“How much will it cost?” is usually the first thing an organiser asks, and it is the hardest one to answer without a few details. Event security is priced by the hour, per person, so the total comes down to how many officers you need, for how long, and what you need them to do.
What drives the price
- Number of staff: the biggest factor by far. This depends on your venue, guest numbers and risk assessment, which we cover in our guide to how many security guards an event needs.
- Hours on duty: most companies charge for the full shift, including set-up, doors-open and clear-down, not just the time guests are in the room.
- Type of licence: door supervisors, who can search people, control entry and remove guests, are a different role from stewards, who help with crowd flow and information. Roles that need an SIA licence for the work being done cost more than general stewarding.
- Time and date: late nights, bank holidays and Christmas period bookings tend to cost more because staff are in demand.
- Notice: last-minute bookings can cost more, and some dates sell out.
- Supervision and equipment: a team leader, radios, high-visibility clothing or bag-search equipment may be included or added on.
- Location: London rates are usually higher than elsewhere, and travel or parking for staff can be added.
- VAT: check whether a quote includes it.
Typical market rates
Prices differ between companies, so treat published figures as a rough guide only. One UK price-comparison guide, Bark’s security guard prices page, puts the average for event security at about £24 an hour excluding VAT, with London averaging around £23 an hour for general guarding and the East of England around £20. The same page shows specialist roles such as close protection costing a good deal more. These are averages gathered by a third-party site, not GM Secure rates, and the real figure for your event may sit above or below them.
Instead of quoting a standard price, we look at each event and send a clear written quote. That is partly because no two events are the same, and partly because a number plucked from the air is more likely to be wrong than useful.
A worked example, without the numbers
Take an evening function with 200 guests and an open bar. You might need two door supervisors on the entrance, one more inside, and a team lead. The shift runs from an hour before doors open until the last guests leave, say seven hours. The cost is the hourly rate multiplied by four people and seven hours, plus any extras. Change any one of those inputs and the price moves. That is why a sensible quote starts with questions.
Why very cheap quotes are worth questioning
If one quote is far below the others, ask why. The usual reasons are staff who are not properly licensed, a thin team that cannot cover breaks, or hidden extras. Anyone doing licensable security work at your event must hold the correct SIA licence, and you can check this yourself on the SIA’s register of licence holders.
How to get an accurate quote quickly
Have these ready when you contact a security company:
- Venue name and address
- Date, start and finish times, including set-up and clear-down
- Expected number of guests, and whether it is ticketed or invite-only
- Whether alcohol will be served
- Any past problems at the venue or with this type of event
- Any requirements set by your licence or the venue
With that, we can usually come back to you within 24 hours, often sooner. If your event is close, tell us the date first and we will say what is possible. You can read more about what we cover on our event security page, or ask for a quote directly.