UK maternity leave calculator

Calculate your UK maternity leave dates including your earliest start date, SMP qualifying week, and return to work date. Enter your due date below for an instant result. Last verified: June 2026 — sourced from gov.uk/maternity-leave.

Your maternity leave dates
These dates are based on statutory entitlements under the Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations 1999. Your employer may offer enhanced maternity pay or different arrangements. Always confirm dates with your employer and HR team. This calculator is for guidance only.

UK maternity leave entitlement explained

All employed women in the UK are entitled to up to 52 weeks of statutory maternity leave regardless of how long they have worked for their employer. The 52 weeks is split into Ordinary Maternity Leave (the first 26 weeks) and Additional Maternity Leave (the second 26 weeks). You do not have to take the full 52 weeks but you must take at least 2 weeks after your baby is born (4 weeks if you work in a factory). Maternity leave can start as early as 11 weeks before your due date.

See also

Calculate your UK holiday entitlement for your working pattern, use our UK working days calculator to count working days, or check our UK bank holidays 2026 list.

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