Free tool
EU maternity & parental leave calculator
Pick your country, enter your monthly gross pre-birth, family situation and we apply the country-specific formula (DE Elterngeld 65-67% sliding + Geschwisterbonus + €1,800 cap, FR IJSS 100% + PreParE, ES 16 weeks 100%, IT maternità 80% + congedo, AT Wochengeld + KBG income-related 80%, NL zwangerschapsverlof, BE 82%/75%, PL macierzyński 100% + rodzicielski). Phase-by-phase breakdown, total amount, average monthly. Conservative-by-design, links the official source.
ℹ Two separate things: cash benefit AND job protection
This calculator estimates the CASH BENEFIT (Elterngeld, IJSS, baja, KBG etc.). Your country also gives you JOB PROTECTION (Mutterschutzgesetz DE; protection congé maternité FR; suspension contrato ES; tutela maternità IT) — typically you cannot be dismissed during pregnancy and for a period after the leave ends. The two are independent: you can receive the cash benefit even after losing your job, and you have job protection even if you don't qualify for the cash benefit.
⚠ This is an estimate
Your real maternity / parental benefit depends on the EXACT reference period the agency uses (DE: 12 months pre-birth gross; FR: 3 months prior; ES: last contribution base), tax class, family situation and any CCN / CAO / Tarifvertrag top-up. Use this for budgeting; get the binding amount from your country's agency BEFORE you commit to a leave plan.
Phase-by-phase breakdown
- Mutterschutz (6 + 8/12 weeks)14 weeks€2,600 / month
- Basiselterngeld (12 / 14 months)47 weeks€1,690 / month
How this country's system works
- Mutterschutz: 6 weeks before + 8 weeks after birth (12 after for premature/multiple/disabled). Mutterschaftsgeld pays 100% of net (gross capped at €13/day from Krankenkasse + employer top-up).
- Basiselterngeld: 12 months for one parent, 14 if both take at least 2 'Partnermonate'. Pays 65-67% of pre-birth net (sliding scale by income).
- Geschwisterbonus: +10% of Elterngeld (min €75) if older sibling under 3 (or 2 siblings under 6).
- Mehrlingszuschlag: +€300/month per additional child for twins/triplets etc.
- Income cap: from April 2024, parents with joint annual income above €175,000 receive NO Elterngeld at all.
Important notes
- Effective Elterngeld rate: 65.0% of pre-birth net (65%).
- ElterngeldPlus alternative: half the monthly amount × double the duration. Suitable if returning to part-time work.
⚠ Read this before acting
- Apply at your Elterngeldstelle within 3 months of birth — claims can only be backdated by 3 months.
- If you return to work part-time during Elterngeld, your benefit is reduced by the difference between pre-birth and post-birth net income × Elterngeld rate.
Legal disclaimer
WorkDaten provides this calculator for informational and educational purposes only. Calculations use publicly available 2026 maternity / parental benefit formulas. They do NOT constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Actual entitlement, amount, and duration depend on the EXACT reference period the agency uses, your tax class, family composition, employer-paid top-ups (CCN/CAO/Tarifvertrag), and individual circumstances. Sliding scales, sibling premiums, multiple-birth bonuses, income caps and ElterngeldPlus options can shift the result substantially. We accept no liability for financial planning decisions made based on this tool. Always consult your country's parental-benefit agency and a CCN-aware payroll specialist before committing to a leave plan.
How parental leave benefits differ across Europe
Europe has no single 'parental leave' system — each country has its own formula, duration, and partner-sharing rules. Germany pays Elterngeld (65-67% net for 12-14 months, capped €1,800, with a €175k joint-income disqualification since 2024). France pays IJSS (100% of salary capped at PSS) for 16-46 weeks plus an optional flat-rate PreParE. Spain pays a 16-week permiso at 100% of base reguladora — equal for both parents since 2021. Italy maternità is 80% × 5 months + congedo parentale (30-80%) shared. Austria splits Wochengeld (100%) and Kinderbetreuungsgeld (income-related 80% capped €2,000 OR pauschal €476-€1,650). Netherlands zwangerschapsverlof is 100% × 16 weeks plus 9 weeks of paid ouderschapsverlof at 70%. Belgium 82% first 30 days then 75%, capped. Poland macierzyński 100% × 20 weeks then rodzicielski 70% × 41 weeks.
We model 8 EU jurisdictions with each one's specific formula and surface the official source so you can verify. Three things to remember: (1) the cash benefit and the job protection are separate — both apply, but they're regulated by different laws. (2) Many CCNL/CAO/Tarifvertrag agreements top up the public benefit to 100% of net salary — check yours. (3) Income caps, sliding scales, sibling premiums and multiple-birth bonuses can shift the result substantially.
Use this for an honest first read. Then talk to your country's parental-benefit agency BEFORE you commit to a leave plan — every case turns on facts the calculator cannot see.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions people most often ask before relying on the page.