Guide
How a DBS check cost is built
The number on a provider’s homepage is usually a total. The comparable parts are the DBS fee, the admin fee, and VAT.
Three numbers, not one
From 5 October 2026 the DBS fee is £20 for a basic check, £20 for a standard check, £41 for an enhanced check (with or without barred lists) and £15 a year for the Update Service. Volunteer standard and enhanced checks stay free of the DBS fee. DBS does not set or regulate the admin fee a provider adds.
A fair comparison uses the same band. A price for 1–50 checks is not the price for 500. A package that includes digital ID is not the same as an admin fee with digital ID charged extra.
The live table of what we have actually read is on the cheapest DBS check page. This guide explains the arithmetic. It does not name a winner.
When a page disagrees with itself
Some sites still add the pre-October 2026 fees of £21.50 and £49.50. Some print a total that is not the sum of the DBS fee and the admin fee. Some say prices include VAT in the introduction and exclude it in the FAQ. CompareDBS shows both lines and keeps that provider out of the lowest-price sort until the page is consistent.
The Home Office umbrella directory also prints handling fees. Several of those figures are lower than the firm’s own website. Both are shown on the profile.