The maternity and parental leave calculator estimates your weekly and total benefit payments during pregnancy and parental leave in Canada. Whether you are covered by EI or Quebec’s QPIP, this tool shows what to expect financially during this important life transition.
How this maternity leave calculator works
Enter your weekly insurable earnings (or annual salary), select your leave type, choose your province, and optionally add an employer top-up percentage. The calculator displays your weekly benefit, leave duration, total benefits, and income replacement percentage.
Leave options:
- Maternity only (15 weeks) — Birth parent only, 55% of earnings
- Standard parental (35 weeks) — 55% of earnings, either parent
- Extended parental (61 weeks) — 33% of earnings, either parent
- Maternity + Standard — Combined 50 weeks
- Maternity + Extended — Combined 76 weeks
Note: EI maternity and parental benefits are taxable income. A one-week waiting period applies before benefits begin (not included in totals above). Quebec residents receive benefits through QPIP instead of EI.
EI maternity and parental benefits at a glance (2026)
| Benefit Type | Duration | Rate | Max Weekly Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity | 15 weeks | 55% | ~$695 |
| Standard Parental | 35 weeks (per parent max) | 55% | ~$695 |
| Extended Parental | 61 weeks (per parent max) | 33% | ~$417 |
Maximum insurable earnings: $65,700/year ($1,263/week) Waiting period: 1 week (no benefits)
QPIP vs EI comparison
| Feature | EI (Outside Quebec) | QPIP (Quebec) |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity benefits | 15 weeks at 55% | 18 weeks at 70% |
| Max insurable income | $65,700 | $94,000 |
| Waiting period | 1 week | None |
| Paternity benefits | None (use parental) | 5 weeks at 70% |
| Parental (basic) | 35 weeks at 55% | 32 weeks (7@70% + 25@55%) |
| Parental (extended) | 61 weeks at 33% | 32 weeks at 55% |
Quebec parents generally receive significantly higher benefits than the rest of Canada, especially high earners due to the $94,000 insurable cap.
Planning your finances for parental leave
Before leave
- Build a buffer — Save 2-3 months of extra expenses to cover the income gap
- Check your employer’s top-up policy — Some employers top up EI to 93-95% of salary
- Review your benefits — Health insurance, dental, and pension contributions during leave
- Apply early — File your EI claim as soon as possible after your last working day
During leave
- Your income drops to 55% (or 33% for extended) — budget accordingly
- Consider whether standard (higher weekly, shorter) or extended (lower weekly, longer) better suits your situation
- Remember that EI benefits are taxable — set aside extra for tax season
Financial impact comparison
Example: $80,000 salary ($1,538/week)
| Scenario | Weekly Benefit | Total Benefits | Income Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity only (15 weeks) | $695 | $10,425 | $12,645 |
| Mat + Standard (50 weeks) | $695 | $34,750 | $42,150 |
| Mat + Extended (76 weeks) | $695 mat / $417 ext | $35,862 | $81,050 |
Extended leave provides roughly the same total money as standard but spreads it over 26 additional weeks, resulting in a longer but lower income period.
Employer top-ups by sector
| Sector | Typical Top-Up | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Federal government | 93% of salary | 15-18 weeks |
| Provincial government | 93% of salary | 15-26 weeks |
| Teachers (many boards) | 90-93% of salary | 8-17 weeks |
| Universities | 85-95% of salary | 15-35 weeks |
| Unionized private sector | Varies (75-95%) | 6-17 weeks |
| Non-unionized private | Rare (if any) | — |
| Small business | Generally none | — |
If your employer offers a top-up, the financial impact of parental leave is much more manageable.
Related calculators
- EI Calculator — Estimate Employment Insurance benefits for job loss
- Salary Calculator — Calculate your regular take-home pay
- Budget Calculator — Plan a reduced-income budget during leave
- Emergency Fund Calculator — Determine how much to save before leave
- Savings Goal Calculator — Set a savings target for leave preparation
- Income Tax Calculator — Estimate tax on EI benefits