What will childcare actually cost you?

Calculate nursery, childminder, or nanny costs in your region, and see exactly how government-funded free hours reduce your bill.

Childcare Cost Planner

Estimate real childcare costs and see the impact of government-funded free hours.

UK childcare costs in 2025/26

Full-time nursery places average £1,400/month in London, £1,100 in the South, and £850 in the North. That often exceeds the average UK mortgage payment.

Childminders tend to be 20–25% cheaper than nurseries, while nannies cost more but can be shared between families (a nanny share).

Government-funded free hours

From 9 months: 15 hours per week of funded childcare. From age 3: 30 hours per week for working parents. These hours are free at the point of use but may not cover all provider fees.

Tax-Free Childcare: For every £8 you pay in, the government tops up £2 — saving up to £2,000 per year per child. Register at childcarechoices.gov.uk.

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