Childcare Cost Calculator UK
Estimate your weekly, monthly and annual childcare bill. Enter the hours you need, your provider's hourly rate and any funded hours, and see what Tax-Free Childcare takes off.
Last updated 2 July 2026 · Written and reviewed by Mustafa Bilgic
Childcare cost calculator
Includes funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare.
Estimate only — figures use the latest published UK rates. Always confirm on GOV.UK.
How much does childcare cost in the UK in 2026?
Childcare is one of the biggest bills a working family faces, and where you live makes an enormous difference. The Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2026 found that a full-time (50 hours a week) nursery place for a child under two averages £7,441 a year in England, £12,955 in Scotland and £16,256 in Wales. England looks dramatically cheaper for one simple reason: working parents there now get funded hours from 9 months old, so a family using 50 hours typically pays for only around 20 of them.
| Where & what | Typical cost (under-2, 2026) |
|---|---|
| England — full-time (50 hrs), with funded hours | £7,441 a year |
| Scotland — full-time (50 hrs) | £12,955 a year |
| Wales — full-time (50 hrs) | £16,256 a year |
| England — part-time (25 hrs) with 15 funded hours | £70.51 a week |
| England — part-time (25 hrs), no funded hours | £176.27 a week |
| England — part-time, family not eligible for entitlements | ~£189 a week |
That part-time figure is where our £7 placeholder comes from: £176.27 for 25 hours works out at roughly £7 an hour for an under-2 in England. Your own nursery or childminder may charge more or less, so always use your real rate.
A parent needing 40 hours a week at £7 an hour, with 30 funded hours stretched over 51 weeks, pays about £6,300 a year gross. The Tax-Free Childcare top-up adds £1,260, cutting the net cost to £5,040 a year — £420 a month.
How the 30 funded hours work
In England, working parents of children from 9 months old up to school age can get 30 funded hours a week. The headline number is a term-time figure: it covers 38 weeks a year, though many providers let you "stretch" it over more weeks at fewer hours per week — 30 hours over 38 weeks is the same pot as roughly 22 hours over 51 weeks. Our calculator does exactly that conversion: it spreads your funded hours across the weeks you actually use (funded × 38 ÷ your weeks), then charges your hourly rate on the rest.
To qualify, each parent must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum Wage, and neither parent can have adjusted net income over £100,000. Details and the application are on GOV.UK. Note that "funded" rarely means completely free in practice — many settings charge separately for meals, nappies and consumables, so ask for an itemised fee sheet.
Tax-Free Childcare: the 20% top-up
Tax-Free Childcare works like a discount on everything you pay a registered provider. For every £8 you put into your account, the government adds £2 — a 20% top-up on the total cost, worth up to £2,000 per child per year (paid as up to £500 a quarter), or £4,000 a year for a disabled child. The eligibility rules are the same as for the funded hours: both parents working and earning at least the 16-hours-at-minimum-wage equivalent, and neither over £100,000. You can use it alongside funded hours, which is why the calculator applies both. Apply via GOV.UK.
Universal Credit and other help
You cannot use Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as Universal Credit childcare support or childcare vouchers — opening a Tax-Free Childcare account ends the alternatives, so compare carefully before you switch. If you receive Universal Credit, its childcare element may be worth more than the 20% top-up, and if you're on parental leave our maternity pay calculator shows what you'll have coming in. Don't forget Child Benefit on top, and once you know your childcare number, drop it into our budget calculator to see the full monthly picture.
Frequently asked questions
How much does full-time nursery cost in 2026?
The Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2026 puts a full-time (50 hours a week) nursery place for a child under two at £7,441 a year in England, £12,955 in Scotland and £16,256 in Wales. England is lower because working parents there get funded hours and typically pay for only around 20 hours.
Who gets 30 hours of funded childcare in England?
Working parents of children from 9 months old up to school age get 30 funded hours a week during term time (38 weeks a year). Each parent must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum Wage, and neither can have adjusted net income over £100,000.
How does Tax-Free Childcare work?
For every £8 you pay into a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government adds £2 — a 20% top-up worth up to £2,000 per child per year (£500 a quarter), or £4,000 a year for a disabled child. You then pay your childcare provider directly from the account.
Can I use Tax-Free Childcare with Universal Credit?
No. You cannot use Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as Universal Credit childcare support or childcare vouchers. Check which leaves you better off before applying, because opening a Tax-Free Childcare account stops the alternatives.
Can I stretch funded hours over the whole year?
Often, yes. Many providers let you stretch the 38 term-time weeks over more weeks at fewer hours per week — for example around 22 hours a week over 51 weeks instead of 30 hours over 38 weeks. Not every provider offers stretching, so ask before you book.