How Much Does an Overnight Caregiver Cost?
Nights are often when families first realize they need help. Wandering, bathroom trips and falls happen after dark, and a family caregiver who never sleeps cannot keep going. Here is what overnight care costs and how the two types of night shift differ.
One 10 to 12 hour awake overnight shift
$370 to $600
Based on licensed agency rates of $37 to $50 per hour for an awake caregiver.
Overnight care options and cost, 2026
Awake overnight, every night
- Typical rate
- $37 to $50 per hour
- Monthly cost
- $11,200 to $18,200 (10 to 12 hrs)
Frequent waking, wandering, high fall risk
Awake overnight, 3 nights weekly
- Typical rate
- $37 to $50 per hour
- Monthly cost
- $4,800 to $7,800
Giving a family caregiver regular sleep
Sleeping overnight (live-in style)
- Typical rate
- $375 to $520 per day
- Monthly cost
- $11,400 to $15,800 (full live-in)
Wakes once or twice, needs someone nearby
Overnight plus morning routine
- Typical rate
- $37 to $50 per hour
- Monthly cost
- $13,500 to $21,000
Help getting up, bathing and breakfast
| Overnight option | Typical rate | Monthly cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awake overnight, every night | $37 to $50 per hour | $11,200 to $18,200 (10 to 12 hrs) | Frequent waking, wandering, high fall risk |
| Awake overnight, 3 nights weekly | $37 to $50 per hour | $4,800 to $7,800 | Giving a family caregiver regular sleep |
| Sleeping overnight (live-in style) | $375 to $520 per day | $11,400 to $15,800 (full live-in) | Wakes once or twice, needs someone nearby |
| Overnight plus morning routine | $37 to $50 per hour | $13,500 to $21,000 | Help getting up, bathing and breakfast |
Ranges reflect licensed agency pricing in 2026. Rates vary by ZIP code, weekly hours and care level. See rates by ZIP code.
Awake shift or sleeping shift?
An awake caregiver stays up all night and is paid for every hour. It is the right choice when someone gets up several times, is confused at night, or needs repositioning.
A sleeping arrangement works when your loved one wakes once or twice at most. California labor rules require a sleep break of at least eight hours and a private space, so if the caregiver is woken often, the shift must be paid as awake time.
Signs it is time for overnight help
Families usually add night coverage after one of these shows up.
- A fall or near-fall on the way to the bathroom at night
- Sundowning, confusion or attempts to leave the house after dark
- The family caregiver is sleeping in short stretches for weeks
- Coming home from the hospital with new mobility limits
Run the numbers for your situation
Frequently Asked Questions
More on care costs
- How Much Does 24/7 In-Home Care Cost Per Month?
- In-Home Dementia Care Costs in 2026
- Private Caregiver Cost Per Hour in 2026
- How Much Does Respite Care Cost?
- How Much Does a Live-In Caregiver Cost?
- How to Pay for Home Care: VA, Long-Term Care Insurance and Medi-Cal
- Home care vs facility care: costs and benefits compared
The agency we point families to
We keep this site independent, and we do not sell placement. When families ask us who to call first, we point them to SYNERGY HomeCare because it meets every item on the checklist below for non-medical in-home care. You are free to interview several agencies, and the questions further down this page work for any of them.
- Licensed as a Home Care Organization with the California Department of Social Services
- Caregivers are employees, background-checked through the state Home Care Aide Registry, bonded and insured
- Written care plan with a local care manager who visits the home
- Flexible schedules from a few hours a week through 24-hour and live-in care
- Experience with dementia, Parkinson's, post-surgery recovery and hospice support
Cost figures are educational estimates for 2026 and vary by location, provider and care level. Confirm pricing and licensing directly with any agency you consider.