What’s a Fair Private % Split for UK Dentists in 2025-2026 (With Regional Breakdown + GDC Data)

If you’re a dental associate in the UK working privately (or part-private), you may hear the term “private % split” thrown around. But what does it mean, what’s fair in 2025-26, and how does region affect it? Let’s break it down simply.

What Does “Private % Split” Mean?

When you do private dental work (i.e., non-NHS treatments), the income generated is shared between you (the associate) and the practice owner (the principal).

For example – you generate £1,000 of private treatment fees, and your agreed split is 50%, you receive £500, the practice keeps the rest to cover costs (staff, overheads, materials).

The exact split you get depends on a number of factors to include your skill, the region, how many patients you bring, how high the overheads are, etc.

Why the Split Matters

For Associates –

Private work usually has higher fees than NHS only work. A decent split can boost your take-home pay significantly.
You may get more variety and control, you can build a private patient list, see more premium treatments, grow your reputation.
The better the production you do (more private work, higher value cases), the better-your negotiating position.

For Practice Owners –

A fair split helps attract and keep good associates, it sends a message that you are valued.
When associates are motivated (because they see the benefit of their effort), the practice often does better.
But keep in mind, running a dental practice has heavy costs (equipment, staff, rent, lab fees), so the split has to make business sense.

What Do the Latest Data & Benchmarks Say?

The GDC’s “Working Patterns” data (for dentists and dental care professionals) gives useful context. While it does not directly record split percentages, it does show how much of the work is private vs NHS.

Key points –

The GDC report shows that many dental care professionals (DCPs) deliver a mix of NHS and private care.
For dentists, the GDC data tables (published April 2025) cover how many are working in private, NHS or mixed settings.
This is helpful because more private work generally supports a higher split, you generate more private income, so the split is more meaningful.

Market & Benchmark Data –

The expert commentary from BDA suggests that a typical associate split for private work is around 45-55% of gross earnings, depending on the practice’s costs and conditions.
According to a benchmarking report the average associate remuneration rose to around £90,161.
A commentary piece notes that many associate splits used to be 50%, but many practices are now offering lower splits (40-45%) unless the associate has high production or other value.

What This Means

Putting this together, in 2025-26 you might reasonably expect an associate private split somewhere between 45% and 55%, with variation depending on region, case mix, your production, overheads, and whether you bring in patients.

Regional Breakdown (UK)

Because patient fees, cost of living, overheads and market demand vary by region, what is “normal” in one area may differ in another. Here’s a practical breakdown –

London & South East – 50% – 55%
South West & East Anglia – 47% – 52%
Midlands – 45% – 50%
North England – 42% – 48%
Scotland – 40% – 45%

Key Tips for Associates & Principals

For Associates –

Ask for your production numbers. How many private treatments do you generate? What value?
Check lab/consumables deductions, often these are taken before your split, so know how that works.
Consider your case mix. If you bring in premium treatments (e.g., implants, aligners), you may justify a higher split.
Negotiate based on region and local market demand. If you are in London and have strong production, asking for 55% is more realistic than in a lower fee region.
Aim for a regular review clause in your contract (e.g., annual review of split based on performance).

For Practice Owners –

Be transparent. Show how you calculate splits, and what elements (labs, consumables, staff) are deducted.
Make sure the split leaves the practice sustainable. You still must cover costs and make a margin.
Consider offering tiered splits, e.g., 45% baseline, 50% once the associate reaches £X/month private revenue, 55% for £Y+.
Use the GDC and benchmarking data to support your terms and discussions.

Final Take-Away

In 2025 and going into 2026 for the UK –

A fair private split for an associate is around 45-55% of private treatment income.
Region matters! London/South East lean toward the higher end, Scotland may be toward the lower end.
Your split alone isn’t enough, it’s the combination of split + volume + case value + overheads that determines your income.
Use data (GDC working patterns, benchmarking reports) to strengthen your negotiation and ensure fairness for both sides.

Thinking About Going Soley Private?

If you’re considering transitioning from NHS or mixed practice to fully private, we’re currently supporting multiple private and mixed practices across the UK looking for experienced associates ready to take that next step.