Prescription, dispensing and administration
How much does a written prescription cost?
A written prescription typically costs £27 at a UK vet. That is the middle price across 2,512 practices that publish one: independent vets typically charge £21 and the big chains £27. Below: how much it varies, where it costs least, and what the price usually includes.
What this covers: Capped at £21 for the first medicine from March 2027 (large) / September 2027 (small).
Size of pet:
How much it varies
How many vets charge each amount for a written prescription, in £5 steps. The dark bar holds the typical price.
By region
Typical price in each part of the UK, cheapest first.
| Region | Typical | Vets |
|---|---|---|
| London | £21 | 149 |
| East of England | £25 | 247 |
| East Midlands | £27 | 169 |
| North East | £27 | 103 |
| North West | £27 | 228 |
| Northern Ireland | £27 | 37 |
| Scotland | £27 | 203 |
| South East | £27 | 469 |
| South West | £27 | 314 |
| Wales | £27 | 133 |
| West Midlands | £27 | 218 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £27 | 209 |
Where it costs least
Typical price in the town, where three or more vets publish it.
| Haringey 3 vets | £16 |
| Yate 3 vets | £17 |
| Broadstairs 3 vets | £18 |
| Greenwich 4 vets | £18 |
| Orpington 4 vets | £18 |
| Bromley 4 vets | £18 |
| Cambridge 7 vets | £18 |
| Tunbridge Wells 3 vets | £18 |
| Richmond 4 vets | £19 |
| Southwark 3 vets | £19 |
| Hemel Hempstead 4 vets | £19 |
| Westminster 4 vets | £20 |
Where it costs most
| Northants 3 vets | £40 |
| East Hertfordshire 3 vets | £38 |
| Kendal 3 vets | £38 |
| Newport 7 vets | £37 |
| Midhurst 3 vets | £36 |
| Cwmbran 3 vets | £36 |
| Burton-on-Trent 4 vets | £35 |
| Barnet 4 vets | £35 |
| Wolverhampton 5 vets | £35 |
| Skipton 3 vets | £34 |
| Keighley 3 vets | £34 |
| Worthing 6 vets | £34 |
The cheapest vets in the UK for a written prescription
Check what each price includes before you compare.
| Practice | Town | Owner | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Vet 24-7 | Hillingdon | Independent | £11 | |
| My Vet 24-7 | Uxbridge | Independent | £11 | |
| My Vet Veterinary Surgery | Uxbridge | Independent | £11 | |
| MyVet Salisbury | Salisbury | Independent | £11 | |
| Penbode Equine Vets, Tavistock (equine care) | Tavistock | VetPartners | from £12.50 | |
| Penbode Vets – Bradworthy | Bradworthy | VetPartners | from £12.50 | |
| Penbode Vets – Bude, Cornwall | Stratton | VetPartners | from £12.50 | |
| Penbode Vets – Camelford | Camelford | VetPartners | from £12.50 | |
| Penbode Vets – Holsworthy | Holsworthy | VetPartners | from £12.50 | |
| Widnes Vets4Pets | Widnes | Vets4Pets | from £12.50 | |
| Yate Vets4Pets | Yate | Vets4Pets | £12.50 | |
| Bolton Vets for Pets | Bolton | Vets4Pets | from £13.50 | |
| The Pet Hospital | Livingston | Independent | £13.85 | |
| Ark Veterinary Clinic | Coatbridge | Independent | £13.90 | |
| Howden Animal Health | Goole | Independent | £14.40 |
A low price with nothing in the "included" column may mean the vet has not said, not that nothing is included. Open the practice for the detail.
What the price covers, and why it varies
The standard definition: Prescription fee
A written prescription lets you buy the medicine from any pharmacy, including online, where long-term medicines and flea and worm products are often much cheaper. From March 2027 at the big chains and September 2027 everywhere else, the fee is capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for each extra one on the same prescription, rising with inflation each February.
Other prices in the same group: Additional items on the same prescription, Repeat prescription fee, Dispensing fee, Injection administration fee, Insurance claim administration fee. All 36 treatments.
Common questions
How much does written prescription fee cost at the vet in the UK?
Typically £27. That is the middle price across 2,512 UK practices that publish one, so half charge less and half charge more. Independent vets typically charge £21 and the big chains £27. The cheapest town with three or more priced vets is Haringey, where the typical price is £16.
Does the price of written prescription fee depend on the size of my pet?
Yes. Most practices price written prescription fee by weight. Typical published prices: all pets £27; cats £21; dogs (all sizes) £21; rabbits £21. The standard list uses cats and five dog sizes (small, medium, large, extra large and giant), but each practice sets its own kilogram limits, so ask which band your pet falls in.
How can I pay less for written prescription fee?
Compare the vets in your own town first: the gap between the cheapest and dearest is often larger than the gap between towns. If you are near Haringey or another of the cheaper towns listed above, it may be worth the drive for a planned procedure. Ask for a written estimate before you agree to anything, which practices must give for treatment over £500.
What does the written prescription fee price include?
The standard list defines it as: Capped at £21 for the first medicine from March 2027 (large) / September 2027 (small). Published prices include VAT and are for a typical case. Complications cost more.
Why do vets publish the price of written prescription fee?
Because the competition regulator told them to. It found in 2026 that owners could not compare vet prices and that prices had risen faster than inflation, so every practice now has to publish the same 36 prices, including written prescription fee, on its website one click from the home page. The big chains must do it by 23 December 2026 and everyone else by 23 March 2027.
Not veterinary advice. This page compares what practices charge. It does not say whether a treatment or a medicine is right for your animal, and nothing here should be used to start, stop or change any treatment. Only your own vet, who can examine your animal, can advise you. If your animal is unwell, ring a vet. In an emergency, use an out-of-hours vet.
How this is ordered. By price, lowest first, unless you sort it yourself by clicking a heading. Nobody pays to appear here, to appear higher, or to be left out, and no practice has any say in the order. How we collect prices.
About these prices: each figure is as published on the practice's own website on the date shown, VAT included where the practice says so, for the size of pet and the inclusions stated. Practices now have to publish a standard price list and keep it current (the rules), but the price you pay depends on your pet, so confirm with the practice before you book. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will re-check the source within two working days.