Cost guide
How much does childcare cost in the UK?
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).
Last reviewed:
·Typical range: £8,000–£22,000 /year (full-time nursery, before any free hours)Typical breakdown
| Item | Typical 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 cost
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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
FAQ
- 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.