UK Maternity Pay Calculator

Work out your Statutory Maternity Pay week by week: 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, then the weekly flat rate or 90% (whichever is lower) for 33 weeks. Add your due date for the key dates and eligibility check, and any company maternity pay.

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Maternity pay calculator

Your pay
How average weekly earnings are worked out

SMP is based on your average weekly earnings (AWE) in the relevant period: the 8 weeks (or 2 months if you are paid monthly) up to the last payday on or before the Saturday at the end of your qualifying week.

Weekly pay: add up the gross pay in those 8 weeks and divide by 8. Monthly pay: add up the 2 months' gross pay, multiply by 6 and divide by 52.

Overtime, bonuses and a pay rise paid in that period all count, so your AWE can be higher or lower than your salary divided by 52. If you know it, choose Week and enter it.

Your dates
Used to check the 26 weeks of employment you need for SMP.
Company maternity pay (optional)
Full pay is taken as your average weekly earnings. Some schemes ask you to return to work for a time or repay the extra.
Take-home pay estimate
SMP is taxed like wages. The estimate uses the standard tax code with no pension or student loan.
Tax year 2026/27
Statutory Maternity Pay
–
Weeks 1 to 6–
Weeks 7 to 39–
Total SMP–
Extra from company pay–

Monthly take-home (estimate)

Period Weekly pay Monthly pay Take-home a month

Each row is annualised: the take-home you would get if you were paid at that rate for a whole year. PAYE works on the whole tax year, so a drop in pay often means less tax, or a refund, in the months you are on leave.

Week by week

Week Starts SMP Company pay You get

Estimates for typical employees, not financial or legal advice. Your employer confirms your SMP once you give notice and proof of pregnancy (usually form MATB1).

How to use the maternity pay calculator

  1. Enter your pay before tax per year, month or week. The calculator converts it to your average weekly earnings (AWE). If your payslips in the relevant period include overtime or a bonus, work out your AWE as shown under How average weekly earnings are worked out and enter it as a weekly amount.
  2. Enter your baby due date and the date you want your leave to start. Add the date you started this job to check the 26-week rule.
  3. If your employer pays enhanced maternity pay, open Company maternity pay and enter the weeks at full pay and at half pay.
  4. Open Take-home pay estimate to choose Scotland if you pay Scottish income tax.
  5. Read your total, the eligibility check and key dates, the monthly take-home table and the 52-week schedule. Copy results copies a summary.

How Statutory Maternity Pay is worked out in 2026/27

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks of your 52 weeks of maternity leave. From 5 April 2026 you get:

  • Weeks 1 to 6: 90% of your average weekly earnings, with no upper limit.
  • Weeks 7 to 39: £194.32 a week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower.
  • Weeks 40 to 52: unpaid, unless your employer pays more.

To qualify you must earn on average at least £129 a week (the lower earnings limit for 2026/27), have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks continuing into the qualifying week, and give your employer the correct notice and proof that you are pregnant.

The key dates

  • Expected week of childbirth (EWC): the week, Sunday to Saturday, that contains your due date.
  • Qualifying week: the 15th week before the EWC. Your 26 weeks of employment must continue into this week, and your AWE comes from pay up to its end.
  • Earliest leave start: the start of the 11th week before the EWC. You choose when to start, but leave and SMP start automatically if your baby is born early, or if you are off work for a pregnancy-related reason in the 4 weeks before the EWC.

SMP weeks run from the day your leave starts, so if your leave starts on a Wednesday, each SMP week runs Wednesday to Tuesday. SMP is paid on your normal payday, and income tax and National Insurance are deducted like they are from wages.

Worked example

Amira earns £35,000 a year. Her average weekly earnings are £35,000 ÷ 52 = £673.08. For the first 6 weeks she gets 90% of that, £605.77 a week, which is £3,634.62. For the next 33 weeks, 90% of her earnings is more than £194.32, so she gets £194.32 a week, which is £6,412.56. Her total SMP is £10,047.18.

If her employer pays 10 weeks at full pay including SMP, she gets £673.08 for weeks 1 to 10, then £194.32 for weeks 11 to 39: a total of £12,366.05.

If you do not qualify for SMP

If you earn less than the lower earnings limit, are self-employed, or have not worked for your employer for long enough, you may be able to get Maternity Allowance from the government instead. It has its own rules and rates, so check the current amount on GOV.UK. Your employer must give you form SMP1 explaining why you cannot get SMP within 7 days of deciding.

Why your payslips may differ

  • Your real AWE comes from the gross pay you actually received in the relevant period, not your salary ÷ 52. A pay rise that would have applied during your leave can increase it.
  • Tax is cumulative. PAYE spreads your tax-free allowance over the year, so when your pay drops you often pay less tax, or none, for a few months.
  • Pension contributions, student loans and salary sacrifice carry on being worked out from what you are actually paid.
  • Company schemes differ: some pay a percentage of salary, some require you to return to work for a time, and some pay enhanced pay only after a qualifying period.
  • Keeping in touch (KIT) days and Shared Parental Leave change what you are paid in the weeks you use them.

Related calculators: see your normal take-home pay with the UK salary calculator, plan a part-time return with the pro rata salary calculator, check sick pay rules with the Statutory Sick Pay calculator, or see all salary and money calculators.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Statutory Maternity Pay in 2026/27?

SMP is 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, then £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks. The £194.32 rate applies from 5 April 2026.

How much do I need to earn to get maternity pay?

Your average weekly earnings in the relevant period must be at least £129 a week in 2026/27. You must also have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks continuing into the qualifying week, the 15th week before your baby is due.

Is maternity pay taxed?

Yes. SMP is paid through payroll like your wages, so income tax and National Insurance are deducted. Because your pay is lower while you are on leave, you usually pay less tax than normal.

When is the earliest I can start maternity leave?

The earliest is the start of the 11th week before your expected week of childbirth. Enter your due date in the calculator to see this date and your qualifying week.

Can I get company maternity pay and SMP?

Yes. Many employers pay enhanced maternity pay, such as a number of weeks at full or half pay. Usually it includes SMP, so you receive whichever is higher each week rather than both. Your contract or staff handbook explains your scheme.

What if I do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay?

You may be able to claim Maternity Allowance instead, for example if you earn less than £129 a week, are self-employed or recently changed jobs. GOV.UK has the current rates and an eligibility checker.

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