As of October 2026, a standard TV Licence costs £180 a year, for homes and businesses alike. A black and white licence costs £60.50, and if you pay monthly by Direct Debit your first licence is squeezed into six payments of around £30 before it drops to about £15 a month.
That second sentence is the one that catches people out. You see 'from £15 a month' on the TV Licensing site, set up the Direct Debit, and then wonder why the first payments are double. It isn't a mistake on your bank statement, and it isn't an extra charge. Here's how the fee works, what each payment option really costs, and who can pay less or nothing at all.
TV Licence prices at a glance
| Licence type | Cost as of October 2026 | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (colour) TV Licence | £180 a year | Most homes and businesses |
| Black and white TV Licence | £60.50 a year | Only if you watch on a black and white set |
| Blind (severely sight impaired) concession | £90 colour, £30.25 black and white | A household where the licence is in the name of someone who's blind |
| Care home or sheltered accommodation | Reduced fee of £7.50 | Eligible residents |
| Over 75 and getting Pension Credit | Free | You, or someone you live with, if eligible |
The £180 figure comes straight from GOV.UK, which also confirms the same fee applies to businesses. There's no separate, cheaper rate for a business.
The monthly Direct Debit catch
TV Licensing explains it plainly: because of the law, you must pay for your first licence up front within the first six months. So your first six monthly payments are higher, at about £30 a month. From month seven onwards, you'll pay about £15 a month, because you're now paying for the next licence over a full twelve months.
Two things make this less painful than it sounds. You don't pay more overall, and TV Licensing says that if you cancel, you get any unused months refunded. It's a cash flow timing issue, not a hidden fee. If you're budgeting tightly, though, plan for the £30 months rather than the headline £15.
Every way to pay, and what it costs
| Payment option | What you pay | The detail |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Direct Debit | From about £15 a month | First licence spread over 6 payments of around £30 |
| Quarterly Direct Debit | From £46.25 a quarter | Four payments a year, each including a £1.25 charge |
| Annual Direct Debit | £180 | Paid automatically every 12 months, no extra fee |
| Debit or credit card | £180 | One payment for the year |
| TV Licensing payment card | From about £6.50 | Pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly online, by app, phone, text or at PayPoint |
Quarterly is the only option with a surcharge built in: four lots of £1.25. Annual and monthly Direct Debit cost the same £180 a year. If you pay by Direct Debit or in full by card, you're covered immediately; with other methods, cover starts as soon as TV Licensing receives your first payment.
The payment card is designed for people who'd rather pay little and often. TV Licensing says you'll usually pay for your first licence in 26 weekly payments, then switch to fortnightly payments after that.
Do you need a TV Licence at all?
GOV.UK says you need one if you watch or record programmes on any device as they're broadcast, on any channel, or if you use BBC iPlayer. That covers a TV, a laptop, a phone or a tablet.
You don't need one just to watch streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus, on demand TV through services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video, videos on YouTube, or DVDs. If the only things you watch are on demand from those services, you may not need a licence. If you're weighing up subscriptions instead, see what Netflix costs on each plan and the Disney+ price before you decide what to keep.
Who pays less, or nothing
- Over 75s: you could be entitled to a free TV Licence if you, or someone you live with, is 75 or over and gets Pension Credit.
- Blind or severely sight impaired: the licence costs £90 for colour or £30.25 for black and white, and it must be in the blind person's name. If it isn't, TV Licensing says you'll need to transfer it into their name.
- Care homes and sheltered accommodation: eligible residents may pay a reduced fee of £7.50.
- Black and white sets: £60.50, but only if that's the only way you watch.
Students, shared houses and hotels
In a shared house with separate tenancy agreements, you need your own licence if you watch TV in your own room. One licence covers the whole household if you either watch in a single shared area or have a joint tenancy agreement.
Students in university accommodation need a licence to watch in their own room. If you live at another address outside term time, you can use that address's licence on a device that's battery powered and not plugged in or connected to an aerial. For businesses that offer overnight stays, such as a hotel, a single licence covers up to 15 rooms or units.
Refunds if you stop watching
You can apply for a refund if you won't need your licence again before it expires and there's at least one complete month left on it. If you're only moving home within the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, don't cancel; TV Licensing lets you change your address up to three months before you move.
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The verdict
The TV Licence is £180 a year, and every way to pay costs the same except quarterly, which adds four charges of £1.25 across the year. My advice: if you can afford the lump sum, pay annually and forget about it. If you'd rather spread it, monthly Direct Debit costs the same in total, but budget for about £30 a month for the first six months. And before you renew, be honest about how you watch. If it's all on demand streaming and no iPlayer, you may not need one at all.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is a TV Licence in 2026?
As of October 2026, a standard TV Licence costs £180 a year. A black and white licence costs £60.50.
Why is my first TV Licence Direct Debit £30 a month?
TV Licensing says the law requires your first licence to be paid within six months, so the first six monthly payments are about £30. From month seven you'll pay about £15 a month, and you don't pay more overall.
Is it cheaper to pay the TV Licence annually or monthly?
Annual and monthly Direct Debit both cost £180 a year. Quarterly Direct Debit adds a £1.25 charge to each of its four payments.
Do I need a TV Licence for Netflix?
No. GOV.UK says you don't need one to watch streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus, unless you also watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer.
Is the TV Licence free for over 75s?
You could get a free TV Licence if you, or someone you live with, is 75 or over and gets Pension Credit.
How much is a TV Licence if you're blind?
A blind concession licence costs £90 for colour and £30.25 for black and white, and it must be in the blind person's name.
Do businesses pay a different TV Licence fee?
No. GOV.UK says the £180 fee applies to both homes and businesses. A hotel needs a licence for guests, and one licence covers up to 15 rooms.
Can I get a refund on my TV Licence?
Yes, if you won't need it again before it expires and there's at least one complete month left on it.
