Pay calculator

UK Maternity Pay Calculator

Work out what you'll be paid while you're on maternity leave. Enter your earnings and this tool shows your statutory maternity pay across all 39 weeks, so you can plan the months ahead with real numbers. Free, no signup.

Free, no signup2026-27 SMP rateVerify at gov.uk

Your earnings

Your pay

Before tax. Used to work out your average weekly earnings.

Employer offers enhanced pay?

Many schemes (NHS, teachers) top up SMP

Maternity pay over 39 weeks

£10,047

Gross, before tax and National Insurance. That’s about £1,116 a month across your paid leave.

Weeks 1 to 690% of your average weekly earnings£605.77/wk

Weeks 7 to 39Lower of £194.32 or 90% of earnings£194.32/wk

Total statutory maternity pay£10,047

SMP is paid for up to 39 weeks (leave can run to 52, the last 13 unpaid). It has income tax and National Insurance taken off like normal pay. To qualify you need 26 weeks’ continuous service and average weekly earnings of at least £129. If you don’t qualify, you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance. A guide, not advice.

Simon Chadwick

Founder, Orbit Money

Method: gov.uk Statutory Maternity Pay rulesUpdated: 14 July 2026Sources: gov.uk maternity pay

How statutory maternity pay works

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) runs for up to 39 weeks. For the first six weeksyou get 90% of your average weekly earnings, with no cap. For the remaining 33 weeks you get the lower of the flat rate, £194.32 a week for 2026-27, or 90% of your earnings. Your average weekly earnings are worked out from the eight weeks of pay before the qualifying week, and tax and National Insurance come off SMP like normal wages.

To qualify you need to have been employed by the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the qualifying week, and to earn on average at least £129 a week. If you don’t qualify, your employer gives you form SMP1 and you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance instead.

Enhanced (occupational) maternity pay

Many employers, including the NHS and schools, top up SMP with an occupational scheme, often something like eight weeks at full pay, then a period at half pay, before it drops to the statutory rate. These sit on top of SMP and vary by contract. Switch on the enhanced option above and enter your scheme’s weeks to see the difference against statutory-only pay.

Frequently asked questions

How much is maternity pay in the UK?

Statutory Maternity Pay is 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first six weeks, then the lower of £194.32 or 90% of your earnings for the next 33 weeks. That's up to 39 weeks of pay in total.

How long is statutory maternity pay paid for?

Up to 39 weeks. You can take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, but the last 13 weeks are unpaid unless your employer offers an enhanced scheme.

Do I get 90% of my pay the whole time?

No, only for the first six weeks. After that it drops to the flat statutory rate of £194.32 a week, or 90% of your earnings if that is lower.

Is maternity pay taxed?

Yes. Statutory Maternity Pay has income tax and National Insurance deducted like normal wages, so your take-home will be a little lower than the gross figures shown here.

What is the difference between Maternity Allowance and SMP?

SMP comes from your employer if you qualify (26 weeks' continuous service and average weekly earnings of at least £129). Maternity Allowance is paid by the government if you don't qualify for SMP, for example if you're self-employed or recently changed jobs.

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About the author

Simon Chadwick

Founder of Orbit Money

Simon is the founder of Orbit Money, a tool that helps people track subscriptions and recurring spend. He builds Orbit's free money calculators and writes about personal finance for UK and Australian readers.