Pregnancy · Planning
Maternity Leave Calculator
Country-aware maternity-leave window from your due date. Earliest leave start, latest leave start, return-to-work date and pay details for seven countries — educational summary, verify against your HR / payroll.
Last reviewed 24 May 2026
Maternity leave window
When can my maternity leave start and end?
Pick a country and enter your EDD to see your leave window.
How to use this calculator
Pick your country and enter your estimated due date. The calculator returns the earliest your leave can start, your latest start (at delivery), and the corresponding return-to-work dates for each option, plus the pay model and eligibility requirements for that country.
Countries modelled
- United States (FMLA): 12 weeks UNPAID, job-protected. State-level paid programs in CA, NY, NJ, MA, WA, CT, CO, OR, RI, DE, MD layer on top. Eligibility: employer with ≥ 50 employees within 75 miles, 12 + months tenure, ≥ 1 250 hours worked.
- United Kingdom (Statutory): 52 weeks total (26 ordinary + 26 additional), with 39 weeks Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP — 6 weeks at 90 %, then 33 weeks at lower of £172.48/wk or 90 %). Earliest start 11 weeks before EDD; minimum 2 weeks after birth.
- EU minimum (Directive 92/85/EEC): at least 14 weeks paid at sick-pay rate. Most EU member states offer materially more (Germany 14 wks at 100 %; Sweden 480 days parental shared).
- Canada (EI): 15 weeks of EI maternity benefits at 55 % of earnings (max ~CAD 668/wk in 2024) plus 35 weeks standard or 61 weeks extended parental. Earliest start 12 weeks before EDD.
- Australia (Fair Work + PLP): 12 weeks unpaid Fair Work + 18 weeks government Parental Leave Pay (PLP) at National Minimum Wage. Eligibility: worked 10 of 13 months before birth, ≥ 330 hours.
- India (Maternity Benefit Act 1961, amended 2017): 26 weeks at full pay for the first two children (12 weeks for the third+). Earliest start 8 weeks pre-EDD. Eligibility: ≥ 80 working days in the prior 12 months.
- Singapore (GPML): 16 weeks at full government-paid for the first 2 children of Singapore-Citizen babies; subsequent kids capped. Earliest start ~4 weeks pre-EDD.
Limitations
- This is an educational summary of statutory frameworks. Many employers offer more generous policies — your contract and HR are the source of truth for what you'll actually receive.
- Paternity leave, shared parental leave, and adoption leave are NOT modelled here — each country has its own additional rules.
- The rules change. Verify the current year's statutory rates with the official government source before financial planning.
- Self-employed workers are usually covered by different schemes (UK Maternity Allowance, Canada EI Special Benefits opt-in, US state Paid Family Leave) — not covered here.
Sources
- US: U.S. Department of Labor — Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
- UK: GOV.UK — Maternity Pay and Leave.
- EU: Council Directive 92/85/EEC.
- Canada: Government of Canada — EI maternity and parental benefits.
- Australia: Fair Work Ombudsman + Services Australia — Parental Leave Pay.
- India: Maternity Benefit Act 1961 (as amended 2017).
- Singapore: Ministry of Manpower — Government-Paid Maternity Leave.
Frequently asked questions
Does maternity leave start automatically on the due date?
No — when leave starts depends on your country and your own choice. The UK and Canada let you start as early as 11–12 weeks before EDD; the US (FMLA) doesn't specify and most people start a week or two before EDD or at delivery; India allows up to 8 weeks pre-EDD. You'll usually fill out paperwork with HR / payroll a few months before the start date you want.
What if I deliver early?
In most countries, the leave clock starts at the actual delivery if it happens before your planned start date — so an early delivery moves your return date earlier proportionally. The UK explicitly: if you give birth before the date your maternity leave was set to start, it begins automatically the day after birth. Some countries (e.g. Singapore) extend the leave to compensate for pre-mature deliveries.
Can I take maternity leave AND parental leave?
Several countries treat them as separate buckets. Canada is the clearest example: 15 weeks of EI maternity (the birthing parent only) PLUS up to 35 weeks of EI parental (shared with the other parent). The UK now has Shared Parental Leave allowing up to 50 weeks shared between parents. The US has neither at the federal level — only the unpaid FMLA 12-week window.
Is the 'unpaid' part of US FMLA really unpaid?
Federally, yes — FMLA only guarantees 12 weeks of UNPAID job-protected leave. However, several states have paid family-leave programs that layer on top (California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington, Connecticut, Colorado, Oregon, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland). Many employers also offer paid maternity leave as a benefit. Check your state and your employer's policy.
What if I'm self-employed or a freelancer?
Most country-level statutory schemes only cover employees. UK self-employed mothers can claim Maternity Allowance (£172.48/wk for 39 weeks) if they paid Class 2 National Insurance. Canada's EI Special Benefits cover self-employed who opted in 12+ months ago. US self-employed have no federal coverage and rely on state programs (CA Paid Family Leave + DI cover self-employed who paid in).