How much Statutory Maternity Pay will you get?
This SMP calculator works out UK Statutory Maternity Pay week by week from your due date, the day your leave starts and your average earnings. It shows the total before tax, the key dates your employer will use — the expected week of childbirth, the qualifying week, the earliest start and the end of your pay and leave — and whether you meet the two qualifying tests. Add an enhanced company scheme, or the NHS scheme, to see your total maternity pay.
Rates are the 2026-27 figures published on gov.uk: 90% of your average weekly earnings for 6 weeks, then £194.32 or 90% of your earnings, whichever is lower, for 33 weeks, with a Lower Earnings Limit of £129 a week. It is information only — your employer calculates the actual payments.
How to use the SMP Calculator (UK Maternity Pay)
- Enter your due date and the day you plan to start maternity leave; SMP usually starts the same day.
- Enter your average gross pay, weekly or monthly, from the 8 weeks (or 2 months) before the qualifying week.
- Optionally add the date you started the job, to check the 26-week continuous employment test.
- Choose employer pay if you have it: the NHS scheme or your own number of full-pay and half-pay weeks.
- Read the total, the key dates and the week-by-week table, then copy the summary.
SMP Calculator (UK Maternity Pay) features
Week-by-week SMP
All 39 weeks with their start dates and the rate applied, using the rate in force for each week.
Key dates
Expected week of childbirth, qualifying week, earliest start, MATB1 date, end of SMP and of 52 weeks’ leave.
Eligibility checks
Earnings against the Lower Earnings Limit and continuous employment into the qualifying week.
Enhanced pay
NHS Agenda for Change scheme or a custom company scheme on top of SMP.
Dated rates
A table of rates by tax year; next year’s rate is an input until it is announced.
Who qualifies for SMP
- You are an employee and earn on average at least £129 a week (2026-27) before tax.
- You have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks continuing into the qualifying week — the 15th week before the week your baby is due.
- You give at least 28 days’ notice and proof of pregnancy (a MATB1 certificate or a letter from your doctor or midwife), which midwives can give from 20 weeks before the due date.
- If you do not qualify, your employer gives you form SMP1 and you may be able to get Maternity Allowance instead.
How the amounts are worked out
Average weekly earnings are normally your gross pay over the 8 weeks up to the last payday before the end of the qualifying week; for monthly pay, two months’ pay is multiplied by 6 and divided by 52 — this page uses monthly pay × 12 ÷ 52. The first 6 weeks pay 90% of that average with no upper limit. The next 33 weeks pay the flat rate or 90%, whichever is lower. The flat rate rises each April; this page applies a new rate to SMP weeks that start on or after the first Sunday in April, and payroll may split the week in which it changes, so pennies can differ.
Maternity leave itself is 52 weeks for every employee, whatever their pay, and the first 2 weeks after the birth are compulsory (4 if you work in a factory). The maternity leave calculator shows leave dates for the UK, India and the US.
NHS and other enhanced schemes
Under the NHS Terms and Conditions (Agenda for Change), an employee with 12 months’ continuous NHS service at the start of the 11th week before the expected week of childbirth gets 8 weeks of full pay (less SMP), then 18 weeks of half pay plus SMP (not more than full pay), then 13 weeks of SMP and 13 weeks unpaid. The NHS scheme expects you to return to work; check the repayment rules in your contract. Company schemes vary, so use the custom option with your employer’s figures.
SMP Calculator (UK Maternity Pay) FAQ
How much is SMP in 2026/27?
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 the remaining 33 weeks.
When is my qualifying week?
The 15th week before your expected week of childbirth. Weeks run Sunday to Saturday; enter your due date and the key dates table shows it.
Is SMP taxed?
Yes. SMP is paid through payroll like your wages, with Income Tax and National Insurance deducted. The figures here are before tax.
What is the earliest I can start maternity leave?
Usually the start of the 11th week before your expected week of childbirth. Leave starts automatically if you are off sick with a pregnancy-related illness in the 4 weeks before the week your baby is due, or the day after the birth if your baby comes early.
How does the NHS maternity pay calculator work?
Choose the NHS option: it adds full pay less SMP for 8 weeks and half pay plus SMP for 18 weeks on top of your SMP.
Why does my employer’s figure differ?
Employers calculate from exact payroll dates and may apportion the week in which the April rate change falls. Ask them to explain any difference.