Tidy Life ToolsPaternity pay and shared parental pay calculator (2026/27)
Statutory Paternity Pay is £194.32 a week (or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that's lower) for up to 2 weeks. If the mother ends maternity pay early, you can share up to 37 weeks of Shared Parental Pay and 50 weeks of leave between you.
Figures checked against GOV.UK on 4 October 2026.
Statutory Paternity Pay in 2026/27 is £194.32 a week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that's lower, for up to 2 weeks. Shared Parental Pay is paid at the same rate. Parents can share up to 37 weeks of pay and 50 weeks of leave, which is whatever the mother doesn't use of her 39 weeks of maternity pay and 52 weeks of leave. To qualify for the pay you need 26 weeks with your employer by the 15th week before the due week, and average earnings of £129 a week or more.
Last checked: 4 October 2026 (GOV.UK).
Eligibility checklist (partner)
- Paternity Leave: you're an employee and give the right notice. You're eligible for the leave from your first day of employment.
- Paternity Pay: continuously employed for at least 26 weeks by the end of the qualifying week (the 15th week before the due week), still employed up to the birth, average earnings of at least £129 a week, and the right notice. If you don't qualify, your employer must tell you within 28 days on form SPP1.
- Who can claim: the father, the mother's (or adopter's) husband or partner (including same-sex), the child's adopter, or the intended parent in a surrogacy.
- Shared Parental Pay (ShPP): both parents must meet the work and pay rules. Typically the parent taking ShPP needs 26 weeks with their employer by the qualifying week and average earnings of £129 a week or more. The other parent must meet the "employment and earnings" test (26 of the 66 weeks before the due week, and at least £390 across any 13 of those weeks). Use GOV.UK's eligibility checker for your exact case.
- You can take Paternity Leave before or after Shared Parental Leave.
SPP vs Shared Parental Pay (basics)
| Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) | Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly rate (2026/27) | £194.32 or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower | Same: £194.32 or 90%, whichever is lower |
| How long | 1 or 2 weeks | Up to 37 weeks shared (39 weeks of maternity/adoption pay minus weeks already used) |
| Leave length | Up to 2 weeks (together or as two separate weeks) in the first 52 weeks | Up to 50 weeks of Shared Parental Leave shared (52 weeks of maternity leave minus weeks used) |
| First 6 weeks boost? | No | No (unlike SMP, which is 90% uncapped for 6 weeks) |
| Can you take both? | Yes: paternity leave/pay first (or after), then shared leave/pay from what's left of maternity | |
For comparison, Statutory Maternity Pay is 90% of earnings for the first 6 weeks (no cap), then £194.32 or 90% for up to 33 more weeks.
The rates for 2026/27
| Pay | Weekly rate | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) | £194.32 or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower | 1 or 2 weeks |
| Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) | £194.32 or 90%, whichever is lower | Up to 37 weeks shared (39 weeks minus the maternity pay weeks used) |
| Statutory Maternity Pay (for comparison) | 90% for 6 weeks, then £194.32 or 90% | Up to 39 weeks |
How it works
- Shared Parental Leave and Pay: the mother (or adopter) takes less than 52 weeks of leave and 39 weeks of pay, and the rest can be shared. For example, after 22 weeks of maternity pay there are 17 weeks of ShPP and 30 weeks of SPL to share. Both parents must meet the eligibility rules and give notice to their employers.
- All of these are paid through payroll, so tax and National Insurance are deducted. Your employer may pay more under its own scheme.
- Stillbirth from 24 weeks, or a baby born alive at any point, still qualifies for the paternity leave and pay you booked.
Sources: GOV.UK paternity pay, eligibility, Shared Parental Leave and Pay, ShPP eligibility (birth) and employer rates 2026 to 2027 (checked 4 October 2026). For exact dates, use GOV.UK's Shared Parental Leave planning tool. This is an estimate, not advice.
Mother's side in detail: the maternity pay calculator. The first-year budget: new baby costs. Kit list: new baby on a budget.
See how long you can afford to be off, and what to save before your leave starts.
SMP worked out week by week (including employer full or half pay) and turned into monthly take-home pay, a budget for while you're on leave, the month your savings would run out, a baby kit list, a return-to-work and nursery cost comparison, and key dates from your due date.
Get it for £6 →FAQs
How much is paternity pay in 2026/27?
£194.32 a week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that's lower, for 1 or 2 weeks. Tax and National Insurance are deducted.
How many weeks of Shared Parental Pay can we get?
Up to 37 weeks, shared between you. It's the 39 weeks of maternity pay minus the weeks the mother has already used. Shared Parental Leave can be up to 50 weeks.
Is Shared Parental Pay the same as maternity pay?
Not quite. ShPP is £194.32 a week (or 90% if lower) for every week. Maternity pay is higher in the first 6 weeks (90% of earnings with no cap), so most families use those 6 weeks as maternity pay.
Do I need 26 weeks' service for paternity leave?
No. Paternity Leave is available from day one of employment if you're an employee and give the right notice. The 26-week rule and the £129-a-week earnings test apply to Paternity Pay.
Related calculators & guides
Maternity pay (SMP) calculator · Neonatal care & bereavement pay · New baby costs · New baby on a budget · Tax-Free Childcare · Take-home pay · Child Benefit charge (HICBC)