Childcare cost calculator
Working out what nursery will actually cost your family is rarely simple. Fees change with your child's age, where you live, how many days a week you need and the government support you qualify for.
Nuuri's free childcare cost calculator pulls all of that together, so you can estimate your monthly nursery fees and see the funded hours and financial support that could bring them down - in a couple of minutes, with no sign-up.
Use it to plan your budget, compare options and head into nursery visits knowing roughly what to expect.
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How to use the Nuuri 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.
How much does childcare cost in the UK?
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:
| Place (child under two) | England | Scotland | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time, 25 hrs/week (no funded hours applied) | £188.75/week | £133.08/week | £166.33/week |
| Full-time, 50 hrs/week (with funded hours applied where eligible) | £148.82/week | £259.10/week | £325.12/week |
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.
What childcare support could you get?
Most families qualify for at least some help with childcare costs. The main schemes are below. The calculator factors these in, but it's worth understanding how each one works - and which ones can be combined.
Funded childcare hours (England, Scotland and Wales)
Funded hours are the largest source of help for most working families, but the system is different in each nation.
England - Since September 2025, eligible working parents in England can claim 30 hours a week of funded childcare for children aged from nine months until they start school, across 38 weeks of the year. To qualify, you (and your partner, if you have one) each generally need to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Living Wage, and neither of you can earn more than £100,000 of adjusted net income a year. Separately, every three- and four-year-old gets 15 hours a week regardless of income or working status, and some two-year-olds qualify for 15 hours if their family receives certain benefits. You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old, with funding starting the term after they turn nine months, through the government's Childcare Choices service.
Scotland - All three- and four-year-olds, and some eligible two-year-olds, are entitled to 1,140 funded hours a year of early learning and childcare. That works out at roughly 30 hours a week in term time, or about 22 hours a week if you spread it across the full year. Eligibility for the funded two-year-old places is based on benefits or family circumstances rather than working hours, and you arrange your place through your local council. Read our guide to nursery funded hours in Scotland.
Wales - All three- and four-year-olds get a guaranteed minimum of 10 hours a week of Foundation Phase Nursery early education. On top of this, eligible working parents of three- and four-year-olds can claim the Childcare Offer for Wales - up to 20 additional hours of funded childcare, bringing the combined total to 30 hours a week for up to 48 weeks a year (more generous on weeks than England's 38). Separately, some two-year-olds in disadvantaged areas can access up to 12.5 hours a week through the Flying Start scheme. Read our guide to nursery funded hours in Wales.
Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element (below) are UK-wide and available in England, Scotland and Wales.
Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare is a government top-up scheme open to most working parents. For every £8 you pay into your childcare account, the government adds £2 - effectively a 20% discount - up to a maximum of £2,000 per child each year (£4,000 if your child is disabled). Your child must be under 12 (or under 16 if disabled), both parents must be working and earning at least around £1,000 a quarter, and neither can earn over £100,000 a year. You'll need to reconfirm your eligibility every three months. Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside your funded hours, but it cannot be combined with Universal Credit childcare support.
Universal Credit childcare element
If you're on Universal Credit and in work, you can claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs, up to a monthly cap of £1,071.09 for one child or £1,836.16 for two or more children (2026/27 rates). One important catch: you pay your provider first and are reimbursed afterwards through your UC account, so it's worth planning for that gap - especially when starting a new job. You can't use this at the same time as Tax-Free Childcare, so compare the two before deciding. For lower-income families, the Universal Credit element is usually worth considerably more than the 20% Tax-Free Childcare top-up.
What affects how much you pay?
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.
How to keep your childcare costs down
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.
Frequently asked questions
On average, a part-time (25-hour) nursery place for a child under two costs around £189 a week in England without funded hours, £133 in Scotland and £166 in Wales, according to the Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2026. Full-time places and under-two care cost more, while funded hours can reduce the total significantly. Your actual cost depends on your child's age, your location and your provider - the calculator gives a tailored estimate.
Yes. The calculator is completely free to use, with no sign-up or account required. You enter a few details about your child and your needs, and you get an instant estimate of your likely costs and the support you could claim.
The calculator uses current average childcare costs and government support rules to give you a realistic planning figure. It's a guide, not a quote - your chosen nursery's published fees are always the definitive figure, as prices vary by provider even within the same area.
In England, eligible working parents of children aged nine months to school age can claim 30 hours a week during term time. You and your partner (if you have one) must each earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Living Wage, and neither can earn more than £100,000 a year. All three- and four-year-olds get 15 hours regardless of income.
You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old. The funding then starts the term after your child turns nine months - meaning 1 September, 1 January or 1 April, depending on when their birthday falls. Apply through the government's Childcare Choices service and give your code to your nursery before the term begins.
Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme that adds £2 for every £8 you pay into your childcare account - effectively a 20% discount - up to a maximum of £2,000 per child each year (£4,000 if your child is disabled). Both parents must be working and earning at least around £1,000 a quarter, and neither can earn over £100,000 a year. Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside your funded hours, but it cannot be combined with Universal Credit childcare support.
Yes. If you're on Universal Credit and in work, you can claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs, up to a monthly cap of £1,071.09 for one child or £1,836.16 for two or more children (2026/27 rates). You pay your provider first and are reimbursed afterwards through your UC account, so it's worth planning for that gap - especially when starting a new job. You can't use this at the same time as Tax-Free Childcare, so compare the two before deciding.
Yes. Funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare can be combined - your funded hours reduce the bill, and Tax-Free Childcare tops up what's left. What you can't do is combine Tax-Free Childcare with the Universal Credit childcare element; you have to choose one.
Care for under-twos costs more because nurseries are required to have more staff per child for younger age groups. As your child gets older the ratios relax, so fees usually fall when they turn two, and again at three when universal funded hours start.
No. Funded hours cover 38 weeks a year, which lines up with school term time. If you need childcare during the holidays you'll usually pay for those weeks, or your nursery may offer a "stretched" arrangement that spreads the funded hours across all 52 weeks at a lower weekly rate.
Yes. The 30 funded hours for under-threes apply only in England. Scotland funds 1,140 hours a year for three- and four-year-olds (and some two-year-olds), Wales delivers support through Flying Start and the Childcare Offer for Wales. Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit childcare support are available UK-wide.
A day nursery is a setting that cares for groups of children in age-banded rooms, while a childminder looks after a smaller number of children in their own home. Childminders are often cheaper for under-twos and offer more flexible hours; nurseries can offer more structured early-years activities and longer opening times. Both can deliver funded hours if they're registered.