What DofE Costs
DofE costs fall into two main categories.
- The cost of signing up for the award itself
- The cost of doing the different award sections
This page gives information about both.
Help with costs
Ability to pay should not be a barrier to participation in DofE and if you need financial support, please approach your local Scout Group or Explorer Unit in the first instance.
Award Costs
There is a fee to sign up for the award. At present these fees are
- Bronze – £36
- Silver – £43
- Gold – £43
These fees are charged at registration and are not refundable once the award has been started in eDofE.
This fee consists of the fee we pay to DofE to register someone, plus an amount for our costs (eg running this website, payment processing etc).
Expedition Costs
Expedition costs are set at the start of the year, and cover the entire programme of training, the practice expedition and qualifying expedition.
In 2026 these fees were as follows
- Bronze – set by the district teams running the expedition
- Silver – £110
- Gold – £140
This will be updated for 2027.
The expedition cost covers campsite fees, fuel for leaders’ vehicles, satellite trackers and the costs of running any training events.
Expedition Kit
Personal expedition kit is not included in the above cost. However there is no need to buy new items for everything on the DofE kit list and it is often possible to borrow items from your Scout Group or others. The online preparation materials cover what personal kit is needed and possible sources of it.
Group kit, such as tents and stoves, is usually provided, and we coordinate with Scout Groups and Explorer Units to ensure each team is equipped.
For biking and canoeing expeditions there may be additional kit requirements.
Other Sections
The cost of doing the skills, physical, volunteering and residential sections completely depends on what you choose to do for them. It is often possible to use an activity you already do.
Residentials, which are required for gold awards, may have a more substantial cost.