2026/27 calculator
Maternity pay calculator
On average weekly earnings of £400, Statutory Maternity Pay in 2026/27 is £360.00 a week for the first 6 weeks, then £194.32 a week for 33 weeks: £8,572.56 over 39 weeks. You qualify if you earn at least £129 a week on average and have worked for your employer for 26 weeks in a row. Enter your own pay below.
Your average weekly earnings before tax.
Continuous employment by the 15th week before the week your baby is due.
Statutory Maternity Pay over 39 weeks
£8,572.56
- Weeks 1 to 6
- £360.00 /wk
- 90% of earnings, £2,160.00 in all
- Weeks 7 to 39
- £194.32 /wk
- the £194.32 rate, £6,412.56 in all
- Average weekly earnings
- £400.00
- Shared Parental Pay
- £194.32 /wk
- same rate as weeks 7 to 39
Spread over 9 equal months
- Month 1£1,560
- Month 2£1,118
- Month 3£842
- Month 4£842
- Month 5£842
- Month 6£842
- Month 7£842
- Month 8£842
- Month 9£842
Real payments follow your start date and paydays, so each month can differ a little.
Maternity pay on common salaries in 2026/27
| Salary | A week | Weeks 1 to 6 | Weeks 7 to 39 | Total SMP | Paternity Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £6,700 | £128.85 | Below £129 a week: no SMP or Paternity Pay | |||
| £6,708 | £129.00 | £116.10 | £116.10 | £4,527.90 | £232.20 |
| £10,000 | £192.31 | £173.08 | £173.08 | £6,750.12 | £346.16 |
| £15,000 | £288.46 | £259.62 | £194.32 | £7,970.28 | £388.64 |
| £20,000 | £384.62 | £346.16 | £194.32 | £8,489.52 | £388.64 |
| £25,000 | £480.77 | £432.70 | £194.32 | £9,008.76 | £388.64 |
| £30,000 | £576.92 | £519.24 | £194.32 | £9,528.00 | £388.64 |
| £40,000 | £769.23 | £692.31 | £194.32 | £10,566.42 | £388.64 |
| £60,000 | £1,153.85 | £1,038.47 | £194.32 | £12,643.38 | £388.64 |
Yearly salary divided by 52, with 26 weeks' service. Weekly amounts are before tax. Paternity Pay is for 2 weeks.
Statutory Paternity Pay
Paternity Pay is £194.32 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, for up to 2 weeks, so the most is £388.64. It uses the same £129 a week and 26-week tests as maternity pay. Work it out for a partner below.
Average weekly earnings: £2,500 a month × 12 ÷ 52 = £576.92 a week
Statutory Paternity Pay
£388.64
How Statutory Maternity Pay is worked out
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks in two parts:
- Weeks 1 to 6: 90% of your average weekly earnings before tax.
- Weeks 7 to 39: £194.32 a week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower.
If your average weekly earnings are about £215.91 or less (around £11,227 a year), 90% of them is no more than £194.32, so you get the same weekly amount for all 39 weeks. Above that, your pay drops to £194.32 a week after week 6.
Statutory Adoption Pay uses the same rates and the same 39 weeks.
Who qualifies for maternity pay
You need both of these:
- average weekly earnings of at least £129 a week before tax, which is £559 a month or £6,708 a year
- 26 weeks of continuous employment with your employer
At exactly £129 a week you qualify and get £116.10 a week, £4,527.90 over 39 weeks. A penny less, at £128.99, and you do not qualify. If you do not get SMP, GOV.UK says you may be able to get Maternity Allowance instead.
Converting monthly or yearly pay to a weekly figure
Maternity pay is based on average weekly earnings. If you are paid monthly, the calculator multiplies your monthly pay by 12 and divides by 52. A yearly salary is divided by 52. A salary of £30,000 is £576.92 a week, which gives £519.24 a week for the first 6 weeks and £9,528.00 in total. Your employer works out the exact average from your pay records, so their figure can differ slightly.
Month by month
39 weeks is exactly 9 months of 52 ÷ 12 weeks each, so the calculator spreads your SMP across 9 equal months. On £400 a week, month 1 is £1,560, month 2 is £1,118 as the rate drops partway through, and months 3 to 9 are £842 each. Real payments follow your start date and your employer's paydays.
Shared Parental Pay
Statutory Shared Parental Pay is paid at the same weekly rate as weeks 7 to 39 of SMP: £194.32 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, for up to 37 weeks shared between parents. You need the same £129 a week and 26 weeks of employment.
Tax and National Insurance on maternity pay
SMP is paid through payroll in the same way as your wages, so income tax and National Insurance may be deducted. The figures on this page are before any deductions. To see what you keep, put your total pay for the tax year, including SMP, into the take-home pay calculator.
Common questions
How much is maternity pay in 2026/27?
Statutory Maternity Pay is 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, then £194.32 a week or 90% of your earnings, whichever is lower, for 33 weeks. On £400 a week that is £360.00 a week, then £194.32 a week: £8,572.56 over 39 weeks.
How much maternity pay will I get on a £30,000 salary?
£30,000 a year is £576.92 a week on average. You would get £519.24 a week for 6 weeks, then £194.32 a week for 33 weeks: £9,528.00 in total before tax.
How much maternity pay do I get on £200 a week?
£180.00 a week for all 39 weeks, £7,020.00 in total, because 90% of £200 is below £194.32.
Do I qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay?
You need average weekly earnings of at least £129 (£559 a month) and 26 weeks of continuous employment with your employer. At exactly £129 a week you get £116.10 a week, £4,527.90 over 39 weeks; at £128.99 you do not qualify.
How much is Statutory Paternity Pay in 2026/27?
£194.32 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, for up to 2 weeks. The most is £388.64. On £200 a week it is £180.00 a week, £360.00 for 2 weeks.
Is maternity pay taxed?
SMP is paid through payroll like your wages, so income tax and National Insurance may be deducted. The amounts on this page are before any deductions.
How much is Shared Parental Pay?
£194.32 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, for up to 37 weeks shared between parents. On £200 a week that is £180.00 a week.
Official sources
Every rate and threshold on this page is checked against these official pages. How we calculate
Related calculators
Estimates using 2026/27 rates. Any fraction of a penny in a weekly amount is rounded up. Your employer confirms your average weekly earnings and whether you qualify. Not personal advice.
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