30 Hours Free Childcare Calculator
Funded hours rarely mean a free nursery bill. Enter the hourly rate your nursery charges and the hours your child attends. The calculator takes off the 1,140 funded hours a year (30 hours over 38 weeks) and shows what you still pay each month.
Your numbers
Divide a daily fee by the hours in the day
Most all-year nurseries charge 51 weeks
Charges not covered by funded hours
Result
You still pay per month
£878
| Bill per month without funded hours | 1,685.63 |
|---|---|
| Saving from funded hours per year | 9,690 |
| Funded hours used per year | 1,140 |
| Paid hours per year | 1,155 |
Funded hours are 30 a week for 38 weeks, or about 22.5 a week if stretched over the year. Nurseries may charge for meals and consumables.
Working-parent hours in England cover children from 9 months to school age. Each parent must earn at least 16 hours a week at the National Living Wage and under £100,000.
Pay the rest through Tax-Free Childcare to get another 20% off.
Is going back to work worth it? Run the full comparisonWhy the bill isn't zero
The 30 hours cover 38 weeks of the year. A child at nursery all year for more than 30 hours a week still has paid hours, plus meals and extras that nurseries may charge for.
Term-time vs stretched
Many nurseries spread the 1,140 hours over 51 weeks, about 22 hours a week. The yearly total is the same, so this calculator works on the year and divides by 12.
Who can get 30 hours
In England, working parents of children aged 9 months up to school age, where each parent earns at least 16 hours a week at the National Living Wage and under £100,000. Scotland and Wales run different schemes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate 30 hours free childcare?
Multiply the hours your child attends by the weeks per year, subtract 1,140 funded hours, multiply what is left by the nursery's hourly rate and add meals or extras. Divide by 12 for the monthly bill.
Is 30 hours free childcare really free?
The funded hours themselves are free, but most families still pay for extra hours, holiday weeks and meals. Typical full-time nursery bills fall by roughly a third to a half, not to zero.
Who is eligible for 30 hours free childcare?
Working parents in England with a child from 9 months to school age, each earning at least 16 hours a week at the National Living Wage and no more than £100,000 adjusted net income.
Can I get Tax-Free Childcare as well?
Yes. You can use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for the hours and extras that the funded hours do not cover.
Next steps
Sources
Results are estimates for planning. Rates change each tax year, so check the official source before you rely on them.