Funded Hours & Childcare Calculator

Use my funded hours and childcare cost calculator to check what free childcare hours your child qualifies for, when they can start, and an estimate of what you'll actually pay each month once funding is applied.

Since September 2025, eligible working parents in England have been able to apply for 30 hours of funded childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months old. Not sure whether you meet the earnings requirements? The rules are the same as for Tax-Free Childcare - use my Tax-Free Childcare calculator to check.

This calculator also shows your child's expected school start date, both the earliest date most families use, and the later date when compulsory school age kicks in, for parents considering delaying entry. Comparing two nurseries? My nursery cost comparison calculator puts them side by side.

Earning over £100,000 a year? You may still be able to qualify for funded hours.

New to this? My resources page and this introduction to funded childcare are a good place to start.

Written and designed by Catherine, founder of Milk & Money, who swapped PhD research for childcare analytics.