below), and lingual braces hidden behind the teeth – completely out of sight, and the priciest of the lot because they’re fiddly, specialist work. And retainers (the bit you wear afterwards to hold everything in place) are sometimes baked into the price and sometimes bolted on after – so always ask before you sign.
How much do metal braces cost?
When someone says “braces”, this is usually what they mean. Here’s the live picture:
And ceramic (tooth-coloured) braces?
Ceramic braces do exactly the same job with clear or tooth-coloured brackets, so nobody clocks them across a table – and that discretion costs a bit more:
What changes the price
- Metal vs ceramic (vs hidden lingual) – the biggest single price driver.
- How complex your case is and how long treatment takes.
- One arch or both (top and bottom teeth).
- Specialist orthodontist vs general dentist.
- Location – London and big cities charge more, as ever.
Does where you live change the price?
Yes – massively. The exact same treatment can swing by well over a thousand pounds from one clinic to the next. For metal braces, the cheapest city we track right now is London (from £1,100). Compare providers near you:
| City | From | Typical | Clinics | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,100 | £3,500 | 40 | Compare |
| Coventry | £1,500 | £3,000 | 5 | Compare |
| Birmingham | £2,800 | £3,725 | 4 | Compare |
| Glasgow | £1,100 | £1,680 | 3 | Compare |
| Leicester | £2,250 | £2,400 | 3 | Compare |
| Liverpool | £2,000 | £3,300 | 3 | Compare |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | £2,475 | £3,300 | 3 | Compare |
| Cardiff | £2,500 | £2,650 | 2 | Compare |
| Derby | £3,500 | £3,750 | 2 | Compare |
| Southampton | £1,800 | £2,200 | 2 | Compare |
| Bournemouth | £1,897 | £1,897 | 1 | Compare |
| Bristol | £2,337.50 | £2,337.50 | 1 | Compare |
| Cambridge | £2,000 | £2,000 | 1 | Compare |
| Edinburgh | £4,000 | £4,000 | 1 | Compare |
| Leeds | £1,250 | £1,250 | 1 | Compare |
| Luton | £1,999 | £1,999 | 1 | Compare |
| Manchester | £4,406 | £4,406 | 1 | Compare |
| Milton Keynes | £2,000 | £2,000 | 1 | Compare |
| Nottingham | £3,800 | £3,800 | 1 | Compare |
| Oxford | £2,750 | £2,750 | 1 | Compare |
| Reading | £3,495 | £3,495 | 1 | Compare |
| Stoke-on-Trent | £2,000 | £2,000 | 1 | Compare |
| Swansea | £3,000 | £3,000 | 1 | Compare |
Live data from TreatmentCosts - updated automatically as clinics change their prices.
Braces vs Invisalign
The big fork in the road is fixed braces vs Invisalign clear aligners. Braces can be better – and sometimes cheaper – for trickier cases, but everyone can see them. Invisalign is removable and near-invisible, though it isn’t right for every mouth. Here’s how metal braces and Invisalign line up on live price:
| Metric | Fixed Metal Braces | Invisalign |
|---|---|---|
| From | £1,100 | £950 |
| Typical | £2,950 | £3,250 |
| Range | £1,100–£5,995 | £950–£6,500 |
| Clinics pricing it | 80 | 344 |
| Links | Compare clinics | Compare clinics |
Live data from TreatmentCosts - updated automatically as clinics change their prices.
Torn between them? Read the full Invisalign vs braces cost comparison.
NHS vs private braces
NHS orthodontics is free for under-18s whose teeth meet a clinical need (there’s a scoring system for it), and it’s traditional metal braces only. Adults rarely qualify, so grown-up braces are almost always private. Paying privately also buys you a choice of brace type, no waiting list, and treatment for purely cosmetic reasons – which the NHS won’t touch.
How long does treatment take?
Most braces treatment runs around 12 to 24 months, depending on how far your teeth have to move – simple cases wrap up quicker, complex ones drag on longer. Because it stretches over a year or two, you almost never pay the full whack upfront – it’s spread across the treatment (see finance below).
Spreading the cost
Most clinics do monthly payment plans, often interest-free across the length of treatment – so that scary headline number turns into a monthly amount you barely notice. Just check it’s genuinely 0% APR, not “finance” with a sting in the tail, and confirm the total you’ll repay.
How to avoid overpaying
- Decide metal or ceramic – metal does the identical job for less; with ceramic or lingual you’re paying purely for discretion.
- Check whether retainers are included in the price.
- Ask about interest-free finance and the total repayable.
- Compare a few providers – for metal braces alone, the gap between the cheapest and dearest we track is £4,895. Same braces, wildly different bill.
- See a specialist orthodontist for complex cases – the right plan first time avoids costly redos.
Frequently asked questions
How much do braces cost in the UK?
Fixed metal braces usually run £1,100–£5,995 (typically £2,950); tooth-coloured ceramic braces come in at £1,500–£6,995. Lingual (hidden) braces top the lot.
Are ceramic braces more expensive than metal?
Yes – ceramic costs more than metal, and the only thing you’re paying extra for is brackets nobody notices. Compare the two live above.
Do braces cost less than Invisalign?
Often, yes – fixed metal braces are usually the cheapest way in, though Invisalign and ceramic braces can overlap. Compare live prices above.
Can adults get braces on the NHS?
Rarely – NHS orthodontics is mostly for under-18s with a clinical need. Adult braces are almost always a private job.
Are retainers included in the price?
Sometimes – it’s clinic by clinic. Always ask whether retainers (and follow-up visits) are baked into the quote, or an extra bill waiting for you later.
Ready to compare? See metal braces prices and ceramic braces prices clinic by clinic, or browse every UK clinic that shows its prices up front.
