How much does it cost to raise a child UK 2026?

CPAG estimates the minimum cost to raise a child to 18 in the UK at about £250,000 for a couple, or around £290,000 for a lone parent (CPAG, 2025). CPAG's estimates are minimum costs for a basic standard of living, not what families actually spend, and its 'basic cost' measure does not include rent, childcare or council tax.

What is the biggest expense when raising a child?

Childcare is a large early cost. A full-time nursery place for a child under two in England averages about £7,400 a year for eligible working parents after funded hours, and more for families without the funded hours. Costs of education depend heavily on whether a child attends a state or private school.

How much does childcare cost in the UK?

Full-time nursery for a child under two averages about £7,400 a year in England (around £620 a month) for eligible working parents after funded hours. The same Coram survey puts Inner London at about £185 a week for an under-two, against about £149 for England as a whole. In England, all 3 and 4 year olds get 15 free hours a week, and eligible working parents get 30 hours from when a child is 9 months old.

Is Child Benefit enough to cover costs?

No, Child Benefit provides £27.05/week for the first child and £17.90 for additional children (2026/27). That is roughly £1,400 a year for the first child (£27.05 x 52), covering only a fraction of actual costs. It helps but is supplementary income, not full coverage.

Cost of Raising a Child UK 2026: From Birth to 18

Start here: Family Costs Hub.

Raising a child is one of life’s biggest financial commitments. This page sets out the published estimates and the costs that can be sourced, and says where costs depend on your own circumstances.

Total Cost Overview

Birth to 18 Years

These are CPAG’s minimum-cost estimates (based on the Minimum Income Standard), averaged for a first and second child, so they show what a basic standard of living costs rather than what families actually spend. CPAG notes that its “basic cost” measure does not include rent, childcare or council tax.

Family Type	Total Cost (18 years)
Couple family	About £250,000
Lone parent family	About £290,000
Per year average (couple)	About £14,000
Per month average (couple)	About £1,150

Childcare Costs

Nursery & Childminders

Average weekly prices for 50 hours of care in England, after the funded hours for eligible working parents (Coram, 2026):

Type	Weekly Cost	Annual Cost (FT)
Nursery (England average, under 2, after funded hours)	£149	About £7,400
Nursery (Inner London, under 2, after funded hours)	£185	About £9,300
Childminder (England, under 2, after funded hours)	£122	About £6,100

Free Childcare Entitlement

Age	Hours Free	When
9 months-2 years	30 hours/week	Eligible working parents (England)
2 years	15 hours/week	Families on certain benefits or with extra support (England)
3-4 years	15 hours/week	All families (England)
3-4 years	30 hours/week	Eligible working parents (England)

After-School Care

Average weekly prices for children aged 5 to 11 in England (Coram, 2026):

Type	Weekly Cost
After-school club	£69.38
Childminder to 6pm	£85.03

Education Costs

State School

School costs such as uniform, PE kit, trips and lunches differ widely between schools and local areas, and the amounts are not published in one national figure. Check your school’s uniform list and trip charges, and ask your council about any school clothing or meals support.

Private School

The Independent Schools Council’s 2025 census reports that the majority of day schools charge between £4,000 and £7,000 per term excluding VAT. VAT at 20% now applies to private school fees. For more detail see the private school cost guide.

Everyday Costs

Food, clothing, baby equipment, activities, technology and holidays make up much of the day-to-day cost of a child. They depend on a child’s age, the family’s choices and where you live, and there is no single published national figure for each, so this page does not put numbers on them.

Hand-me-downs, shared equipment and sibling discounts from childcare providers can lower the cost of a second child, though savings vary.

Health & Medical

Service	Cost (England)
NHS dental appointments and treatment	Free if aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
NHS eye test	Free if aged under 16, or 16 to 18 and in full-time education

Government Support

Child Benefit (2026/27)

Child	Weekly	Annual
First/eldest	£27.05	£1,407
Additional children	£17.90	£931 each

Tax-Free Childcare

Feature	Details
Government top-up	£2 for every £8 you pay in (20% of the childcare bill)
Max per child	£2,000/year (£500 every 3 months), or £4,000/year if the child is disabled
Eligibility	Working parents, each earning at least a minimum amount and with adjusted net income under £100,000
Can use for	Registered childcare

30 Hours Free Childcare

Feature	Details
Hours	30/week
Age	9 months to 4 years (England)
Eligibility	Working parents, each earning at least a minimum amount and with adjusted net income under £100,000

Summary: Total Cost to 18

Key Numbers to Remember

Metric	Amount
Total to 18	About £250,000 for a couple, £290,000 for a lone parent (CPAG, 2025)
Per year average (couple)	About £14,000
Per month average (couple)	About £1,150