Childcare cost calculator

The calculator is built around the things that move your bill the most. To get the most accurate estimate, have these to hand:

• Your child's age - costs are highest for under-twos, because younger children need more staff per child.
• Your location - fees vary widely between regions and nations, so your postcode helps tailor the estimate.
• The hours or days you need - a full-time place (around 50 hours a week) costs far more than a couple of days.
• Whether you qualify for funded hours - eligible families can have 15 or 30 hours a week paid for, which changes the total dramatically.

Once you've entered your details, you'll get an estimate of your likely fees alongside the government support you may be able to claim. Treat the result as a planning guide rather than a quote - your nursery's published fees are always the final word.

There are two free childcare calculators worth using in the UK, and they answer different questions. It is worth knowing which one does what before you start budgeting.

• The government's childcare calculator is an eligibility checker - it tells you which schemes you qualify for: Tax-Free Childcare, how many funded hours you can claim, and what you might get through Universal Credit or Tax Credits. What it cannot tell you is what a nursery near you actually charges.
• Nuuri's calculator estimates the bill itself - it starts from local fee data for your postcode and your child's age, then applies the funded hours and support you are likely to get, so you end up with a monthly figure rather than a list of schemes.

Used together they give you the full picture: check your eligibility on GOV.UK if your circumstances are complicated - self-employment, income near the £100,000 threshold, or a partner on a different benefit - then come back here to see what that means in pounds per month for nurseries in your area.

Childcare is one of the biggest costs many families face, and the headline figure depends heavily on where you live and your child's age. According to the Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2026 - the most authoritative annual snapshot of UK childcare prices - average nursery costs now look like this:

A few things stand out. Costs for under-twos in England have fallen sharply over the last two years, as funded hours were extended down to nine-month-olds - a full-time place that drew on the funding is now cheaper on paper than a part-time place without it. Scotland and Wales have not seen the same fall, because the expanded funded hours for under-threes apply only in England, so families there continue to pay more. Wales remains the most expensive nation for full-time nursery care.

Because funded hours cover 38 weeks of the year (term time), families who need year-round care will pay more outside term, or pay a steadier "stretched" weekly rate across the full year. Your own cost could sit well above or below these averages depending on your provider and area, which is exactly what the calculator is designed to help you pin down. For more detail on typical fees, see our guide to how much nursery costs in the UK.

Most families qualify for at least some help with childcare costs, and the calculator factors these in. Our full guide to childcare support in the UK covers the eligibility rules, amounts and which schemes can be combined.

• Funded childcare hours - the biggest source of help for most working families, with different rules in England, Scotland and Wales.
• Tax-Free Childcare - a government top-up on what you pay into a childcare account, available across the UK and usable alongside your funded hours.
• Universal Credit childcare element - reimburses a share of your costs if you are on Universal Credit and in work. It cannot be combined with Tax-Free Childcare, so compare the two before choosing.

If your quote looks different from a friend's, one of these is usually why:

• Your child's age - Under-twos are the most expensive age group because nurseries must staff them with more adults per child. Costs typically drop once your child turns two, and again at three when universal funded hours begin.
• Where you live - Fees in London and the South East run well above the national average, while parts of the North and the devolved nations differ again.
• How many hours you need - Full days, early drop-offs and late pick-ups all add up. Some nurseries charge by the session, others by the day.
• Funded hours - Whether you qualify for 15 or 30 hours - and how your nursery applies them - can change your bill more than any other single factor.
• Extras - Meals, nappies, trips and "consumables" charges are often billed on top of the headline rate, particularly during funded hours.
• Type of provider - Day nurseries, preschools and childminders price differently; childminders are often cheaper for younger children.

A few practical steps can make a real difference:

• Claim everything you're entitled to - Check your funded-hours eligibility and apply early - codes need to be in place before the start of term.
• Compare schemes properly - Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element can't be combined, and the better choice depends on your income. Use the government's Childcare Choices comparison tool before committing.
• Ask nurseries about funded-hours policies - Some restrict which sessions funded hours cover or charge for extras during them. Knowing this upfront avoids surprises.
• Plan for term-time funding - Funded hours cover 38 weeks, so budget for the higher cost of holiday cover or a stretched year-round rate.

Ready to find a nursery or explore broader guidance? Visit our advice hub.