Maternity Calculator
Planning tool UK 2026/27 rates

Childcare costs calculator

Find out what nursery or childminder costs could be after funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare, so you can plan your return to work.
Where do you live?
How old will your child be when childcare starts?
How much childcare will you use?
£

Most nurseries charge for 51 weeks a year; term-time only is 38. The average nursery in England costs about £7.56 an hour (Coram Childcare Survey 2026), so ask your provider for theirs.

Which help can you get?

Your results are below and update as you change your answers. Nothing you enter is saved.

Your childcare costs

£196.56
a month for you to pay
Without any help
£963.90 /month
Childcare (1,530 hours a year) £11,566.80
Funded hours (1,140 hours) −£8,618.40
Tax-Free Childcare top-up −£589.68
You pay per year £2,358.72

An estimate for one child. Funded hours start the term after your child is eligible, and providers can charge extra for meals and other items. For more children, work out each one separately.

Going back part-time? Compare this with your take-home pay using our part-time pay calculator.

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Help with childcare costs

From 9 months (England)
30 funded hours
For working parents, 38 weeks a year. Apply from when your child is 23 weeks old.
3 and 4 year olds
Funded hours for all
15 hours a week in England, or 1,140 hours a year in Scotland, whether or not you work.
Working parents
Tax-Free Childcare
The government adds £2 for every £8 you pay, up to £2,000 a year per child.
On Universal Credit
Up to 85% back
Claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs instead of using Tax-Free Childcare.

More calculators

Maternity pay calculators

NHS 8 weeks full pay, 18 weeks half pay plus SMP, then SMP. Teachers Burgundy Book: 4 weeks full pay, 2 weeks at 90%, then half pay plus SMP. Civil Service Most departments: 26 weeks full pay, then SMP. Police 26 weeks full pay for officers in England and Wales. Armed Forces 26 weeks full pay, then SMP. Statutory Maternity Pay Any other employer: 6 weeks at 90%, then £194.32 a week.

Planning your leave and return

Shared parental leave Share leave and pay with your partner, and see the household difference. Part-time pay Your take-home pay if you go back part-time.

Other help

  • In England, some 2 year olds can get 15 funded hours whether or not their parents work, for example if the family gets certain benefits.
  • You must reconfirm your working parent funded hours every 3 months. Parents on maternity or paternity leave can still qualify.

This calculator is guidance only. Check what you can get at childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Ad Links to amazon.co.uk A Baby Wishlist on Amazon is free to set up and gives you 15% off most baby items. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
See it on amazon.co.uk