Child Maintenance Calculator
Instantly estimate your weekly, monthly and annual child maintenance payments using the UK Child Maintenance Service rate bands, adjusted for shared care and other children. Free, accurate tool.
Calculate Your Estimated Payments
Enter the paying parent’s gross weekly income, the number of qualifying children, shared care nights, and any other children in the paying parent’s home for an instant, personalised estimate using the official Child Maintenance Service formula.
Maintenance Details
Enter figures in GBP (£) to calculate your estimated payments
Maintenance Evaluation
Estimated weekly, monthly and annual payments
CMS Rate Bands
The Child Maintenance Service applies one of four rates depending on the paying parent’s gross weekly income.
| Rate | Weekly Income | 1 Child | 2 Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nil rate | Under £7 or on certain benefits | £0 | £0 |
| Flat rate | £7 – £100 | £7 / week | £7 / week |
| Reduced rate | £100.01 – £199.99 | 17% of income above £100 | 25% of income above £100 |
| Basic rate | £200 – £800 | 12% of income | 16% of income |
| Basic rate plus | £800.01 – £3,000 | +9% above £800 | +12% above £800 |
Child Maintenance FAQ
Everything you need to know about how UK child maintenance is worked out.
The Child Maintenance Service calculates payments as a percentage of the paying parent’s gross weekly income, using one of four rate bands: flat, reduced, basic, or basic plus. The percentage used depends on income level and the number of qualifying children.
Yes. If the child stays overnight with the paying parent regularly, the amount due is reduced on a sliding scale. Fifty-two to one hundred and three nights a year gives a one-seventh reduction, rising in steps to a fifty percent reduction plus a further weekly deduction per child for one hundred and seventy-five or more nights.
Yes. If the paying parent has other children living with them, their gross weekly income is reduced by a percentage before the maintenance calculation is applied, to reflect the cost of supporting those children.
No. An online calculator only gives an estimate. The legally binding assessment is made by the Child Maintenance Service based on verified income and household information, and the actual amount may differ from an estimate.