UK Statutory Paternity Pay Calculator 2026/27

New fathers, partners and adopters in the UK are entitled to up to 2 weeks of paid paternity leave. This calculator works out your Statutory Paternity Pay based on your average weekly earnings and how many weeks you plan to take, plus what you would receive if your employer offers an enhanced policy instead of just the statutory minimum.

How to use the paternity pay calculator

Enter your average gross weekly earnings, generally averaged over the 8 weeks before the qualifying week, then choose 1 or 2 weeks of leave. If your employer pays more than the statutory rate, switch to the enhanced pay option and enter the weekly amount they offer instead. The calculator shows your statutory weekly rate, your total pay for the leave, and flags if your earnings look too low to qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay at all.

How the calculation works

Statutory Paternity Pay is paid at the lower of two figures: a flat weekly rate set by the government, currently £187.18, or 90% of your average weekly earnings. For most people on a typical full-time salary, 90% of earnings comfortably exceeds the flat rate, so they receive the flat rate. For lower earners, where 90% of earnings works out below the flat rate, the lower 90% figure applies instead. This total is then multiplied by however many weeks of leave you take, either 1 or 2.

Worked example

Someone with average weekly earnings of £650 taking 2 weeks of paternity leave: 90% of their earnings is £585, well above the flat rate cap, so they receive the flat rate of £187.18 a week, giving a total of £374.36 for the 2 weeks. By contrast, someone earning £180 a week would have 90% of earnings work out at £162, below the flat rate cap, so they would receive £162 a week instead, the lower of the two figures.

Common mistakes to avoid

A common mistake is assuming paternity pay automatically matches your normal salary. Unless your employer has an enhanced policy, Statutory Paternity Pay is usually well below full pay for most earners, so it is worth checking your contract or asking HR whether an enhanced scheme applies before you plan your finances around your usual take-home pay.

Another mistake is missing the notice deadlines. You generally need to tell your employer you intend to take paternity leave by the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth, and confirm the actual dates nearer the time, so leaving this too late can delay or complicate your leave and pay.

Related calculators

If your partner is also taking leave, our maternity pay calculator works out Statutory Maternity Pay across a full maternity leave. To see your net pay after tax and National Insurance, use our take-home pay calculator, and once your child arrives, check your Child Benefit and Universal Credit entitlement. Our maternity pay guide also covers how maternity and paternity leave can work together.