# How much does childcare cost in the UK?

> Cost of · Last reviewed 26 May 2026

Canonical HTML: https://moneyguide.org.uk/cost-of/childcare-uk/
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## In short

Coram's 2025 Childcare Survey put full-time nursery for a child under 2 at an average £14,500 a year (around £279/week). Costs are highest in inner London and lowest in the North East. The 30-free-hours expansion (from Sept 2025) substantially reduces this for working parents.

Childcare costs vary enormously by region and child's age, and depend heavily on whether you can claim Tax-Free Childcare, Universal Credit childcare element, or the new 30 free hours (England only).

Typical range: 8000–22000 £/year (full-time nursery, before any free hours)

## What makes up the cost

| Item | Range | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full-time nursery, under 2 (England, average) | ~£14,500/yr |  |
| Full-time nursery, under 2 (Inner London) | ~£22,500/yr |  |
| Childminder full-time | £8,500–£14,000/yr |  |
| After-school club | £40–£90/week |  |
| Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) benefit | Up to £2,000/yr per child (£4,000 if disabled) |  |
| Universal Credit childcare element | Up to 85% of costs, capped at £1,031.88 / £1,768.94 monthly (2025/26 for 1 / 2+ children) |  |
| Free hours (England, working parents) | 15 hrs from 9 months Apr 2024 → 30 hrs Sept 2025 |  |

## What changes the figure

- Child's age (under 2 is most expensive)
- Region (Inner London ~50% above UK average)
- Provider type (nursery vs childminder vs nanny)
- Whether either parent earns over the £100k working-parent free-hours cap

## Ways to spend less

- The gov.uk Childcare Choices service compares all UK childcare-support schemes for a given household
- Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element cannot be claimed for the same period
- The free-hours offer is term-time only (38 weeks); stretched across 52 weeks it equates to around 22 hours a week

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I claim the new 30 free hours?

Apply through the gov.uk Childcare Service. You'll get a code each term that you give to your provider. Re-confirm every 3 months. Both parents must usually work and earn between the LEL and £100k each.

### Is childcare cheaper in Scotland, Wales or NI?

Each devolved nation has its own scheme: Scotland funds 1,140 hours for 3–4-year-olds; Wales funds 30 hours for working parents of 3–4s; NI has 22.5 hours of pre-school. The new English 9-months-to-school-age offer is currently the most generous.

### What if I work irregular hours?

You can still qualify if your earnings over the 3-month reconfirmation period are roughly equivalent to working 16 hours at NLW — self-employed in their first year are presumed to meet the test.

## Sources

- [Coram — Childcare Survey](https://www.coram.org.uk/news/coram-family-and-childcare-publishes-childcare-survey/)
- [GOV.UK — Childcare choices](https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/)
- [GOV.UK — Tax-Free Childcare](https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare)

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Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.