Maternity Pay Calculator

Calculate your total Statutory Maternity Pay for 2026/27. Shows the 90% earnings phase for weeks 1–6 and flat-rate SMP for weeks 7–39, with enhanced pay support.

Last updated: April 2026

Your details
Average weekly earnings in the 8 weeks before the 15th week before your due date.
Some employers top up above SMP. Enter weekly enhanced amount if applicable, or leave 0.
SMP is paid for up to 39 weeks. You can take up to 52 weeks total leave.
Maternity pay summary
Total maternity pay
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Weeks 1–6 (90% of earnings) -
Weeks 7–39 (flat rate SMP) -
Weekly SMP rate -
Average weekly pay during leave -
Unpaid leave weeks (if over 39) -

How Statutory Maternity Pay is calculated

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid in two phases. For the first 6 weeks, SMP is 90% of your average gross weekly earnings with no upper cap. For weeks 7 to 39, SMP is paid at the lower of 90% of your average weekly earnings or the flat weekly rate - £194.32 in 2026/27. To qualify for SMP, you must have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks into the 15th week before your due date, and be earning at least the Lower Earnings Limit (£125/week in 2026/27).

Weeks 40–52: unpaid leave

The legal right to maternity leave is 52 weeks in the UK. SMP covers only the first 39 weeks. The remaining 13 weeks (weeks 40–52) are unpaid unless your employer offers contractual maternity pay beyond the statutory minimum. Some employers also offer enhanced pay during the SMP period - full pay for a number of weeks, tapering to SMP, or a combination. Always check your employment contract or HR policy before planning your finances around maternity leave.

Maternity Allowance

If you do not qualify for SMP - for example because you are self-employed, have recently changed employer, or have not met the earnings threshold - you may qualify for Maternity Allowance. Maternity Allowance is paid by DWP at £194.32 per week (2026/27) for up to 39 weeks, or at 90% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower. It is claimed through DWP rather than your employer. Self-employed people with Class 2 NI contributions may also qualify.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. You can return to work during your maternity leave and then stop again to use the remaining weeks, provided you give your employer the required notice. However, once you do any work (other than up to 10 Keeping in Touch days), your SMP for that week may be affected. Keeping in Touch (KIT) days allow you to work up to 10 days during SMP without losing your payment. KIT days are useful for training, team meetings, or handover without committing to a full return.
Your pension contributions continue to build during the full 52 weeks of maternity leave, based on your normal earnings - your employer must continue contributions as if you were working. Annual leave also continues to accrue during the entire period. Many women find they have significant unused holiday to take either before or after maternity leave, which effectively extends paid leave. Check your employer's policy and plan the timing of holiday use carefully.
Shared Parental Leave (SPL) allows parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of Shared Parental Pay between them, after the mother takes the initial 2 compulsory weeks following birth. SPL can be taken concurrently or consecutively. The statutory pay rate for SPL is the same as the SMP flat rate (£194.32/week in 2026/27). SPL requires both partners to notify their respective employers and give the required notice periods. It is a flexible but administratively complex scheme.

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