MilestoneMoney
Free · UK · 2026/27 rates

How much will I get on maternity leave?

Your maternity pay week by week, the dates you can't miss, and your estimated income each month after tax. It takes about a minute.

  • Checked against GOV.UKSame rules as the government's official employer calculator
  • Completely privateNothing you type leaves your phone or computer
  • Plain English, no jargonIncludes tax, NI, pension, Child Benefit and employer pay

Your details

Just three things to start. Add more for a sharper answer.

Any day from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due.
Where do you pay tax?
Extra pay from your employer Often missed

Check your contract or staff handbook for "occupational" or "enhanced" maternity pay. Example: 8 weeks full pay, then 18 weeks half pay plus SMP.

First stage
Then
Your job, pension and going back
Checks you qualify for SMP
Leave blank for the full 52 weeks
Use your payslips Most accurate

Your SMP uses what you're actually paid in about 8 weeks before a set date (we'll show you the window). Overtime or a pay rise in it counts.

Free · No sign-up · Estimates, not financial advice

How it works

Statutory Maternity Pay in 2026/27

Your employer pays SMP for up to 39 weeks of your 52 weeks' leave. It comes in two parts, and tax and NI come off as usual.

Weeks 1–6
90% of your pay

Your average weekly earnings, with no upper limit. Rounded up to the penny.

Weeks 7–39
£194.32 a week

Or 90% of your average pay if that's lower. Applies to weeks starting from 5 April 2026.

Weeks 40–52
Unpaid

Unless your employer pays more. Plan for these months early.

Read the full SMP guide →

Good to know

Questions parents ask

Who can get Statutory Maternity Pay?

You need at least 26 weeks with your employer continuing into the "qualifying week" (the 15th week before the week your baby is due), and average earnings of at least £129 a week in the 8-week pay window. The calculator checks your earnings and, if you enter your job start date, your length of service.

If you don't qualify, you may be able to get Maternity Allowance instead, which is paid by the government.

Why isn't it just 90% of my salary?

SMP uses the pay you actually receive in a set window of about 8 weeks, not your contract salary. If you add your payslips, the calculator uses them exactly. Overtime, bonuses or a pay rise in that window all increase your SMP.

Is maternity pay taxed?

Yes. Tax and National Insurance come off as usual. But because PAYE works across the whole tax year, when your pay drops you often pay less tax, and sometimes get some back. The month-by-month view shows this.

When do I need to tell my employer?

By the end of the 15th week before your due week. The calculator gives you the exact date. Tell them in writing: that you're pregnant, your due date and when you want your leave to start.

What if my baby comes early?

Your leave and SMP start the day after the birth. Tell your employer as soon as you can. If you're off sick with a pregnancy-related reason in the 4 weeks before your due week, your leave starts automatically too.

Can I trust these numbers?

Our SMP calculations are tested against results from the official GOV.UK employer calculator. They're still estimates, and your employer's payroll may differ by a few pence. See how we work it out.