Guide
How much is a prescription? The NHS charge in England
Updated
An NHS prescription costs £9.90 per item in England, and is free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The charge is per item, not per prescription: a prescription with three medicines on it costs £29.70. The figure is the one nhs.uk publishes, read on 25 September 2026 (nhs.uk), and it is reviewed each April.
The charge by nation
| Nation | Charge per item | Since |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9.90 | reviewed each April |
| Wales | Free | 2007 |
| Northern Ireland | Free | 2010 |
| Scotland | Free | 2011 |
What a prescription costs by the number of items
| Items on the prescription | You pay |
|---|---|
| 1 | £9.90 |
| 2 | £19.80 |
| 3 | £29.70 |
| 4 | £39.60 |
Each medicine, dressing or appliance on the form is one item: nhs.uk's own example is a prescription with three medicines on it, charged three times.
When you pay nothing in England
Children under 16, 16, 17 or 18 year olds in full-time education, people aged 60 or over, and holders of a maternity or medical exemption certificate, among others, pay nothing. The full exemption list sets out every route and how to claim it.
When a prepayment certificate is cheaper
A prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) caps the cost: £32.05 for 3 months or £114.50 for 12 months, read on nhsbsa.nhs.uk on 25 September 2026. At £9.90 an item the 12-month PPC is cheaper from 12 items a year, which is one regular monthly medicine. An HRT PPC covers listed hormone replacement therapy items for £19.80 a year. The PPC guide works the breakeven in full.
A private prescription is priced differently
The £9.90 charge applies only to an NHS prescription. A private prescription is priced as the medicine, plus the pharmacy's dispensing fee, plus 20% VAT, and can cost more or less than £9.90 an item. The calculator on the home page prices one line by line.
Source: nhs.uk, NHS prescription charges