Cost of raising a child calculator
Independent estimates from the Child Poverty Action Group put the basic cost of a child to 18, excluding housing and childcare, at about £166,000 for a couple and £220,000 for a lone parent. Gov.uk lists Child Benefit as one offset against this cost. This calculator uses monthly spend to estimate a personal total to age 18.
The reference figures exclude housing and childcare and are an order-of-magnitude guide, not your personal total.
How is the estimate built?
The total is the monthly spend entered multiplied out over 18 years, which is 216 months.
Keeping the figure in today’s money avoids stacking a guess about inflation on top of a guess about spending. The point is to turn a vague worry into a figure that can be planned around, using a household’s own numbers rather than a national average.
The reference figures beside the result come from the Child Poverty Action Group’s work on the cost of a child. An estimated £166,000 is quoted for a couple and £220,000 for a lone parent, covering the basic cost to 18 and excluding housing and childcare. Because housing and childcare are left out, the reference figures sit below what most families actually spend once nursery fees and a share of the mortgage are counted. They serve as a sense check on the order of magnitude, not a target.
What would a worked example look like?
Suppose the early years look like £400 of childcare, £180 of food, £60 on clothing, £80 on activities and £100 on everything else. That is an estimated £820 a month, or £9,840 a year.
Held flat for 18 years it comes to an estimated £177,120. In practice the childcare line drops sharply once school starts, so a more detailed plan would model the pre-school and school years with different figures.
Where the money goes each month
| Category | Monthly | Across 18 years |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare | £400 | £86,400 |
| Food | £180 | £38,880 |
| Clothing | £60 | £12,960 |
| Activities & hobbies | £80 | £17,280 |
| Everything else | £100 | £21,600 |
| Total | £820 | £177,120 |
Common questions
How much does it cost to raise a child in the UK?
Independent estimates put the basic cost of a child to 18, before housing and childcare, at roughly £166,000 for a couple and £220,000 for a lone parent, from the Child Poverty Action Group. Add childcare and a share of housing and the real figure is higher, which is why this tool works from your own monthly spend.
What does this calculator include?
It multiplies the monthly amounts you enter, across childcare, food, clothing, activities and anything else, over 18 years. It is a today’s-money estimate, so it does not add inflation or interest. Change the inputs to reflect your own household rather than an average one.
Why is childcare such a large part of the cost?
For pre-school years childcare is often the single biggest line, sometimes larger than food and clothing combined. It usually falls away once a child starts school, so a realistic estimate treats the early years and school years differently rather than assuming a flat monthly figure for all 18 years.
Does this include university costs?
No. The estimate stops at age 18, so university tuition, maintenance and living costs are separate. Many families plan for those through longer-term saving, which is why pairing this with a savings projection gives a fuller picture of the money involved.
Is the cost the same for a second child?
Usually a second child costs less than the first because some items are shared or handed down, such as furniture, equipment and clothes. Childcare and food still scale with each child, so the saving is real but partial rather than the whole cost being halved.
How is the estimate built?
The tool multiplies the monthly figures entered by 216 months, the period from birth to age 18. It is a today's-money estimate, so no inflation or interest is added to the running total. The reference figures beside the result, an estimated £166,000 for a couple and £220,000 for a lone parent, come from the Child Poverty Action Group and exclude housing and childcare.
What would a worked example look like?
Monthly figures of £400 for childcare, £180 for food, £60 for clothing, £80 for activities and £100 for everything else add up to an estimated £820 a month, or £9,840 a year. Held flat across 18 years that comes to an estimated £177,120. In practice the childcare line usually falls once school starts, so a household's own figures will vary from this flat projection.
Sources & Rate Verification
Rates verified against official statutory guidance on 6 September 2026.