Why you need a maternity leave calculator
Preparing for a new baby is stressful enough without having to navigate the complex UK employment laws regarding time off. A maternity leave calculator is essential because the UK government uses a very specific timeline based on your "Expected Week of Childbirth" (EWC).
You cannot just tell your boss whenever you feel like it. By law, you must inform your employer about your pregnancy and your planned leave dates by the end of your "Qualifying Week" (which is exactly 15 weeks before your due date). Our tool automatically counts backward from your due date to give you these critical deadlines instantly.
How to work out maternity pay (SMP)
If you want to work out maternity pay, you need to understand the strict formula used by HMRC. In the UK, Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for a maximum of 39 weeks, but the amount changes depending on which week of leave you are in.
The 39-week Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) rules explained
As long as you earn on average at least £123 a week and have worked for your employer continuously for 26 weeks, you will qualify for SMP. Here is how the math breaks down in our maternity pay calculator:
- The First 6 Weeks: You receive 90% of your average weekly earnings (before tax). There is no upper limit to this amount.
- The Next 33 Weeks: You receive either £184.03 per week (the current statutory flat rate) OR 90% of your average weekly earnings—whichever number is lower.
- The Final 13 Weeks: If you choose to take the full 52 weeks of statutory maternity leave, the final 13 weeks are completely unpaid.
Many employers offer "Enhanced Maternity Pay" (company maternity pay) which pays more than the statutory minimum. You should always check your employee handbook to see if you are entitled to a better rate.