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.
These lower prices will be reflected to Quicker DBS clients from 2 October 2026 from 4pm! This will allow you to process your checks sooner, rather than waiting until Monday morning to send them to us.
What are the new DBS check prices from 5 October 2026?
The DBS has confirmed the following changes:
| DBS service | Current DBS fee | New DBS fee from 5 October 2026 | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic DBS check | £21.50 | £20.00 | £1.50 |
| Standard DBS check | £21.50 | £20.00 | £1.50 |
| Enhanced DBS check | £49.50 | £41.00 | £8.50 |
| DBS Update Service | £16.00 per year | £15.00 per year | £1.00 |
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.
Why are DBS check prices reducing?
The DBS reviews its fees on an annual basis, and the fee for each product or service is based on its cost to deliver as required by Managing Public Money (MPM). On this occasion, DBS has been able to reduce fees across all its products and those applying for an Enhanced check will see the greatest reduction.
You can read more about the decision to lower the costs on the official DBS website.
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.
As usual, volunteers who require a Basic DBS check will still be charged the DBS fee.
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.
DBS Check Prices 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Basic DBS check from October 2026?
The government fee for a Basic DBS check will be £20 from 5 October 2026, down from £21.50.
How much is a Standard DBS check from October 2026?
The government fee for a Standard DBS check will be £20 from 5 October 2026, down from £21.50.
How much is an Enhanced DBS check from October 2026?
The government fee for an Enhanced DBS check will be £41 from 5 October 2026, down from £49.50. This represents a saving of £8.50 per application.
Why do different DBS providers have different prices?
The DBS sets the statutory fee for the check itself, but Registered Bodies and Responsible Organisations can charge their own administration fees for processing applications. This means the total price paid by an employer can vary between providers. Some Umbrella Bodies also charge a higher Government Fee, but at Quicker DBS, we do not do this!