How much does studio hire cost in the UK?

UK studio rates vary widely. Small home studios: £20-40/hr. Mid-range commercial studios: £40-80/hr. Premium London studios: £80-200+/hr. Day rates (8-10 hours) are typically 6-8x the hourly rate. Rates usually include basic lighting equipment; specialist gear costs extra.

Should I include setup time in my booking?

Always book at least 30-60 minutes before your client arrives for setup, and 30 minutes after for teardown. Most studios charge for this time. Factor it into your pricing so setup costs do not eat into your profit. Some studios offer reduced rates for setup/breakdown time.

When should I rent vs own a studio?

As a rough rule of thumb, if you use a studio more than 15-20 days per month, leasing your own space may work out cheaper than hiring — though the exact break-even depends on local lease rates, so treat this as guidance, not a fixed figure. As an illustration at £50/hr for 4-hour sessions (shoot hours only, excluding setup), 20 sessions costs £4,000/month — comparable to the rent on a small space. Add the setup/teardown time this calculator charges by default and the hire cost rises further, bringing the break-even forward. Below 10 sessions/month, hiring usually gives more flexibility without the fixed overhead of a lease.

What should I look for in a rental studio?

Ceiling height (3m+ for full-length portraits), power supply (adequate outlets for lighting), loading access (for large equipment), parking, natural light options, available backdrops and furniture, kitchen/client area, and what lighting equipment is included in the base rate.

Studio Rental Calculator — Hire Costs

Calculate studio hire costs with hourly rates, equipment and assistant fees.

Studio Hourly Rate

Typical UK hire £40-80/hr; premium London £80-200+/hr (home studios £20-40)

Shooting Hours

Billable shoot time; full-day rates (8-10h) often run 6-8x the hourly rate

Setup/Teardown Time

Additional charged time

Equipment Hire

Extra lighting, backdrops, etc.

Assistant Cost

Per session

Sessions per Month

How many shoots per month — used to project your monthly studio spend

How We Calculate This

Session Cost

Studio cost = hourly rate × (shoot hours + setup hours × setup rate multiplier)

The setup rate multiplier (Advanced Options, default 1 = full rate) lets you charge setup/teardown at a reduced rate where the studio allows it.

Total per session = studio cost + booking fee + equipment hire + assistant

The booking fee (Advanced Options, default 0%) is applied as a percentage of the studio cost.

Monthly Cost

Monthly = total per session × sessions per month

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard optical and photographic formulas. Results may vary with specific equipment.