Childcare Costs Calculator
Work out your true monthly and annual childcare costs in seconds, including Tax-Free Childcare top-ups and the share of your household income spent on care.
Work Out Your Childcare Budget
Enter your weekly childcare fees, the number of children, and how many weeks of care you need each year to see your monthly and annual costs, plus any Tax-Free Childcare government top-up.
Childcare Details
Enter your figures in GBP (£) to calculate your childcare costs
Childcare Evaluation
Calculated monthly and annual costs
Childcare Support Schemes
Common UK childcare support schemes to help you reduce your overall costs.
| Scheme | Who It’s For | Typical Value | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax-Free Childcare | Working parents, children up to 11 | Up to £2,000/child/yr | Topping up any registered childcare |
| 15 / 30 Hours Free Childcare | Working parents, children 9mo+ | 15–30 hrs/week, term time | Reducing nursery hours billed |
| Universal Credit Childcare | UC claimants who are working | Up to 85% of costs | Lower-income working families |
| Employer Childcare Vouchers | Existing scheme members only | Salary sacrifice savings | Parents already enrolled pre-2018 |
Childcare Costs FAQ
Everything you need to know about childcare costs and government support.
Tax-Free Childcare is a UK government scheme where, for every £8 a parent pays into an online childcare account, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year (£4,000 for a disabled child). It can be used for registered nurseries, childminders, and after-school clubs.
Eligible working parents in England can claim funded childcare hours for children from nine months old, with the exact number of hours depending on the child’s age and household circumstances. These hours are typically used during term time and reduce the fees charged by a nursery or childminder.
Yes. Tax-Free Childcare can be used to pay for any additional childcare costs on top of your funded free hours, such as extra sessions, meals, or wraparound care, as long as your provider is signed up to the scheme.
The employer-supported Childcare Voucher scheme closed to new applicants in October 2018. Parents who already had a voucher scheme with their employer before that date can usually continue to use it, but new claimants must apply for Tax-Free Childcare instead.