Teeth whitening options and costs
A dentist's home whitening kit costs £185 to £970 at 459 London practices that publish prices; the middle price is £390 (checked October 2026). In-chair whitening costs £150 to £995 at 139 practices. Whitening is not available on the NHS.
The options
- Home kit from a dentist. The dentist takes impressions and makes trays that fit your teeth, and you wear them with whitening gel at home. The NHS says this usually takes around 2 to 6 weeks.
- In-chair. Whitening gel is applied at the practice and a laser is shone on it. The NHS says this is usually one appointment of around 1 to 2 hours.
- Home and in-chair package. Some practices sell a branded system that combines home trays with one or more sessions at the practice, at one price.
Practices price these differently, so compare the same option. On DentalCosts the headline whitening figure is the home kit; in-chair and package prices are shown on each practice's page.
| Option | Range | Middle |
|---|---|---|
| Home kit (custom trays and gel) | £185 to £970 459 practices | £390 |
| In-chair, at the practice | £150 to £995 139 practices | £500 |
| Home and in-chair package | £400 to £1,024 261 practices | £650 |
London practices that publish prices, each practice's lowest price for that option, checked October 2026.
Questions to ask about a whitening price
- Does it include the examination before treatment, the trays and how many syringes of gel?
- Is a review appointment included?
- What do top-up gels cost later?
Who can whiten teeth
The General Dental Council says tooth whitening counts as dentistry, so only people registered with the GDC may provide it; it prosecutes people who are not registered and whiten teeth. Under the cosmetic products rules as the GDC sets them out:
- Products over 6% hydrogen peroxide are illegal for cosmetic whitening.
- Products between 0.1% and 6% may only be supplied through a dentist, dental hygienist, dental therapist or clinical dental technician on a dentist's prescription, after an examination, with the first use done by or under the supervision of the dental professional.
- Those products must not be used on anyone under 18, except to treat or prevent disease.
- Products under 0.1%, such as whitening toothpastes and rinses, are on general sale.
You can check a professional on the GDC's online register before treatment.
What the NHS says
- Whitening is not available on the NHS; you pay privately at a dental practice.
- It is not done for anyone aged 17 or under, or with unhealthy teeth or gums.
- It only lightens natural teeth, not crowns, dentures or implants.
- It is not permanent; the NHS says the effect may last around 3 years if you follow your dentist's advice.
- Side effects can include sensitive teeth and sore gums. The NHS says salon treatment and kits bought online or from a pharmacy do not work as well and may harm teeth and gums.
Whether whitening suits you is for a dentist to decide after examining you.
Sources
- NHS, Teeth whitening, last reviewed 19 August 2025.
- General Dental Council, Tooth whitening position statement, dated 11 July 2016, read 17 October 2026.
Whitening prices from each practice's own website, checked October 2026. How we collect prices