What does the 30 Hours Free Childcare Calculator do?

Check free childcare entitlement by age (15/30 hours). See savings with Tax-Free Childcare. All calculations are performed in your browser using official UK rates and thresholds.

Are benefit amounts accurate?

This calculator uses the published 2025/26 benefit rates. However, actual entitlements depend on a full assessment by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and may differ from estimates.

How do I claim this benefit?

You can apply for most benefits through GOV.UK or your local Jobcentre Plus. Some benefits require an online application; others may require a phone call or paper form.

30 Hours Free Childcare Calculator

Check free childcare entitlement by age (15/30 hours). See savings with Tax-Free Childcare.

Last updated: April 2026 · Source: GOV.UK — Get childcare

Weekly Childcare Cost

Weeks per Year

Total Annual Saving

£10100

You pay: £2400/year instead of £12500

Annual childcare cost	£12500
Free hours (30hrs/wk)	-£9500
Tax-Free Childcare (20%)	-£600
You Pay	£2400

Eligibility:

Both parents working 16+ hrs/week, earning £8,670–£100K each. All 3-4s get 15 hrs regardless.

Disclaimer

This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

How It Works

The UK government provides free childcare hours for children from age 9 months to school age, expanding significantly from 2024/25. From September 2025, working parents of children aged 9 months to 3 years are entitled to 30 hours per week of free childcare during term time (38 weeks per year), or the equivalent stretched over more weeks at fewer hours.

All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week (the universal entitlement), regardless of parents' working status. Working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds receive an additional 15 hours (30 hours total). To qualify for the working parent entitlement, both parents must earn at least £8,670 per year and neither can earn more than £100,000.

Some 2-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds qualify for 15 hours of free childcare even if parents are not working. This includes families on certain benefits, looked-after children, and children with an Education Health and Care Plan. This calculator checks your eligibility for each scheme based on your child's age and circumstances.

Example: Working couple, child aged 2

Parent 1 income: £28,000 (above £8,670 minimum)
Parent 2 income: £22,000 (above £8,670 minimum)
Neither parent earns over £100,000
Entitlement: 30 hours/week free childcare (term time)
Annual value: ~£7,980 (based on average nursery rates)

Source: GOV.UK — Get childcare

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 30 Hours Free Childcare Calculator do?: Check free childcare entitlement by age (15/30 hours). See savings with Tax-Free Childcare. All calculations are performed in your browser using official UK rates and thresholds.
Are benefit amounts accurate?: This calculator uses the published 2025/26 benefit rates. However, actual entitlements depend on a full assessment by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and may differ from estimates.
How do I claim this benefit?: You can apply for most benefits through GOV.UK or your local Jobcentre Plus. Some benefits require an online application; others may require a phone call or paper form.