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Hearing aids in the UK: prices, tinnitus, Bluetooth and behind-the-ear models

What hearing aids cost in the UK, what you get free on the NHS, and how to compare models if you have tinnitus, want Bluetooth streaming or need a behind-the-ear fit.

On this page: Price calculator · UK prices · Tinnitus · Bluetooth · Behind-the-ear · NHS vs private

Last updated 29 October 2026. Prices are taken from the retailer's website on that date and change often, especially around sales.

Please read first: We're not audiologists and this page isn't medical advice. Have a hearing test with a qualified audiologist or an HCPC-registered hearing aid dispenser before you buy anything. See your GP straight away if your hearing loss came on suddenly, affects only one ear, or comes with pain, discharge, dizziness or ringing in one ear.

Hearing aid price guide

Model (Wholesale Hearing price)

How many aids

Years you expect to keep them

Extra costs per year (£, e.g. domes, wax guards, cover)

For comparison, NHS hearing aids cost you nothing, including batteries and repairs, if you're eligible. How long hearing aids last depends on use and care, so the number of years is your own estimate.

NHS vs private vs online

	NHS	Private clinic	Online (remote fitting)
Cost to you	Free on long-term loan, with free batteries, repairs and follow-up	You buy the aids; price often includes appointments	You buy the aids; listed from £765 per aid at Wholesale Hearing
How to start	GP referral, or self-referral in some areas	Book a hearing test with the clinic	Send a recent audiogram, questionnaire and ear measurement
Choice of models	Set range chosen by your local service	Wide range	Wide range of current Phonak, Signia and ReSound models
Fitting and adjustments	In person at NHS audiology	In person	Programmed before dispatch, then fine-tuned remotely via the app
Waiting time	Varies by area	Usually quick	Wholesale Hearing quotes 5 to 7 working days once it has your details

Price comparison: current models

Listed prices at Wholesale Hearing on 29 October 2026. "Per aid" is the price for one ear.

Model	Style	Power	Per aid	Pair
Phonak Audeo Lumity L50 RT	Receiver-in-canal (RIC)	Rechargeable, telecoil	£765	£1,490
Phonak Audeo Lumity L70 RT	Receiver-in-canal (RIC)	Rechargeable, telecoil	£865	£1,740
Phonak Audeo Lumity L90-312	Receiver-in-canal (RIC)	Size 312 batteries	£1,010	£1,990
Phonak Audeo Infinio i90-R Ultra	Receiver-in-canal (RIC)	Rechargeable	£1,125	£2,250
Phonak Lumity Naida L50	Behind-the-ear (BTE)	Rechargeable or size 675	£765	£1,490
Phonak Lumity Naida L70	Behind-the-ear (BTE)	Rechargeable or size 675	£865	£1,740
Phonak Lumity Naida L90	Behind-the-ear (BTE)	Rechargeable or size 675	£1,010	£1,990
Signia Pure Charge&Go IX 3	Receiver-in-canal (RIC)	Rechargeable, telecoil option	£840	£1,640
Signia Pure Charge&Go IX 5	Receiver-in-canal (RIC)	Rechargeable, telecoil option	£940	£1,890
Signia Pure Charge&Go IX 7	Receiver-in-canal (RIC)	Rechargeable, telecoil option	£1,085	£2,140
ReSound Nexia 5	Receiver-in-canal (RIC)	Rechargeable, size 312 or size 13	£840	£1,640
ReSound Nexia 9	Receiver-in-canal (RIC)	Rechargeable, size 312 or size 13	£1,085	£2,140

Hearing aid prices in the UK

At Wholesale Hearing on 29 October 2026, current hearing aids from Phonak, Signia and ReSound were listed from £765 per aid (£1,490 a pair) for entry-level technology, with most mid-range models between about £850 and £1,000 per aid and top-tier models over £2,000 a pair. The most expensive pair in its range on that date was £2,475 (Phonak Audeo EON E90 Sphere). These are online prices that include remote fitting; clinic prices are set differently and may include in-person appointments.

Price band (per aid)	What you typically get	Examples at Wholesale Hearing
£750 to £850	Entry technology tier, rechargeable, Bluetooth streaming	Phonak Lumity L50 RT £765, Signia Pure Charge&Go IX 3 £840, ReSound Nexia 5 £840
£850 to £1,000	Mid tier, more automatic programmes	Phonak Lumity L70 RT £865, Signia IX 5 £940, ReSound Nexia 7 £940
£1,000 and up	Top tier, finest adjustment for noisy places	Phonak Lumity L90 £1,010, Signia IX 7 £1,085, ReSound Nexia 9 £1,085, Phonak Infinio i90-R Ultra £1,125

Hearing aids for tinnitus

If you have tinnitus, see your GP first. The NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment if your tinnitus beats in time with your pulse, and to go to A&E or call 999 if you have tinnitus after a head injury, or with sudden hearing loss, weakness in your face or vertigo.

Tinnitus often comes with some hearing loss. Where it does, hearing aids can make everyday sounds easier to hear, which some people find makes the tinnitus less noticeable. Many current models also include a built-in tinnitus sound generator that plays a gentle sound to help mask it. That feature is switched on and adjusted by an audiologist; it isn't something you set up from the box.

Every model in our price table appears in Wholesale Hearing's tinnitus category, and Signia describes its Pure Charge&Go IX range as including "advanced tinnitus therapies". Ask whoever fits your aids which tinnitus feature the model has and whether they'll set it up for you. Hearing aids don't cure tinnitus, and they won't suit everyone: Tinnitus UK and the NHS have more on sound therapy and other support.

Bluetooth hearing aids

All the models in our price table stream audio over Bluetooth. What differs is how:

Phone calls: many current aids let you take calls hands-free, using the hearing aid microphones so you don't hold the phone to your ear. Phonak lists hands-free calls on its Lumity range.
iPhone and Android: Signia says Pure Charge&Go IX streams calls and music from both Android and iOS devices. Check the maker's compatibility list for your exact phone.
Newer standards: ReSound Nexia supports Bluetooth LE Audio and is ready for Auracast broadcast audio, a newer standard for streaming in public places and from TVs.
Battery: streaming uses more battery. Signia quotes up to 36 hours per charge for Pure Charge&Go IX, including 5 hours of streaming.

Behind-the-ear hearing aids

Behind-the-ear (BTE) aids hold all the electronics in a case behind the ear, with a tube to an earmould or dome. They're larger than receiver-in-canal models, which leaves room for more power and bigger batteries, so they're often used for more severe hearing loss. Wholesale Hearing's BTE range on 29 October 2026 was the Phonak Lumity Naida:

Model	Power	Per aid	Pair
Phonak Lumity Naida L50	Rechargeable or size 675	£765	£1,490
Phonak Lumity Naida L70	Rechargeable or size 675	£865	£1,740
Phonak Lumity Naida L90	Rechargeable or size 675	£1,010	£1,990

Whether you need a BTE model depends on your hearing test, so ask your audiologist before choosing a style.

Featured retailer: Wholesale Hearing

Wholesale Hearing sells current hearing aids from brands including Phonak, Signia and ReSound online. You send your hearing test results, a medical questionnaire and an ear measurement; its UK audiologists check the aids are suitable and programme them, then fine-tune them remotely through the manufacturer's app. It offers free shipping and a manufacturer's warranty from the date of purchase.

Visit Wholesale Hearing

Hearing aid buying guide

1. Start with a proper hearing test

Everything follows from your audiogram. It shows the type and level of hearing loss in each ear, and an audiologist can tell you whether hearing aids are the right next step or whether something else needs checking first.

2. Styles

Receiver-in-canal (RIC) aids sit behind the ear with a thin wire to a speaker in the ear canal; they're the most common style. Behind-the-ear (BTE) aids are larger and are often used for more severe hearing loss. In-the-ear styles sit in the ear itself. Which suits you depends on your hearing, your ears and how easy you find small parts to handle.

3. Technology levels

Most ranges come in tiers, for example Phonak's 50, 70 and 90 or Signia's 3, 5 and 7. Higher tiers add more automatic programmes and finer adjustment for noisy places. Ask your audiologist whether your daily life needs the top tier, since the difference can be several hundred pounds per ear.

4. Rechargeable or batteries

Rechargeable aids go in a charger overnight, which helps if small batteries are fiddly. Battery models (sizes 312, 13 and 675) let you swap a cell when you're away from a plug.

5. Telecoil and Bluetooth

A telecoil lets you use hearing loops. Bluetooth lets you stream calls and TV audio; check that the model works with your phone.

6. Aftercare

Ask how adjustments are made, whether follow-up appointments are included, what the warranty covers, and how repairs work. With online fitting, adjustments happen remotely through an app, so you'll need a compatible smartphone.

Frequently asked questions

Can hearing aids help with tinnitus?

They can help some people. If you have hearing loss as well as tinnitus, hearing aids can make outside sounds easier to hear, which may make the tinnitus less noticeable, and many models have a built-in sound generator that an audiologist can set up. They don't cure tinnitus. See your GP first, as the NHS advises, especially if your tinnitus is constant, getting worse or affecting your sleep or mood.

Do Bluetooth hearing aids work with any phone?

Most current models stream calls and audio from both iPhone and Android phones, but support differs by model, phone and operating system version. Check the manufacturer's compatibility list for your exact phone before you buy.

Who are behind-the-ear hearing aids for?

Behind-the-ear (BTE) aids are larger than receiver-in-canal models and are often used for more severe hearing loss, for children, or for people who find small parts hard to handle. Your audiologist will tell you whether your hearing test results point to a BTE model.

Are NHS hearing aids free?

Yes. NHS hearing aids are free on long-term loan if an NHS audiology service finds you need them, and batteries, repairs and follow-up care are free too. You usually start by seeing your GP, and some areas let adults refer themselves to NHS audiology. Waiting times and the models offered vary by area.

How much do private hearing aids cost in the UK?

It varies a lot by technology level and where you buy. At the online retailer on this page, prices on 29 October 2026 ran from £765 for a single aid (£1,490 a pair) to over £2,000 a pair for top-tier models. High-street and independent clinics price differently, and some include ongoing appointments in the price, so compare what's included as well as the headline figure.

Can I buy hearing aids online in the UK?

Yes. Online sellers such as Wholesale Hearing ask for a recent audiogram (a hearing test result), a medical questionnaire and an ear measurement, then their audiologists programme the aids before dispatch and fine-tune them remotely through the manufacturer's app. You still need a proper hearing test first.

Do I need a hearing test before buying?

Yes. A hearing test by a qualified audiologist or HCPC-registered hearing aid dispenser tells you what kind of hearing loss you have and whether hearing aids are the right answer. Wholesale Hearing asks for an audiogram taken within the last 6 months.

Should I get one hearing aid or two?

That depends on your test results. If you have hearing loss in both ears, an audiologist will often suggest two, but follow the advice you get from your own hearing test. One-sided hearing loss should be checked by your GP first.

What is a telecoil and do I need one?

A telecoil (the 'T' in names like RT) lets a hearing aid pick up hearing loop systems in places like banks, theatres, churches and ticket offices. If you use those places, it's worth having.