What’s the going rate for private lessons?

What’s a typical hourly cost of private lessons?

I realise this probably varies by geography. I’m in the UK.

 

It depends on the art, and the instructor/area, in BJJ, blackebelts can charge 120 pound an hour, but generally they discount that heavily for team members, id say 20/40 pound an hour for team members for a purple/brown belt is the going rate.

 

Most private lessons I've had have been in the region of around £30.

 

£30 per hour seems reasonable.

£70 per hour seems crazy! Perhaps that’s OK if clients are wealthy investment bankers.

 

If it is how they earn their living, and they could be teaching a class of 15 people all paying £10, then I don't see it as unreasonable.

 

I'm with Simon on this--there is no way, unless the trainer is financially independent and doing this for fun/giving to the community, that they are going to charge $20 or $30 for an hour lesson.
I'm in the US, near Boston. I'd think someone either has no idea what they are doing, or are vastly underselling themselves if they offered private lessons (1 hour) for less than about $60, and I'd expect more like $90-$130, depending on qualifications.
Tutors (for high school) around this area often charge $70+/hour, more if they have a PhD ($80, $90, $100/hour).
I see a personal trainer once a week. He is very good and charges towards the top of the range at $85/hour. (Less qualified/less experienced trainers charge $60-$75/hour around here.)

Private training is expensive, and I don't think it would be sustainable for the trainer if they charged $20/$30 per hour.

 

Just another note on this.

It's not about how much the client earns, it's about how much the instructor's time and experience is worth, plus the cost of overheads.

If you call a plumber out you don't expect him to ask how much you earn before he writes out an invoice.

Some people do it on the cheap out of generosity, or as dead_pool says because it benefits the gym's competition record, but it should never be expected that an instructor should undersell themselves. It devalues the industry and makes it harder for people to make a living from running a MA business.

 

Were the instructors of good quality? £30 a lesson sounds like a very good deal! I couldn't afford any more than that but this is very reasonable for 1 hour.

 

Pending on client and instructor, the general average is between £30-50.

Remember, you get what you pay for. If driving lessons are about £25-30 and (not a knock on driving instructors) then how much are you willing to pay for your health, well being and combat ability.

In regards to geography, a mate of mine went to teach in Kuwait (personal trainer, weightlifter). He tried to charge £100 but he was in such a wealthy area, that if he didnt charge at least £200 per hour, he wouldnt be taken seriously enough.

 

Or if they actually take their training seriously

$100 gets you a one hour private with me - One hour with me I will give you fixes, improvements and a development plan for the aspect we are covering that will be tailored made for where you are at and where you are going - not cookie cutter, not just a workout, but a roadmap for improvement that is the difference between giving a fish and teaching you to fish

When I teach privates I am taking time away from myself, my family and my friends so to ensure I don't waste my private lesson time on hobbyists I don't charge hobbyist rates; class time is sufficient for those who just want it to be a pastime

 

I’d hate to define a hobbyist as someone who has a low income. Being able to afford $100/h shouldn’t define who takes their training seriously.

Actually, it’s very much about what’s affordable. An instructor may be outstanding, but that’s no good if people can’t pay his or her rates.

Value and salary aren’t the same thing: an investment banker probably gets paid ten times more than a cancer doctor. I know which profession I’d value more.

Incidentally, plumbers in wealthy parts of London (e.g. Pimlico Plumbers) are well known for charging higher prices than others.

 

The TRUE cost of nights out for boozy Brits – it’s more than you think

One night, zero meaning, no different than a million other wasted nights that blur into one....factor in all the other costs and you have one private every week at a rate of $100 a lesson; taking it just as the "night out" cost on average and you get a private once every 2 weeks

If you don;t have it immediately save up; sell stuff you don;t want...do odd jobs - do ANYTHING if that private is beyond your reach and you really need it. Ask if the instructor will quid pro quo you (I have done this for students)

If you only see the priceyou don;t see the value

 

A dollar is 0.77 Great British Pounds according to google right now.

 

Yet I bet in that low income they waste money on things that they don't need - how many smoke, drink, play video games, have a smart phone....

i gave a plethora of options above for ways around out and context beyond costing - it's not the money it's how important it is to you; if you don;t value my time you don;t get it - stick to class time, practice and save for that private.

 

I'm talking as someone who gives away their time for a handful of beans, but I'm not trying to earn a living from MA, and I don't teach randomers off the street.

But if you want people to be able to earn a living as a professional instructor, hence generally raising standards of instruction, then they have to earn a professional wage.

If instructors are passionate about what they do, they would teach people for free every day. Unfortunately they can't do that and keep a roof over their head.

 

That’s quite a stereotype!

There are many reasons why a student could struggle to afford high-priced lessons.

In a family, for example, one person might have to negotiate with their spouse about the cost of martial arts versus food and clothing for their children.