Planning your finances before maternity leave can be much easier when you know approximately how much income you may receive during your time away from work. Our maternity pay calculator is designed to help employees in the UK estimate their Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and understand how maternity income may change throughout the 52-week maternity leave period.
Simply enter your annual salary and employment information to get an estimated week-by-week breakdown of maternity pay. The calculator uses the current 2026/27 UK statutory rates and shows the difference between the initial higher-rate period and the later flat-rate SMP period. This can give you a clearer picture of your expected gross maternity income and help you prepare a realistic household budget.
For eligible employees, Statutory Maternity Pay is normally paid for up to 39 weeks. The first six weeks are paid at 90% of average weekly earnings, while the following 33 weeks are paid at the statutory weekly rate or 90% of average weekly earnings if that amount is lower. The remaining part of the standard 52-week maternity leave entitlement is unpaid unless your employer provides enhanced maternity benefits.
The maternity pay calculator can be particularly useful if you are comparing your expected income with your normal salary. It can also help you think ahead about household expenses, childcare costs, savings, annual leave, and the period when maternity pay may reduce to the standard statutory rate. The site also provides information about estimated take-home pay after Income Tax and National Insurance deductions, helping you understand the difference between gross maternity pay and the amount you may actually receive.
Eligibility for Statutory Maternity Pay depends on several conditions, including your employment history, average earnings, qualifying week, and the required notice and pregnancy documentation. If you do not qualify for SMP, you may be able to receive Maternity Allowance instead. The website provides additional calculators and guides covering Maternity Allowance, enhanced maternity pay, Shared Parental Leave, Child Benefit, maternity leave dates, and take-home pay.