Free UK Nursery Cost Calculator
See your actual monthly cost after 30 free hours, Tax-Free Childcare and all government support, correctly applied. For parents in England.
Calculate your costsNo sign-up needed
Enter your details and see your costs instantly.
Based on official rates
Uses DfE-published LA funding rates for 2025/26.
Always free
No ads, no paywall, no upsells. Just accurate information.
Calculate your nursery costs
Enter your child's date of birth above to see your estimated costs.
Common questions
- How many free childcare hours is my child entitled to?
- From 9 months old, working parents can access 15 funded hours per week. From 2 years, working parents get 30 hours per week. From 3–4 years, all children receive the 15-hour universal entitlement; working parents receive 30 hours. Hours are based on 38 term-time weeks per year, or stretched across 51–52 weeks if your nursery offers it.
- What is the nursery funding gap?
- The government pays nurseries a set hourly rate (the LA rate) for funded hours. If that rate is lower than the nursery's private rate, nurseries can charge parents a top-up; this is the funding gap. It is legal and common. Our calculator includes it in your monthly cost estimate.
- Can I stretch my funded hours across more weeks?
- Yes. Instead of taking funded hours across 38 term-time weeks, many nurseries offer to stretch them across 51 or 52 weeks. This gives fewer funded hours per week but means your entitlement covers school holidays too. The total funded hours per year is the same either way.
- What is Tax-Free Childcare and how much can I save?
- Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme where for every £8 you deposit into a government-backed account, the government adds £2, up to £500 per quarter (£2,000 per year, or £4,000 for disabled children). It is available to working parents earning above the national minimum wage equivalent and below £100,000 per year.
- Can I use Universal Credit childcare support and Tax-Free Childcare at the same time?
- No. Universal Credit childcare support and Tax-Free Childcare are mutually exclusive; you can only claim one. Universal Credit covers 85% of eligible childcare costs and is usually better value for lower incomes. Tax-Free Childcare is typically better for higher earners. Our calculator shows which applies to your situation.
- When do funded childcare hours start?
- Funded hours begin at the start of the term following the relevant age threshold. There are three term start dates in England: September, January, and April. For example, a child who turns 3 in October starts receiving funded hours the following January term.
Are you a nursery owner or manager?
Clear Nursery Fees is free for parents. If you'd like to partner with us or have questions about how we calculate costs, get in touch at hello@clearnurseryfees.co.uk.
Read our funding guides and policy updates for the latest on nursery entitlements in England.
Nursery funding guides
- £100k Childcare Cliff Edge ExplainedEarn over £100k? You may lose up to £7,200 a year in funded childcare. Here is how adjusted net income works and whether pension salary sacrifice can help.
- Back to Work After Nursery: The MathsWorked examples for £28k, £35k, £50k and £80k salaries showing real take-home after nursery costs, Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit. England 2026.
- Stretched vs Term-Time Nursery Funding30 hours term-time vs 22 hours stretched: both use 1,140 funded hours. Monthly bill comparison and decision table by working pattern for England 2026.