Paternity Leave Pay Calculator – Statutory Paternity Pay 2026
Calculate your Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) for 1 or 2 weeks of paternity leave. Uses the April 2026 rate of £187.18/week. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
What Is Statutory Paternity Pay?
Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) is the minimum pay your employer must pay you during paternity leave. You can take either one week or two consecutive weeks off — you cannot take them separately. SPP is paid at the lower of either the flat rate of £187.18/week (April 2025) or 90% of your average weekly earnings.
Paternity Leave Eligibility
- You must be an employee (not self-employed)
- You must have been continuously employed for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby is due
- You must earn at least £125/week (the Lower Earnings Limit)
- You must be the biological father, the mother's partner, or the adopter's partner
- You must give your employer at least 28 days' notice
Important change from April 2024: Fathers and partners can now take paternity leave any time within 52 weeks of birth (previously 56 days). Leave can also be split into two separate one-week blocks for the first time.
Shared Parental Leave
If your partner returns to work early from maternity leave, you may be able to take Shared Parental Leave (SPL) to share the remaining leave and pay. SPL can be a more flexible and financially beneficial option for some families. It uses the same weekly pay rate as SPP but can last much longer.